Skip to content

Bucharest vs Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur runs about 12% cheaper than Bucharest for this household, a difference of 163 USD a month.

Floreasca business district in Bucharest, Romania, as seen from Lake Herăstrău.
Bucharest
$1,334/month · Romania
Madalin Pentelie · CC0
The bright lights of Bukit Bintang.
Kuala Lumpur
$1,171/month · Malaysia
Will Simmonds from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, China · CC BY 2.0
Bucharest monthly
$1,334
Index 21 (NYC = 100)
Kuala Lumpur monthly
$1,171
Index 18 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-12%
Kuala Lumpur relative to Bucharest
Rent gap
$0
Kuala Lumpur costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

BucharestKuala Lumpur
  • Housing
    Housing: Bucharest $600, Kuala Lumpur $600. Cheaper in Bucharest.
  • Food
    Food: Bucharest $385, Kuala Lumpur $300. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Transport
    Transport: Bucharest $45, Kuala Lumpur $40. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Bucharest $134, Kuala Lumpur $86. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Bucharest $17, Kuala Lumpur $14. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Bucharest $99, Kuala Lumpur $90. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Other
    Other: Bucharest $54, Kuala Lumpur $42. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricBucharestKuala Lumpur
Cost
Total monthly cost1,334 USD1,171 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)2118✓
Housing600 USD600 USD
Utilities134 USD86 USD✓
Food385 USD300 USD✓
Transport45 USD40 USD✓
Healthcare17 USD14 USD✓
Lifestyle99 USD90 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,583 USD5,698 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate45.0%31.6%✓
Left over each month3,249 USD4,527 USD✓
Average local net salary1,200 USD✓1,000 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre600 USD600 USD
3-bed rent, city centre1,100 USD✓1,300 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,400 USD✓2,600 USD
Quality of life
Safety74/100✓68/100
Healthcare62/10076/100✓
Air quality46/10050/100✓
Public transport78/100✓70/100
Walkability72/100✓58/100
English proficiency60/10084/100✓
Nightlife86/100✓72/100
Family friendliness70/10074/100✓
Median broadband260 Mbps✓180 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature12°C✓28°C
Summer high30°C✓33°C
Winter low-4°C23°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,120 h✓2,100 h
Annual rainfall600 mm✓2500 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach accessNone nearby60 min✓
CurrencyRONMYR
Time zoneEurope/BucharestAsia/Kuala_Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur runs about 12% cheaper than Bucharest for this household, a difference of 163 USD a month.

Next

Go deeper

Cost of living in BucharestCost of living in Kuala LumpurConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Bucharest vs BelgradeBucharest vs BudapestBucharest vs Kraków
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Bucharest or Kuala Lumpur cheaper?

Kuala Lumpur runs about 12% cheaper than Bucharest for this household, a difference of 163 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Kuala Lumpur compared with Bucharest?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,583 a month in Bucharest and $5,698 in Kuala Lumpur, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Bucharest or Kuala Lumpur?

Bucharest scores 74/100 on safety and 62/100 on healthcare; Kuala Lumpur scores 68 and 76. Bucharest averages 12°C against 28°C in Kuala Lumpur.