Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,082 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $966 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,636 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,476 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,190 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,987 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 12% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Makhachkala 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.82 MYR 19.04

$15.62 ₽1,188

-69.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.46 MYR 112

$38.69 ₽2,943

-26.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MYR 18.71

$5.19 ₽395

-8.67%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 11.83

$3.24 ₽246

-7.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MYR 3.64

$0.84 ₽63.6

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.11

$0.35 ₽26.81

51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 MYR 16.33

$1.37 ₽104

201.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 MYR 22.65

$2.57 ₽195

122.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 MYR 8.16

$1.51 ₽115

37.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 3.99

$0.65 ₽49.55

55.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.51

$1.38 ₽105

19.57%

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.92

$1.38 ₽105

63.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 MYR 57.6

$2.99 ₽227

387.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 MYR 17.78

$4.81 ₽366

-6.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.46 MYR 37.38

$5.05 ₽384

87.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.78

$1.82 ₽138

63.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.45

$1.77 ₽134

-7.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 10.55

$2.80 ₽213

-4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 5.83

$1.91 ₽145

-22.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.07

$0.82 ₽62.2

56.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$0.49 ₽36.98

171.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.78

$2.48 ₽189

-51.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.47

$0.60 ₽45.39

5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 16.92

$3.23 ₽245

32.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 MYR 74.0

$8.61 ₽655

117.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.44

$1.00 ₽76.3

240.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.57

$1.86 ₽142

139.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$0.42 ₽32.02

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.87 MYR 46.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.72

$2.23 ₽170

-46.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.35

$0.22 ₽16.69

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 MYR 19.12

$6.50 ₽494

-25.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.01

$0.71 ₽53.9

-28.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.1K MYR 158.3K

$35.5K ₽2.7M

12.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.7K MYR 129.4K

$30.0K ₽2.3M

9.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.6 MYR 251

$54.3 ₽4,130

17.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.31 MYR 44.66

$6.32 ₽481

78.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.49 MYR 101

$9.94 ₽756

156.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.57 MYR 180

$47.60 ₽3,620

-4.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.62 MYR 30.10

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 MYR 20.19

$5.02 ₽382

1.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,073

$169 ₽12.9K

60.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,452 MYR 37.3K

$6,894 ₽524.3K

37.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 MYR 243

$103 ₽7,818

-40.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.67 MYR 145

$44.15 ₽3,358

-16.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 MYR 336

$104 ₽7,877

-17.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.2 MYR 313

$145 ₽11.1K

-45.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,270

$498 ₽37.9K

15.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MYR 1,486

$304 ₽23.1K

23.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MYR 4,290

$700 ₽53.2K

55.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MYR 2,492

$411 ₽31.3K

53.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,936 MYR 15.5K

$1,683 ₽128.0K

133.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,551 MYR 6,125

$1,217 ₽92.6K

27.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,633 MYR 6,451

$621 ₽47.3K

162.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

11.33

-60.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: April 12, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Kuala Lumpur versus $498 in Makhachkala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 163% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Kuala Lumpur versus $39 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Kuala Lumpur vs $168 in Makhachkala – so Makhachkala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kuala Lumpur vs Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,448 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $39.00 in Makhachkala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Kuala Lumpur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.