Cost of living
Kota Kinabalu compared to Kuala Lumpur
🏛️
Overview comparison
Kota KinabaluKuala Lumpur
Consumer prices in Kuala Lumpur are roughly 40% higher than in Kota Kinabalu.
Cost of living
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| Total with rent one person | 608 | 868 |
|---|
| Total with rent family | 1,670 | 2,188 |
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| Without rent one person | 342 | 432 |
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| Without rent one family | 1,213 | 1,306 |
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| Rent & Utilities person | 268.74 | 446.11 |
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| Rent & Utilities family | 493.03 | 782.67 |
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| Food person | 249 | 314 |
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| Food family | 758 | 803 |
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| Transport person | 60.99 | 70.96 |
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| Transport family | 147.25 | 162.48 |
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| Life expectancy | 82.04 years | 84.93 years |
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Eating Out
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 3.45 | 4.64 |
|---|
| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 15.87 | 30.88 |
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| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 4.88 | 5.85 |
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| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 3.35 | 5.49 |
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| Cappuccino | 2.54 | 3.84 |
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| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 0.68 | 1.03 |
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Rent & Utilities
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 316.24 | 490.75 |
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| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 179.24 | 342.5 |
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| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 590.9 | 1,210.55 |
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| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 229.56 | 694.17 |
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| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 30.97 | 40.75 |
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| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 53.32 | 60.64 |
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| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 27.64 | 22.9 |
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Transportation
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 3.09 | 3.75 |
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| Monthly ticket local transport | 1,394 | 2,577 |
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| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 971 | 1,277 |
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| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 1.47 | 0.62 |
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| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 23.12% | 10.34% |
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| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 8.9 | 8.77 |
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| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 0.52 | 0.44 |
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Groceries
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 2.05 | 2.27 |
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| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 0.9 | 1.21 |
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| Eggs, x12 | 2.57 | 2.88 |
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| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 12.17 | 14.19 |
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| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 4.58 | 5.79 |
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| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 7.04 | 8.53 |
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| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.19 | 1.52 |
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| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 0.27 | 0.55 |
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Other
| Item | Kota Kinabalu | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|
| Gym Membership, 1 month | 30.08 | 44.79 |
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| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 3.25 | 5.14 |
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| Doctors visit | 17.92 | 21.66 |
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| Haircut, simple | 7.24 | 6.59 |
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| Brand Jeans | 68.13 | 59.51 |
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| Brand Sneakers | 79.53 | 93.27 |
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| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 139.39 | 299.63 |
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| International Primary School, 1 year | 4,852 | 9,444 |
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