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 $1,120 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $676 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,685 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,184 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,251 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,692 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 66% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Makhachkala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 MYR 20.62

$11.78 ₽990

-56.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.14 MYR 119

$34.92 ₽2,935

-16.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.56

$4.61 ₽387

4.34%

Cappuccino

$3.17 MYR 12.89

$2.69 ₽227

17.84%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.32

$0.75 ₽63.2

9.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.32 ₽27.06

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.43 MYR 18.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.40

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 MYR 8.61

$1.39 ₽117

52.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$0.48 ₽40.59

131.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.55

$1.14 ₽95.7

84.21%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.12

$1.50 ₽126

66.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.53 MYR 63.2

$8.31 ₽699

86.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 MYR 20.07

$6.12 ₽514

-19.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.17

$7.80 ₽656

23.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.76

$1.25 ₽105

170.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.61

$1.79 ₽150

4.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MYR 9.71

$2.16 ₽182

10.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.63

$2.97 ₽249

-45.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.55

$0.77 ₽64.5

76.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.91

$0.45 ₽38.17

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.88 ₽74.4

-15.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.96

$2.85 ₽239

54.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 MYR 76.7

$3.50 ₽294

438.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 MYR 14.42

$0.51 ₽43.00

594.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 MYR 20.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.11

$0.36 ₽29.87

113.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.27 MYR 49.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$2.34 ₽197

-48.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MYR 4.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 MYR 20.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 MYR 3.11

$0.76 ₽63.6

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

$42.8K MYR 174.0K

$32.1K ₽2.7M

33.36%

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

$35.4K MYR 144.0K

$28.5K ₽2.4M

24.34%

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

$63.5 MYR 258

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

$9.41 MYR 38.29

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.74 MYR 109

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 MYR 205

$54.4 ₽4,575

-7.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.64 MYR 31.07

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 MYR 22.55

$4.52 ₽380

22.57%

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

$302 MYR 1,230

$205 ₽17.3K

47.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K MYR 51.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 MYR 299

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.08 MYR 171

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 MYR 361

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 MYR 395

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MYR 2,470

$381 ₽32.0K

59.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 MYR 1,492

$295 ₽24.8K

24.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 MYR 4,933

$861 ₽72.4K

40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,612

$661 ₽55.6K

-2.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,079 MYR 16.6K

$1,475 ₽124.0K

176.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,246

$1,080 ₽90.7K

42.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,493 MYR 6,075

$591 ₽49.7K

152.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

-76.67%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 5, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Kuala Lumpur versus $381 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 153% 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 $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $35.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $283 in Kuala Lumpur vs $172 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 66%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,680 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,014 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 $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $35.00 in Makhachkala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $676, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,120. 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.