Living in Kuala Lumpur: cost of living, rent and salary
Updated 3 October 2026
In Kuala Lumpur, a one-bedroom home costs about RM 4,200 (≈ €910) a month. To keep the lifestyle of someone living in London, you need about RM 6,790 (≈ €1,470) net a month. Here is the rent by type of home, the month’s budget line by line, and the sources.
Figures are for the KLCC business district, in central Kuala Lumpur.
Work out my budget in Kuala Lumpur
Example: the same life, elsewhere
A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Kuala Lumpur, they would need about RM 6,790 (≈ €1,470) net a month locally (−63%), i.e. 4.1 times the minimum wage.
For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (private or international school), it would take about RM 21,600 (≈ €4,660) net a month in Kuala Lumpur, i.e. 13 times the minimum wage.
Calculated on 3 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.
Rent in Kuala Lumpur
| Type of home | Outside sought-after areas | Outside sought-after areas, in euros |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | RM 2,400 | €520 |
| 1 bedroom | RM 4,200 | €910 |
| 2 bedrooms | RM 5,680 | €1,230 |
| 3-bedroom house | RM 7,170 | €1,550 |
Monthly rent in MYR, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². Global Property Guide, Malaysia rental yields for Q3 2026: median asking rents of flats (PropertyGuru data), converted to ringgits at the quarter’s average rate (ECB) (Q3 2026).
A month’s budget in Kuala Lumpur, line by line
For a single person renting a one-bedroom home and keeping the average habits of a household in London, here is what each line would cost in Kuala Lumpur.
| Item | London | Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur (MYR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | £2,550 | £770 | RM 4,190 |
| Housing tax | £50 | £0 | RM 0 |
| Electricity, water, gas | £100 | £30 | RM 170 |
| Groceries | £200 | £160 | RM 860 |
| Restaurants and outings | £110 | £20 | RM 120 |
| Transport | £100 | £30 | RM 150 |
| Health | £40 | £10 | RM 60 |
| Phone and internet | £50 | £30 | RM 170 |
| Sport | £60 | £30 | RM 140 |
| Clothes | £60 | £30 | RM 150 |
| Hairdresser and beauty | £40 | £10 | RM 80 |
| Trips back to London | £0 | £130 | RM 690 |
| Total per month | £3,350 | £1,250 | RM 6,790 |
Estimate: lines without an answer take the official average of the departure city, then the destination’s prices. The calculator starts from your real amounts.
Visa, healthcare, school, electricity
These rules are the same across the country: find them on the page Living in Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do you need to live in Kuala Lumpur?
For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about RM 6,790 (≈ €1,470) net a month, i.e. 4.1 times the minimum wage.
How much is rent in Kuala Lumpur?
About RM 4,200 (≈ €910) a month for a one-bedroom home and RM 5,680 for a two-bedroom home, according to Global Property Guide, Malaysia rental yields for Q3 2026.
Is it expensive to live in Kuala Lumpur?
In London, a single person spends about £3,350 a month; with the same life in Kuala Lumpur, it would be about £1,250 (−63%).
Work out my budget in Kuala Lumpur