Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Ulan Ude Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Ulan Ude

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Shah Alam vs $997 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,528 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Shah Alam vs $2,060 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 4% cheaper than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shah Alam and Ulan Ude are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam 30% lower, Ulan Ude 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 MYR 15.42

$6.77 ₽586

-43.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.79 MYR 79.8

$46.14 ₽3,993

-57.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.74

$5.99 ₽518

-30.72%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.87

$2.95 ₽256

-0.34%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$1.52 ₽132

-49.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.53

$1.18 ₽102

-67.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 MYR 13.84

$2.19 ₽189

56.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 MYR 18.51

$3.67 ₽317

25.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.56

$1.26 ₽109

48.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.32

$0.72 ₽62.0

48.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.80

$0.84 ₽72.3

71.43%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.59

$1.43 ₽124

48.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 MYR 53.5

$9.46 ₽819

40.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.48

$4.87 ₽422

-11.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.51

$9.12 ₽789

7.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.88

$1.29 ₽112

166.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.87

$1.37 ₽118

24.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.15

$1.19 ₽103

131.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 MYR 7.38

$2.07 ₽179

-11.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.05

$0.54 ₽46.95

131.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 MYR 8.36

$0.61 ₽52.5

239.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 MYR 5.92

$2.18 ₽188

-32.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.66 ₽57.1

-13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 16.96

$2.26 ₽196

85.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 MYR 77.0

$6.76 ₽585

182.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 MYR 11.24

$0.89 ₽77.1

213.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.04

$1.46 ₽127

206.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.09

$0.48 ₽41.11

60.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.34 MYR 65.9

$20.61 ₽1,784

-20.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 MYR 5.15

$1.21 ₽105

5.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$0.22 ₽19.08

77.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 MYR 30.50

$5.11 ₽443

47.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 MYR 3.02

$0.75 ₽65.3

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

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

$33.3K ₽2.9M

26.57%

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

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

$28.4K ₽2.5M

25.09%

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

$38.25 MYR 154

$118 ₽10.2K

-67.53%

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

$9.86 MYR 39.79

$3.54 ₽306

178.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MYR 121

$7.92 ₽685

278.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 MYR 160

$22.92 ₽1,983

72.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 MYR 20.25

$31.03 ₽2,686

-83.82%

Cinema Ticket

$6.68 MYR 26.94

$6.84 ₽592

-2.34%

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

$202 MYR 814

$235 ₽20.4K

-14.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

$4,658 ₽403.1K

-1.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 MYR 236

$68.2 ₽5,906

-14.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.95 MYR 161

$43.24 ₽3,742

-7.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 MYR 276

$110 ₽9,525

-37.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 286

$100 ₽8,691

-29.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 MYR 1,412

$492 ₽42.6K

-28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,255

$369 ₽32.0K

-15.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 MYR 2,288

$766 ₽66.2K

-25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 MYR 2,241

$579 ₽50.1K

-4.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 MYR 6,007

$1,881 ₽162.8K

-20.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MYR 4,764

$1,517 ₽131.3K

-22.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,238 MYR 4,994

$828 ₽71.6K

49.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

21.67

-80.43%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Shah Alam versus $492 in Ulan Ude. 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 50% higher in Shah Alam, 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam versus $46.00 in Ulan Ude. Groceries tell a different story – $264 in Shah Alam vs $179 in Ulan Ude – so Ulan Ude 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

Shah Alam vs Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ulan Ude is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,437 per month in Shah Alam and $1,495 in Ulan Ude. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Shah Alam and $46.00 in Ulan Ude. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in Shah Alam and $997 in Ulan Ude. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shah Alam, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Ulan Ude at $997. In Shah Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulan Ude it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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