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 $976 per month in Ulan Ude vs $857 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,502 per month in Ulan Ude vs $1,310 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,029 per month in Ulan Ude vs $1,763 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Ulan Ude costs about 14% more than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ulan Ude and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Ulan Ude 27% lower, Shah Alam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.76 ₽712

$3.02 MYR 11.97

223.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.64 ₽2,747

$18.93 MYR 75.1

98.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 ₽429

$4.13 MYR 16.37

42.37%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₽167

$2.73 MYR 10.81

-16.12%

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

$1.19 ₽87.2

$0.72 MYR 2.87

65.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₽37.76

$0.37 MYR 1.46

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ₽98.9

$3.44 MYR 13.63

-60.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 ₽190

$4.43 MYR 17.57

-41.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₽83.7

$1.88 MYR 7.45

-38.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₽32.07

$0.94 MYR 3.74

-53.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ₽101

$1.50 MYR 5.95

-7.33%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽131

$2.06 MYR 8.16

-13.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 ₽801

$14.26 MYR 56.6

-23.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₽352

$4.94 MYR 19.60

-2.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.72 ₽636

$8.09 MYR 32.06

7.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₽132

$2.83 MYR 11.20

-36.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₽131

$1.46 MYR 5.77

23.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₽138

$2.58 MYR 10.22

-26.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₽202

$1.21 MYR 4.82

128.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ₽62.0

$1.18 MYR 4.67

-27.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ₽51.7

$1.40 MYR 5.55

-49.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.42 ₽104

$0.89 MYR 3.53

59.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₽51.3

$0.57 MYR 2.25

22.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ₽214

$4.17 MYR 16.52

-29.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.11 ₽519

$19.18 MYR 76.1

-62.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₽74.9

$2.65 MYR 10.51

-61.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₽142

$3.81 MYR 15.12

-49.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽39.03

$0.69 MYR 2.75

-23.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 MYR 60.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₽140

$0.96 MYR 3.79

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ₽23.59

$0.54 MYR 2.16

-40.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ₽474

$7.13 MYR 28.27

-8.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽57.9

$0.46 MYR 1.83

71.74%

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

$34.7K ₽2.5M

$33.5K MYR 132.8K

3.57%

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

$35.2K ₽2.6M

$27.7K MYR 109.9K

27.19%

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

$109 ₽7,921

$41.35 MYR 164

162.44%

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

$6.09 ₽445

$10.16 MYR 40.27

-40.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.67 ₽560

$30.62 MYR 121

-74.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 ₽2,634

$38.96 MYR 154

-7.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 23.72

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₽375

$6.36 MYR 25.23

-19.34%

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

$324 ₽23.7K

$213 MYR 844

52.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,896 ₽503.3K

$6,253 MYR 24.8K

10.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 ₽5,199

$49.63 MYR 197

43.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 ₽3,273

$34.84 MYR 138

28.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₽8,389

$61.3 MYR 243

87.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₽7,729

$48.83 MYR 194

116.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₽32.1K

$372 MYR 1,475

18.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ₽22.6K

$266 MYR 1,054

16.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₽55.0K

$576 MYR 2,285

30.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ₽37.3K

$481 MYR 1,907

6.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,532 ₽184.8K

$1,553 MYR 6,156

63.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,966 ₽143.5K

$1,223 MYR 4,850

60.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ₽51.3K

$1,263 MYR 5,008

-44.32%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 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 80% 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 – $194 in Ulan Ude vs $249 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 14%, 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 $1,463 per month in Ulan Ude and $1,286 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 $976 in Ulan Ude and $857 in Shah Alam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $324 per month in Ulan Ude and $213 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 $857, than in Ulan Ude at $976. 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.