Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Vanuatu
For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Lumpur: $1,067 a month against $3,281 in Vanuatu, rent and utilities included – about $26,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Kuala Lumpur Living Index53Cost of Living Index in Kuala LumpurLearn more -
Vanuatu Living Index157Cost of Living Index in VanuatuLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 55.1% cheaper than Vanuatu without rent, and 67.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 48.5% cheaper than Vanuatu without rent, and 58.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 MYR 19.60
$12.78 VUV 1,497
-62.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.82 MYR 118
$57.2 VUV 6,697
-49.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 MYR 20.40
$14.57 VUV 1,706
-65.68%
Cappuccino
$3.05 MYR 12.47
$4.03 VUV 471
-24.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MYR 3.46
$2.25 VUV 264
-62.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.84
$2.38 VUV 278
-81.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 MYR 18.41
$4.93 VUV 578
-8.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.00 MYR 24.50
$7.12 VUV 833
-15.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 MYR 8.63
$3.03 VUV 355
-30.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 MYR 4.40
$2.52 VUV 295
-57.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 MYR 8.24
$3.80 VUV 445
-46.84%
Eggs
$2.55 MYR 10.40
$5.87 VUV 687
-56.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.85 MYR 56.6
$15.92 VUV 1,863
-13.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 MYR 17.91
$16.16 VUV 1,892
-72.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.66 MYR 39.46
$13.23 VUV 1,549
-26.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 MYR 14.16
$6.80 VUV 797
-48.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MYR 7.23
$2.14 VUV 250
-17.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 MYR 9.21
$4.11 VUV 481
-45.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 MYR 6.34
$9.62 VUV 1,126
-83.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 MYR 5.43
$8.75 VUV 1,025
-84.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.64
$4.33 VUV 507
-68.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 MYR 4.79
$2.47 VUV 289
-52.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 MYR 2.73
$1.19 VUV 139
-43.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MYR 17.87
$10.06 VUV 1,178
-56.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 MYR 77.1
$12.80 VUV 1,499
47.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 MYR 14.78
$2.92 VUV 342
23.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 MYR 20.64
$3.00 VUV 352
68.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.92
$1.25 VUV 146
-42.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.46 MYR 50.9
$66.8 VUV 7,819
-81.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 MYR 5.11
$2.57 VUV 301
-51.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 MYR 5.05
$0.83 VUV 96.7
49.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.82 MYR 19.68
$5.17 VUV 606
-6.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 MYR 3.52
$1.75 VUV 205
-50.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K MYR 168.8K
$23.3K VUV 2.7M
77.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K MYR 141.1K
$37.8K VUV 4.4M
-8.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 MYR 251
$624 VUV 73.0K
-90.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60 MYR 35.12
$22.67 VUV 2,654
-62.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.25 MYR 107
$367 VUV 42.9K
-92.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.06 MYR 200
$68.9 VUV 8,063
-28.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 MYR 31.39
$16.76 VUV 1,962
-54.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MYR 20.23
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$295 MYR 1,204
$634 VUV 74.2K
-53.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K MYR 54.0K
$6,742 VUV 789.4K
96.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.6 MYR 296
$40.55 VUV 4,747
79.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.57 MYR 170
$66.9 VUV 7,834
-37.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 MYR 350
$82.9 VUV 9,706
3.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 MYR 389
$99.3 VUV 11.6K
-4.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$625 MYR 2,553
$1,583 VUV 185.4K
-60.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 MYR 1,545
$1,218 VUV 142.6K
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 MYR 4,806
$3,463 VUV 405.5K
-66.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 MYR 2,608
$1,840 VUV 215.4K
-65.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,112 MYR 16.8K
$6,084 VUV 712.3K
-32.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,504 MYR 6,141
$2,144 VUV 251.0K
-29.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Vanuatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,491 MYR 6,088
$342 VUV 40.1K
335.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.18
6.18
-32.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 5, 2026
Last update for Vanuatu: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur $378 34.7%
Vanuatu $1.2K 37.6% 222% $840
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur $273 25%
Vanuatu $479 14.8% 75.6% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur $133 12.2%
Vanuatu $130 4% 1.8% $2.4
Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur $130 11.9%
Vanuatu $252 7.8% 94% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur $96 8.8%
Vanuatu $1K 31.3% 952% $917
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur $59 5.4%
Vanuatu $69 * 2.1% 16.8% $9.9
Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur $23 2.1%
Vanuatu $78 2.4% 245% $56
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur $639 28.9%
Vanuatu $1.8K 34.2% 188% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur $603 27.3%
Vanuatu $1.1K 20.8% 85.9% $518
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur $295 13.4%
Vanuatu $290 5.4% 1.8% $5.4
Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur $397 17.9%
Vanuatu $781 14.5% 97% $385
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur $105 4.8%
Vanuatu $1K 19.3% 887% $931
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur $126 5.7%
Vanuatu $154 * 2.9% 23% $29
Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur $47 2.1%
Vanuatu $159 3% 240% $113
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur
🇻🇺 Vanuatu
Weather
Population
1,982,112 Capital
300,019
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Kuala Lumpur Vanuatu 7,660 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
- Kuala Lumpur
- Vanuatu
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$844
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Penang
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$839
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Langkawi
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$537
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
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