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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $851 per month in Montana vs $1,143 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Montana vs $1,587 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Montana vs $2,030 in Cheras, rent included.

Montana is about 26% cheaper than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montana and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Montana 38% lower, Cheras 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.20 BGN 15.31

$3.82 MYR 15.58

140.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.42 BGN 62.3

$25.02 MYR 102

49.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 BGN 16.75

$4.90 MYR 19.99

105.51%

Cappuccino

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$3.09 MYR 12.63

-52.75%

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

$1.38 BGN 2.29

$0.88 MYR 3.60

56.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$0.52 MYR 2.11

109.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 BGN 2.33

$4.54 MYR 18.52

-69.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BGN 1.79

$6.47 MYR 26.41

-83.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 BGN 2.77

$1.96 MYR 8.01

-15.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.05 MYR 4.28

3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 BGN 3.61

$1.50 MYR 6.11

44.67%

Eggs

$2.87 BGN 4.78

$1.77 MYR 7.22

62.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 BGN 16.59

$18.37 MYR 75.0

-45.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 BGN 5.48

$4.49 MYR 18.32

-26.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 BGN 21.86

$10.59 MYR 43.25

24.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 BGN 2.09

$3.42 MYR 13.97

-63.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BGN 3.10

$1.95 MYR 7.94

-4.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 BGN 3.04

$2.76 MYR 11.26

-33.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 BGN 4.38

$1.62 MYR 6.60

62.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 BGN 1.22

$2.19 MYR 8.96

-66.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 BGN 1.63

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-43.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 BGN 1.59

$1.34 MYR 5.49

-28.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BGN 0.85

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-7.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 BGN 6.31

$4.32 MYR 17.65

-12.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 BGN 10.50

$14.14 MYR 57.7

-55.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BGN 1.55

$2.79 MYR 11.39

-66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 BGN 1.92

$3.01 MYR 12.30

-61.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 BGN 1.45

$0.73 MYR 2.98

19.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.27 BGN 42.04

$12.17 MYR 49.70

107.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 BGN 1.10

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-48.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 BGN 0.80

$0.36 MYR 1.47

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.54 BGN 17.53

$9.54 MYR 38.93

10.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 BGN 2.70

$0.79 MYR 3.22

105.06%

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

$20.4K BGN 34.0K

$42.1K MYR 171.7K

-51.38%

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

$24.9K BGN 41.4K

$34.3K MYR 139.8K

-27.29%

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

$102 BGN 170

$49.68 MYR 203

106.18%

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

$19.54 BGN 32.51

$11.03 MYR 45.02

77.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.72 BGN 14.51

$28.11 MYR 115

-68.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.59 BGN 50.9

$52.9 MYR 216

-42.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.21 BGN 28.63

$6.35 MYR 25.93

171.02%

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 BGN 9.16

$4.89 MYR 19.97

12.68%

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

$523 BGN 869

$162 MYR 661

222.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,727 BGN 9,528

$4,441 MYR 18.1K

28.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.7 BGN 118

$65.0 MYR 265

8.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.73 BGN 71.1

$30.35 MYR 124

40.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 BGN 167

$81.5 MYR 333

22.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BGN 180

$86.3 MYR 352

25.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 BGN 365

$413 MYR 1,687

-46.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 BGN 267

$466 MYR 1,904

-65.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$405 BGN 674

$689 MYR 2,814

-41.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BGN 521

$486 MYR 1,984

-35.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,345 BGN 2,237

$2,286 MYR 9,332

-41.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,121 BGN 1,865

$1,083 MYR 4,423

3.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,003 BGN 1,669

$1,210 MYR 4,940

-17.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

4.06

-23.65%

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

Last update for Montana: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cheras: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $219 in Montana versus $413 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 21% higher in Cheras, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Montana versus $25.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Montana vs $271 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

Yes – Cheras is pricier by about 34%, 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 $1,277 per month in Montana and $1,714 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 32% more in Cheras, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Montana and $25.00 in Cheras. 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 Montana, where all-in costs run around $851, than in Cheras at $1,143. In Montana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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