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 $997 per month in Ulan Ude vs $958 in Shah Alam, rent included.

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.77 ₽590

$3.82 MYR 15.46

77.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.14 ₽4,023

$19.79 MYR 80.0

133.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 ₽522

$4.15 MYR 16.78

44.34%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₽258

$2.94 MYR 11.90

0.34%

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

$1.52 ₽133

$0.77 MYR 3.10

97.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₽103

$0.38 MYR 1.54

210.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 ₽191

$3.43 MYR 13.87

-36.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ₽320

$4.59 MYR 18.55

-20.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ₽110

$1.87 MYR 7.57

-32.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₽62.5

$1.07 MYR 4.33

-32.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₽72.9

$1.44 MYR 5.82

-41.67%

Eggs

$1.43 ₽125

$2.13 MYR 8.61

-32.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₽825

$13.27 MYR 53.6

-28.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₽425

$4.33 MYR 17.52

12.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 ₽795

$9.79 MYR 39.60

-6.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₽112

$3.44 MYR 13.91

-62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 ₽119

$1.70 MYR 6.88

-19.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 ₽103

$2.76 MYR 11.18

-56.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₽181

$1.83 MYR 7.40

13.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ₽47.30

$1.25 MYR 5.07

-56.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₽52.9

$2.07 MYR 8.38

-70.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 ₽190

$1.47 MYR 5.94

48.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽57.6

$0.57 MYR 2.31

15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 ₽197

$4.20 MYR 17.00

-46.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.76 ₽590

$19.08 MYR 77.1

-64.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₽77.7

$2.79 MYR 11.27

-68.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₽128

$4.47 MYR 18.08

-67.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₽41.42

$0.77 MYR 3.10

-37.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.61 ₽1,797

$16.34 MYR 66.1

26.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ₽105

$1.28 MYR 5.16

-5.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₽19.23

$0.39 MYR 1.57

-43.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 ₽446

$7.56 MYR 30.56

-32.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽65.8

$0.75 MYR 3.03

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

$33.3K ₽2.9M

$42.1K MYR 170.3K

-20.99%

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

$28.4K ₽2.5M

$35.5K MYR 143.6K

-20.06%

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

$118 ₽10.3K

$38.25 MYR 155

207.95%

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

$3.54 ₽308

$9.86 MYR 39.88

-64.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.92 ₽690

$29.96 MYR 121

-73.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.92 ₽1,998

$39.58 MYR 160

-42.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.03 ₽2,706

$5.02 MYR 20.30

518.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 ₽596

$6.68 MYR 27.00

2.40%

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

$235 ₽20.5K

$202 MYR 816

16.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,658 ₽406.1K

$4,569 MYR 18.5K

1.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 ₽5,950

$58.4 MYR 236

16.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.24 ₽3,770

$39.95 MYR 162

8.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 ₽9,597

$68.5 MYR 277

60.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 ₽8,756

$70.8 MYR 286

41.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 ₽42.9K

$350 MYR 1,415

40.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 ₽32.2K

$311 MYR 1,258

18.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₽66.7K

$567 MYR 2,293

34.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 ₽50.4K

$555 MYR 2,246

4.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,881 ₽164.0K

$1,489 MYR 6,020

26.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,517 ₽132.2K

$1,181 MYR 4,775

28.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$828 ₽72.2K

$1,238 MYR 5,005

-33.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.67

4.24

411.08%

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

Last update for Ulan Ude: August 29, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $492 in Ulan Ude versus $350 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 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 $46.00 in Ulan Ude versus $20.00 in Shah Alam. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in Ulan Ude vs $264 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 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 $1,495 per month in Ulan Ude and $1,437 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.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $997 in Ulan Ude and $958 in Shah Alam. 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.