Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam

😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 7% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 24.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 35.6% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 MYR 19.31
$2.99 MYR 12.61
53.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.83 MYR 122
$18.48 MYR 77.9
56.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.77 MYR 20.13
$4.35 MYR 18.33
9.66%
Cappuccino
$2.96 MYR 12.48
$2.7 MYR 11.41
9.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MYR 3.58
$0.71 MYR 3
19.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.5 MYR 2.11
$0.39 MYR 1.65
28.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.23 MYR 17.82
$3.59 MYR 15.15
17.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 MYR 25.11
$4.38 MYR 18.45
35.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 MYR 8.78
$1.87 MYR 7.87
11.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1 MYR 4.22
$0.95 MYR 4.02
5.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MYR 6.92
$1.49 MYR 6.27
10.07%
Eggs
$2.29 MYR 9.64
$2.13 MYR 8.99
7.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 MYR 62.6
$14.22 MYR 60
4.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.52 MYR 19.05
$5.05 MYR 21.29
-10.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 MYR 40.1
$8.11 MYR 34.21
17.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MYR 12.46
$2.79 MYR 11.77
5.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 MYR 6.85
$1.51 MYR 6.35
7.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.7 MYR 11.37
$2.45 MYR 10.35
10.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 MYR 6.38
$1.24 MYR 5.24
21.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 MYR 5.11
$1.15 MYR 4.83
5.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 MYR 5.92
$1.39 MYR 5.85
0.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 MYR 5.09
$0.91 MYR 3.84
32.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 MYR 2.87
$0.52 MYR 2.19
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MYR 17.68
$4.18 MYR 17.61
0.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.11 MYR 76.4
$18.09 MYR 76.3
0.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33 MYR 14.06
$2.7 MYR 11.38
23.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 MYR 18.5
$3.92 MYR 16.53
11.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 3.06
$0.73 MYR 3.08
-1.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.74 MYR 49.49
$15.15 MYR 63.9
-22.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 MYR 5.11
$0.97 MYR 4.07
24.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 MYR 4.78
$0.54 MYR 2.29
109.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 MYR 19.35
$6.89 MYR 29.07
-33.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 MYR 2.01
$0.5 MYR 2.1
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40K MYR 168.8K
$33.9K MYR 142.8K
18.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33K MYR 139.2K
$27.9K MYR 117.6K
18.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.8 MYR 273
$41.07 MYR 173
57.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.7 MYR 49.34
$10.23 MYR 43.14
14.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.5 MYR 108
$30.49 MYR 129
-16.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.93 MYR 194
$39.06 MYR 165
17.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.76 MYR 32.73
$5.98 MYR 25.24
29.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 MYR 22.03
$6.17 MYR 26.02
-15.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 MYR 1,122
$209 MYR 882
27.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,267 MYR 39.1K
$6,113 MYR 25.8K
51.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5 MYR 259
$49.07 MYR 207
25.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.04 MYR 160
$34.66 MYR 146
9.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 MYR 364
$61.7 MYR 260
39.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 MYR 336
$48.64 MYR 205
63.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$578 MYR 2,437
$364 MYR 1,536
58.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 MYR 1,566
$262 MYR 1,105
41.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 MYR 4,472
$575 MYR 2,425
84.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$628 MYR 2,649
$477 MYR 2,010
31.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,071 MYR 12.9K
$1,457 MYR 6,145
110.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 MYR 6,459
$1,158 MYR 4,883
32.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Shah Alam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,342 MYR 5,659
$1,199 MYR 5,057
11.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
4.16
7.45%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shah Alam: October 27, 2025

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