Cost of Living

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Live cost-of-living data for Kuala Lumpur — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
22/ 10078% cheaper than New York
-40% rent since Jul 2026
$1,047/mo
Median Income
41/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$147/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$84/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$282/month
Food & Groceries
15/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.9/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$13/month
One-Way Ticket$0.76/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.27/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$64/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$31/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$6.6/month
Healthcare
45/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$23/visit
Dentist Visit$30/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8.8/course
Education
35/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$256/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,800/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$220/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$5.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$18/ticket
Museum Entry$3.3/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$41/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$33/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$61/pair
Personal Care
25/100
Haircut (Men)$7.7/cut
Haircut (Women)$16.5/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.3/bottle
Dining Out
15/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$5/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$28/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$4.4/meal
Childcare
30/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$319/month
Babysitter (per hour)$5.5/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$8.8/pack
Fitness & Sports
30/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$11/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$4.4/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

107 Mbps
Internet Speed
$113
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Bangsar, KLCC, Mont Kiara

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kuala Lumpur cheap to live in?

Kuala Lumpur has a cost of living index of 22/100, where New York = 100. It is 78% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $780–$1,092 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kuala Lumpur?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kuala Lumpur costs approximately $147/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $84/month.

Is Kuala Lumpur good for digital nomads?

Kuala Lumpur has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 107 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $113/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Kuala Lumpur?

The median net monthly salary in Kuala Lumpur is approximately $1,047 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Kuala Lumpur compare to New York for cost of living?

Kuala Lumpur (cost index 22) is 78% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,950/month by moving from New York to Kuala Lumpur.

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