Cost of Living Comparison Between Montana and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Montana and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $841 per month in Montana vs $838 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,335 per month in Montana vs $1,278 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,829 per month in Montana vs $1,719 in Cheras, rent included.

Montana and Cheras have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Montana and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Montana 37% lower, Cheras 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.58 BGN 17.61

$3.48 MYR 14.34

204.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.00 BGN 59.9

$18.98 MYR 78.1

89.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 BGN 13.20

$4.67 MYR 19.24

69.81%

Cappuccino

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$2.89 MYR 11.89

-48.44%

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

$1.45 BGN 2.42

$0.80 MYR 3.28

81.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 BGN 1.42

$0.48 MYR 1.98

77.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 BGN 2.20

$4.57 MYR 18.82

-70.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$6.41 MYR 26.38

-83.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.88 MYR 7.72

-12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BGN 1.59

$1.01 MYR 4.16

-5.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.24 MYR 5.09

41.94%

Eggs

$2.69 BGN 4.48

$2.09 MYR 8.61

28.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 BGN 16.00

$15.51 MYR 63.8

-38.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 BGN 5.37

$3.54 MYR 14.56

-8.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.22 BGN 21.99

$7.55 MYR 31.06

75.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 BGN 2.02

$2.72 MYR 11.20

-55.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 BGN 4.31

$1.68 MYR 6.91

54.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 BGN 3.31

$2.56 MYR 10.55

-22.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 BGN 3.48

$1.22 MYR 5.01

71.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 BGN 1.36

$1.52 MYR 6.25

-46.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 BGN 1.21

$1.37 MYR 5.65

-46.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 BGN 2.34

$0.88 MYR 3.64

60.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 BGN 0.86

$0.53 MYR 2.18

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 BGN 5.94

$4.29 MYR 17.66

-16.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 BGN 10.15

$14.01 MYR 57.6

-56.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BGN 1.54

$2.73 MYR 11.23

-65.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BGN 2.98

$3.84 MYR 15.80

-53.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 BGN 1.62

$0.49 MYR 2.03

97.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.86 BGN 59.7

$11.91 MYR 49.02

201.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 BGN 1.06

$1.01 MYR 4.16

-36.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 BGN 0.73

$0.98 MYR 4.04

-55.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 BGN 17.46

$9.50 MYR 39.09

10.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 BGN 2.54

$0.47 MYR 1.92

223.40%

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

$20.2K BGN 33.6K

$48.8K MYR 200.9K

-58.58%

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

$25.0K BGN 41.7K

$31.6K MYR 129.9K

-20.70%

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

$99.2 BGN 165

$40.20 MYR 165

146.82%

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

$17.59 BGN 29.26

$9.05 MYR 37.25

94.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.69 BGN 14.45

$30.66 MYR 126

-71.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.95 BGN 34.86

$40.28 MYR 166

-47.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.59 BGN 14.28

$5.72 MYR 23.54

50.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 BGN 9.29

$5.07 MYR 20.87

10.06%

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

$325 BGN 541

$189 MYR 778

71.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,404 BGN 8,990

$7,017 MYR 28.9K

-22.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 BGN 88.1

$65.1 MYR 268

-18.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.41 BGN 48.92

$34.00 MYR 140

-13.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 BGN 121

$72.2 MYR 297

0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BGN 173

$49.16 MYR 202

112.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 BGN 372

$375 MYR 1,543

-40.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 BGN 273

$233 MYR 958

-29.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$417 BGN 693

$657 MYR 2,704

-36.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 BGN 511

$430 MYR 1,771

-28.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,359 BGN 2,261

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,123 BGN 1,869

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,043 BGN 1,736

$1,196 MYR 4,920

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.2

4.07

-21.38%

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

Last update for Montana: June 16, 2026

Last update for Cheras: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $224 in Montana versus $375 in Cheras. 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 15% higher in Cheras. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Montana versus $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Montana vs $236 in Cheras – so Montana 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

Montana vs Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,262 per month in Montana and $1,257 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Montana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $325 per month in Montana and $189 in Cheras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $841 in Montana and $838 in Cheras, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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