Can you afford Kuala Lumpur?
English everywhere, a dedicated nomad pass, and the lowest cost of any city in Asia with genuine first-world infrastructure.
At a glance
Four scenarios, run for you
| Scenario | Take-home/mo | Costs/mo | Left over | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, $60k, 1-bed centre | $3,564 | $1,171 | $2,393 | 100 | comfortable |
| Single, $100k, 1-bed centre | $5,698 | $1,171 | $4,527 | 100 | comfortable |
| Couple, $140k, 1-bed centre | $7,798 | $1,623 | $6,175 | 100 | comfortable |
| Family of four, $180k, 3-bed outer | $9,846 | $3,131 | $6,715 | 100 | comfortable |
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FAQ
Frequently asked
What income do you need to live comfortably in Kuala Lumpur?
On our scoring, "comfortable" means keeping at least 25% of take-home pay after all living costs. For a single adult in a central one-bedroom that needs roughly $23,000 gross a year in Kuala Lumpur.
Can a family of four live in Kuala Lumpur on $180,000?
6,715 USD a month left over — 68% of take-home pay. Housing takes 8% of it.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Kuala Lumpur?
4,527 USD a month left over — 79% of take-home pay. Housing takes 11% of it. That scores 100/100 on our affordability scale — "comfortable".