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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,120 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $783 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,685 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,303 in Maracaibo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,251 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,823 in Maracaibo, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 43% more than Maracaibo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Maracaibo are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 MYR 20.62

$10.44 VES 8,665

-51.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.14 MYR 119

$40.65 VES 33.8K

-28.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.56

$9.04 VES 7,510

-46.79%

Cappuccino

$3.17 MYR 12.89

$2.67 VES 2,219

18.73%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.32

$1.14 VES 944

-28.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$1.33 VES 1,106

-65.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.43 MYR 18.02

$2.24 VES 1,858

97.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.40

$2.92 VES 2,428

105.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 MYR 8.61

$1.78 VES 1,476

19.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$2.11 VES 1,750

-47.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.55

$1.03 VES 856

103.88%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.12

$3.73 VES 3,101

-33.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.53 MYR 63.2

$6.70 VES 5,560

131.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 MYR 20.07

$6.47 VES 5,370

-23.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.17

$7.47 VES 6,199

28.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.76

$4.72 VES 3,916

-28.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.61

$1.37 VES 1,135

36.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MYR 9.71

$1.55 VES 1,290

54.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.63

$1.41 VES 1,174

15.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.55

$1.23 VES 1,021

10.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.91

$1.75 VES 1,449

-17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$0.98 VES 810

17.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$2.03 VES 1,684

-63.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.96

$2.97 VES 2,464

48.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 MYR 76.7

$8.97 VES 7,447

110.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 MYR 14.42

$1.09 VES 903

224.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 MYR 20.45

$2.61 VES 2,171

92.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.11

$0.43 VES 360

79.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.27 MYR 49.93

$41.84 VES 34.7K

-70.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$4.11 VES 3,416

-70.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MYR 4.99

$2.04 VES 1,692

-39.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 MYR 20.04

$17.34 VES 14.4K

-71.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 MYR 3.11

$0.66 VES 546

15.15%

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

$42.8K MYR 174.0K

$14.9K VES 12.4M

187.13%

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

$35.4K MYR 144.0K

$28.5K VES 23.7M

24.22%

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

$63.5 MYR 258

$63.0 VES 52.3K

0.71%

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

$9.41 MYR 38.29

$7.31 VES 6,072

28.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.74 MYR 109

$25.06 VES 20.8K

6.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 MYR 205

$33.94 VES 28.2K

48.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.64 MYR 31.07

$28.21 VES 23.4K

-72.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 MYR 22.55

$5.07 VES 4,211

9.27%

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

$302 MYR 1,230

$153 VES 127.0K

97.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K MYR 51.6K

$7,201 VES 6.0M

76.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 MYR 299

$27.67 VES 23.0K

165.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.08 MYR 171

$32.17 VES 26.7K

30.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 MYR 361

$61.3 VES 50.9K

44.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 MYR 395

$57.5 VES 47.8K

68.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MYR 2,470

$162 VES 134.8K

273.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 MYR 1,492

$93.1 VES 77.3K

294.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 MYR 4,933

$298 VES 247.4K

307.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,612

$197 VES 163.4K

226.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,079 MYR 16.6K

$743 VES 616.6K

449.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,246

$506 VES 420.6K

203.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,493 MYR 6,075

$200 VES 166.3K

645.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

-79.00%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 5, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Kuala Lumpur versus $162 in Maracaibo. 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 646% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries tell a different story – $283 in Kuala Lumpur vs $242 in Maracaibo – so Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,175 in Maracaibo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $41.00 in Maracaibo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maracaibo, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,120. In Maracaibo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maracaibo – 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 Maracaibo. 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.