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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,096 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,343 in Yakutsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $2,022 in Yakutsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,303 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $2,702 in Yakutsk, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur is about 18% cheaper than Yakutsk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Yakutsk are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Yakutsk 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.88 MYR 19.72
$8.57 ₽735
-43.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.14 MYR 122
$41.05 ₽3,523
-26.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 MYR 19.57
$8.34 ₽716
-41.97%
Cappuccino
$3.22 MYR 12.99
$2.12 ₽182
51.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MYR 3.50
$1.57 ₽135
-44.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 MYR 2.00
$0.98 ₽84.1
-48.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 MYR 17.62
$3.46 ₽297
26.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 MYR 24.37
$2.94 ₽252
105.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 MYR 8.56
$1.70 ₽146
24.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 MYR 4.35
$0.81 ₽69.6
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 MYR 8.54
$1.52 ₽130
38.82%
Eggs
$2.49 MYR 10.05
$2.12 ₽182
17.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.64 MYR 63.2
$11.84 ₽1,016
32.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.95 MYR 20.02
$7.46 ₽640
-33.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.90 MYR 40.02
$9.49 ₽814
4.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 MYR 13.57
$3.13 ₽269
7.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 MYR 7.56
$2.65 ₽228
-29.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 MYR 9.66
$3.70 ₽317
-35.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.70
$4.54 ₽389
-63.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.60
$1.15 ₽99.1
20.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.58
$1.43 ₽123
-3.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MYR 4.76
$1.40 ₽121
-15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 MYR 2.89
$0.89 ₽76.4
-19.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MYR 17.74
$2.96 ₽254
48.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.40 MYR 78.4
$7.94 ₽681
144.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.56 MYR 14.37
$1.52 ₽130
134.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 MYR 20.43
$2.50 ₽215
102.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 MYR 3.10
$0.65 ₽56.1
18.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.34 MYR 49.87
$18.75 ₽1,609
-34.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 MYR 4.94
$2.35 ₽202
-48.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 MYR 5.08
$0.22 ₽18.91
472.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.03 MYR 20.34
$5.83 ₽500
-13.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 MYR 3.16
$0.83 ₽70.9
-6.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.9K MYR 169.4K
$37.0K ₽3.2M
13.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K MYR 140.2K
$25.5K ₽2.2M
36.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.5 MYR 257
$153 ₽13.1K
-58.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.29 MYR 37.55
$7.91 ₽679
17.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.35 MYR 106
$14.04 ₽1,205
87.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.81 MYR 197
$92.5 ₽7,937
-47.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.73 MYR 31.22
$4.68 ₽402
65.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.48 MYR 22.16
$5.90 ₽506
-7.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 MYR 1,222
$304 ₽26.1K
-0.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K MYR 51.1K
$2,363 ₽202.8K
434.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2 MYR 296
$62.4 ₽5,355
17.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.36 MYR 171
$61.5 ₽5,280
-31.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 MYR 364
$153 ₽13.1K
-41.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 MYR 407
$95.5 ₽8,192
5.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 MYR 2,430
$639 ₽54.8K
-5.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 MYR 1,486
$431 ₽37.0K
-14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MYR 4,991
$1,092 ₽93.7K
13.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 MYR 2,548
$733 ₽62.9K
-14.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 MYR 16.6K
$2,822 ₽242.2K
45.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,546 MYR 6,246
$2,450 ₽210.3K
-36.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Yakutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 MYR 6,363
$1,039 ₽89.2K
51.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
21
-80.00%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: August 30, 2026

Last update for Yakutsk: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $601 in Kuala Lumpur versus $639 in Yakutsk. 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 52% 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 $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $41.00 in Yakutsk. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Kuala Lumpur vs $261 in Yakutsk – so Yakutsk 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 Yakutsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yakutsk cheaper than Kuala Lumpur?
Yes – Yakutsk is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,644 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $2,014 in Yakutsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Kuala Lumpur and in Yakutsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Yakutsk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Kuala Lumpur or in Yakutsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $41.00 in Yakutsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kuala Lumpur or in Yakutsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuala Lumpur, where all-in costs run around $1,096, than in Yakutsk at $1,343. In Kuala Lumpur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yakutsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kuala Lumpur or Yakutsk more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Kuala Lumpur or Yakutsk?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kuala Lumpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yakutsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kuala Lumpur vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities