Back to rankingsβš–οΈ Compare with other cities
🟒
#84 Worldwide

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia β€’ Southeast Asia

Anchor Cost Index

27

Affordable

#84
of 120 cities
31%
More expensive than
#3
in Southeast Asia
Affordable
Cost Level

πŸ“ŠAnchor Price Breakdown

ℹ️Sources: Public economic data, market research
πŸ”
Big Mac
McDonald's signature burger
$2.83
-32% vs avg
17
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.15
🏠
1BR Rent
City-wide median monthly
$500.00/mo
-49% vs avg
31
Weight: 30%Global avg: $981.92
πŸš—
Uber 5km
Average 5km ride fare
$2.50
-47% vs avg
27
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.69
β˜•
Starbucks Latte
Tall Latte price
$4.00
Near avg
31
Weight: 15%Global avg: $4.34
πŸ“Ί
YouTube Premium
Monthly subscription
$4.49/mo
-45% vs avg
29
Weight: 15%Global avg: $8.13

πŸ“ˆKey Metrics

ℹ️Calculated from verified cost data
🏠
56%
Rent Burden
Rent as % of avg salary
🍽️
33%
Food Affordability
Food as % of avg salary
πŸ’»
75/100
Nomad Score
Digital nomad friendliness
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
70/100
Family Score
Family friendliness

πŸ’΅Monthly Budget Scenarios

ℹ️Based on crowdsourced price data
πŸŽ’
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transit
$1,081/mo
Housing
$600
Food
$400
Transport
$24
Utilities
$0
Entertainment
$32
Other
$25
πŸ’»
Digital Nomad
Coliving, coworking, mix of cooking & dining
$1,116/mo
Housing
$450
Food
$425
Transport
$36
Utilities
$33
Entertainment
$72
Other
$100
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
Small Family
2 adults + 1 child, outside center apartment
$2,036/mo
Housing
$800
Food
$750
Transport
$78
Utilities
$134
Entertainment
$58
Other
$216
🏒
Expat Professional
City center, quality lifestyle
$1,513/mo
Housing
$630
Food
$600
Transport
$73
Utilities
$98
Entertainment
$80
Other
$32

πŸ”—Useful Resources for Kuala Lumpur

🏨
Booking.com
Find accommodation deals worldwide
β†’πŸ›‘οΈ
SafetyWing
Nomad health insurance from $45/mo
β†’πŸ’Έ
Wise
Send money internationally with low fees
β†’

* Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

πŸ“‹Extended Costs (60+ Items)

ℹ️Aggregated from public sources
1BR Apartment (City Center)$700.00/mo
1BR Apartment (Outside Center)$350.00/mo
3BR Apartment (City Center)$1,400.00/mo
3BR Apartment (Outside Center)$800.00/mo
Price per mΒ² (Buy, City)$6,000.00/mΒ²
Price per mΒ² (Buy, Outside)$3,500.00/mΒ²
Airbnb (1BR, Monthly)$900.00/mo
Coliving Space$450.00/mo
Hostel/Dormitory$20.00/night

πŸ’°Similar Cost Cities

Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
37+10
Caracas
Venezuela
36+9
Amman
Jordan
35+8
Beirut
Lebanon
34+7
Bucharest
Romania
34+7

🌏Others in Southeast Asia

Singapore
Singapore
76+49
Bangkok
Thailand
33+6
Chiang Mai
Thailand
26-1
Manila
Philippines
23-4
Bali
Indonesia
20-7

πŸ“ˆ How Kuala Lumpur Compares

Cheaper than
83cities
More expensive than
33cities
Rank in Southeast Asia
#3/12

Understanding Cost Index

0-20
Very Affordable
21-40
Affordable
41-60
Moderate
61-80
Expensive
81-100
Very Expensive

πŸ“Š Data Sources

We aggregate data from trusted sources to provide accurate cost of living comparisons. All prices are converted to USD.

πŸ”
Big Mac Index
Global purchasing power indicator (2024)

Purchasing power parity indicator

🏠
Cost of Living & Rent
Crowdsourced global cost data (2024)

Verified price data from multiple sources

πŸš—
Transport & Services
Regional transport pricing data (2024)

Taxi, rideshare, public transit prices

πŸ“Ί
Digital Subscriptions
Regional pricing data (2024)

Streaming services, digital platforms

Data is updated periodically. Prices may vary based on location, promotions, and exchange rates.