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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,069 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,078 in Szeged, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,643 in Szeged, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,119 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $2,208 in Szeged, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur is about 1% cheaper than Szeged, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Szeged are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Szeged 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.79 MYR 19.60

$7.76 Ft 2,456

-38.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.03 MYR 115

$45.37 Ft 14.4K

-38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.64

$5.71 Ft 1,806

-15.76%

Cappuccino

$3.09 MYR 12.62

$1.96 Ft 620

57.65%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.44

$1.37 Ft 433

-38.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.99 Ft 314

-46.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.82

$2.37 Ft 748

83.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 MYR 24.16

$2.16 Ft 683

173.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$1.11 Ft 350

78.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.46 Ft 460

-28.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.84

$1.84 Ft 583

-9.24%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.29

$2.82 Ft 893

-19.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.79 MYR 60.5

$7.83 Ft 2,477

88.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.48

$5.89 Ft 1,863

-23.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 MYR 38.70

$11.22 Ft 3,550

-15.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.59

$1.86 Ft 587

52.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.39

$1.77 Ft 559

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$2.04 Ft 646

28.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.04

$2.94 Ft 930

-49.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.05 Ft 333

21.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.52

$1.20 Ft 380

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.44 Ft 456

-19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.44 Ft 140

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.14

$7.24 Ft 2,292

-42.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.22 MYR 74.5

$4.95 Ft 1,565

268.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 MYR 13.39

$1.00 Ft 316

228.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 MYR 17.74

$1.19 Ft 375

264.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$1.56 Ft 493

-56.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.25

$28.00 Ft 8,860

-58.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$2.85 Ft 900

-59.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.33 Ft 419

-13.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 MYR 19.79

$17.08 Ft 5,405

-71.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$1.76 Ft 557

-71.02%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.4K

$26.4K Ft 8.3M

54.41%

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

$32.3K MYR 132.1K

$25.5K Ft 8.1M

26.91%

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

$65.7 MYR 268

$106 Ft 33.6K

-38.09%

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

$11.50 MYR 46.99

$24.84 Ft 7,860

-53.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.16 MYR 103

$18.55 Ft 5,870

35.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 MYR 186

$39.81 Ft 12.6K

14.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 MYR 31.54

$20.18 Ft 6,385

-61.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 MYR 20.86

$7.95 Ft 2,517

-35.85%

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

$267 MYR 1,089

$217 Ft 68.8K

22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,341 MYR 38.2K

$6,385 Ft 2.0M

46.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 MYR 250

$89.0 Ft 28.2K

-31.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.05 MYR 151

$25.65 Ft 8,116

44.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 355

$87.6 Ft 27.7K

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 MYR 328

$107 Ft 33.7K

-24.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 MYR 2,366

$436 Ft 137.8K

32.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,524

$341 Ft 107.8K

9.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 MYR 4,286

$662 Ft 209.4K

58.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,631

$550 Ft 173.9K

17.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 MYR 16.3K

$3,269 Ft 1.0M

21.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 MYR 6,000

$2,387 Ft 755.4K

-38.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,589 MYR 6,493

$1,336 Ft 422.7K

18.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

5.85

-23.59%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 28, 2026

Last update for Szeged: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $579 in Kuala Lumpur versus $436 in Szeged. 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 19% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $45.00 in Szeged. Groceries tell a different story – $264 in Kuala Lumpur vs $207 in Szeged – so Szeged 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 Szeged: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Szeged is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,603 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,617 in Szeged. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Szeged – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $45.00 in Szeged. 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 Kuala Lumpur, where all-in costs run around $1,069, than in Szeged at $1,078. In Kuala Lumpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szeged it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuala Lumpur – 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 Kuala Lumpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szeged makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.