Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuantan and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuantan: $839 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

41

Cost of Living Index in Kuantan
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Kuantan Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Kuantan

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$839

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kuantan and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kuantan and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Kuantan versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Kuantan $839
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Kuantan versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Kuantan $1,219
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,599 in Kuantan versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Kuantan $1,599
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Kuantan costs roughly 68% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuantan is 38% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.49 MYR 10.18

$20.77 $20.77

-88.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.00 MYR 48.96

$84.6 $84.6

-85.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 MYR 14.83

$12.32 $12.32

-70.54%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.73

$5.63 $5.63

-48.85%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$3.72 $3.72

-80.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$2.50 $2.50

-82.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$8.05 $8.05

-65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 MYR 23.37

$9.01 $9.01

-36.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.52

$1.12 $1.12

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 MYR 3.35

$3.75 $3.75

-78.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.98

$3.26 $3.26

-54.91%

Eggs

$1.31 MYR 5.34

$4.17 $4.17

-68.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.51 MYR 38.79

$12.90 $12.90

-26.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.36

$14.16 $14.16

-76.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.42 MYR 18.04

$16.22 $16.22

-72.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MYR 12.35

$4.33 $4.33

-30.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 MYR 7.87

$1.46 $1.46

32.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.12

$4.51 $4.51

-39.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.14

$4.34 $4.34

-59.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$2.58 $2.58

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 MYR 7.93

$2.35 $2.35

-17.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 MYR 3.12

$1.78 $1.78

-57.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.28

$2.22 $2.22

-74.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MYR 17.85

$9.88 $9.88

-55.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.95 MYR 81.4

$15.08 $15.08

32.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 MYR 8.13

$2.92 $2.92

-31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.81

$3.46 $3.46

-44.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$1.49 $1.49

-65.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 MYR 49.55

$41.72 $41.72

-70.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$2.73 $2.73

-58.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.45

$1.66 $1.66

-78.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.05 MYR 36.92

$35.30 $35.30

-74.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.95 $0.95

-45.26%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$36.0K $36.0K

-5.40%

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

$33.1K MYR 134.9K

$27.1K $27.1K

22.18%

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

$49.82 MYR 203

$229 $229

-78.24%

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

$8.06 MYR 32.86

$59.4 $59.4

-86.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 MYR 98.6

$69.9 $69.9

-65.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.79 MYR 162

$57.2 $57.2

-30.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.83 MYR 27.87

$16.33 $16.33

-58.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 MYR 18.98

$14.28 $14.28

-67.44%

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

$280 MYR 1,142

$1,506 $1,506

-81.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K MYR 41.8K

$21.5K $21.5K

-52.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 MYR 214

$52.8 $52.8

-0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.29 MYR 124

$43.82 $43.82

-30.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.62 MYR 202

$84.8 $84.8

-41.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.89 MYR 199

$103 $103

-52.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 MYR 1,675

$1,907 $1,907

-78.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 MYR 1,232

$1,274 $1,274

-76.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 MYR 2,822

$3,664 $3,664

-81.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 MYR 1,943

$2,538 $2,538

-81.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,015 MYR 8,220

$7,614 $7,614

-73.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,090 MYR 4,448

$3,157 $3,157

-65.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$975 MYR 3,976

$5,121 $5,121

-80.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.15

6.79

-38.88%

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

Last update for Kuantan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Kuantan

$302 36%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 322% $972

Groceries & Markets

Kuantan

$212 25.3%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 90.5% $192

Eating Out

Kuantan

$95 11.4%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 271% $258

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kuantan

$82 9.8%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 337% $276

Clothing & Footwear

Kuantan

$82 9.7%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 56.9% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Kuantan

$49 5.9%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 74.7% $37

Getting Around

Kuantan

$17 2%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 244% $42

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Kuantan and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 425% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kuantan vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $405 per month, with Kuantan cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇾 Kuantan

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

08:13 8:13 AM

19:13 7:13 PM

13 h behind Kuantan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

548,014

974,447

💱 Currency

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇾 Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to MYR in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Kuantan Austin, TX 15,610 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Kuantan
Austin, TX

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

Kuantan vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuantan wins on cost – living expenses run 217% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kuantan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 425% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Kuantan versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $839 per month in Kuantan versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 217% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuantan runs roughly 243% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $839 in Kuantan versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuantan but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kuantan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kuantan and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuantan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.