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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $960 per month in Ulan Ude vs $873 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Ulan Ude vs $1,333 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,967 per month in Ulan Ude vs $1,793 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Ulan Ude costs about 10% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ulan Ude and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Ulan Ude 28% lower, Shah Alam 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.28 ₽725

$2.97 MYR 12.16

212.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ₽2,945

$18.70 MYR 76.6

101.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ₽468

$4.13 MYR 16.91

45.04%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₽179

$2.73 MYR 11.16

-16.12%

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

$1.19 ₽92.9

$0.72 MYR 2.93

65.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₽37.21

$0.36 MYR 1.49

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ₽111

$3.59 MYR 14.71

-60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₽197

$4.31 MYR 17.63

-41.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₽90.9

$1.80 MYR 7.38

-35.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₽34.32

$0.99 MYR 4.06

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 ₽107

$1.49 MYR 6.10

-8.05%

Eggs

$1.72 ₽135

$2.03 MYR 8.30

-15.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 ₽835

$14.35 MYR 58.7

-25.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.90 ₽383

$5.07 MYR 20.74

-3.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 ₽694

$7.92 MYR 32.43

12.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 ₽136

$2.80 MYR 11.45

-38.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₽144

$1.50 MYR 6.14

22.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽151

$2.55 MYR 10.44

-24.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 ₽208

$1.24 MYR 5.10

114.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₽61.4

$1.13 MYR 4.61

-30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₽52.7

$1.34 MYR 5.49

-49.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₽109

$0.91 MYR 3.73

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.0

$0.52 MYR 2.14

30.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 ₽233

$4.13 MYR 16.89

-27.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.36 ₽497

$18.60 MYR 76.1

-65.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽78.3

$2.65 MYR 10.86

-62.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₽150

$4.00 MYR 16.37

-52.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₽38.03

$0.74 MYR 3.04

-33.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.20 MYR 62.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₽146

$0.95 MYR 3.90

96.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ₽25.76

$0.54 MYR 2.20

-38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 ₽491

$7.21 MYR 29.49

-12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽62.3

$0.49 MYR 2.01

63.27%

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

$34.8K ₽2.7M

$33.6K MYR 137.6K

3.57%

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

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$27.4K MYR 112.2K

31.43%

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

$109 ₽8,545

$41.19 MYR 169

165.55%

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

$5.99 ₽468

$10.07 MYR 41.22

-40.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.76 ₽607

$30.14 MYR 123

-74.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.95 ₽2,808

$38.85 MYR 159

-7.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 23.83

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 ₽398

$6.37 MYR 26.05

-20.09%

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

$319 ₽24.9K

$210 MYR 861

51.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,056 ₽551.3K

$6,234 MYR 25.5K

13.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 ₽5,373

$50.0 MYR 205

37.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₽3,474

$34.92 MYR 143

27.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,872

$61.0 MYR 249

86.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₽8,473

$49.48 MYR 203

119.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₽34.9K

$372 MYR 1,522

20.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₽23.9K

$266 MYR 1,087

15.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₽59.3K

$586 MYR 2,399

29.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₽40.3K

$482 MYR 1,971

7.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,329 ₽182.0K

$1,505 MYR 6,158

54.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,802 ₽140.8K

$1,208 MYR 4,945

49.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$670 ₽52.4K

$1,252 MYR 5,124

-46.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.33

4.16

340.62%

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

Last update for Ulan Ude: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Ulan Ude versus $372 in Shah Alam. 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 87% 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 $38.00 in Ulan Ude versus $19.00 in Shah Alam. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Ulan Ude vs $248 in Shah Alam – so Ulan Ude wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Yes – Ulan Ude is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,440 per month in Ulan Ude and $1,310 in Shah Alam. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $960 in Ulan Ude and $873 in Shah Alam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Ulan Ude and $210 in Shah Alam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shah Alam, where all-in costs run around $873, than in Ulan Ude at $960. 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.