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Kuala Lumpur vs Bali

Kuala Lumpur runs about 15% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 173 USD a month.

The bright lights of Bukit Bintang.
Kuala Lumpur
$1,171/month · Malaysia
Will Simmonds from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, China · CC BY 2.0
A Beautiful View of Kelingking Beach at Nusa penida
Bali
$1,344/month · Indonesia
Dini Rosyadah Tridya · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kuala Lumpur monthly
$1,171
Index 18 (NYC = 100)
Bali monthly
$1,344
Index 21 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+15%
Bali relative to Kuala Lumpur
Rent gap
$100
Bali costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

Kuala LumpurBali
  • Housing
    Housing: Kuala Lumpur $600, Bali $700. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Food
    Food: Kuala Lumpur $300, Bali $344. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Transport
    Transport: Kuala Lumpur $40, Bali $44. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Kuala Lumpur $86, Bali $85. Cheaper in Bali.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Kuala Lumpur $14, Bali $14. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Kuala Lumpur $90, Bali $108. Cheaper in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Other
    Other: Kuala Lumpur $42, Bali $48. 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

MetricKuala LumpurBali
Cost
Total monthly cost1,171 USD✓1,344 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)18✓21
Housing600 USD✓700 USD
Utilities86 USD85 USD✓
Food300 USD✓344 USD
Transport40 USD✓44 USD
Healthcare14 USD✓14 USD
Lifestyle90 USD✓108 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr5,698 USD5,833 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate31.6%30.0%✓
Left over each month4,527 USD✓4,489 USD
Average local net salary1,000 USD✓400 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre600 USD✓700 USD
3-bed rent, city centre1,300 USD✓1,500 USD
Buy price per m², centre2,600 USD2,600 USD
Quality of life
Safety68/100✓66/100
Healthcare76/100✓54/100
Air quality50/10060/100✓
Public transport70/100✓15/100
Walkability58/100✓35/100
English proficiency84/100✓66/100
Nightlife72/10082/100✓
Family friendliness74/100✓68/100
Median broadband180 Mbps✓60 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature28°C27°C✓
Summer high33°C32°C✓
Winter low23°C23°C
Sunshine hours per year2,100 h2,600 h✓
Annual rainfall2500 mm1700 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach access60 min10 min✓
CurrencyMYRIDR
Time zoneAsia/Kuala_LumpurAsia/Makassar

Kuala Lumpur runs about 15% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 173 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in Kuala LumpurCost of living in BaliConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Kuala Lumpur or Bali cheaper?

Kuala Lumpur runs about 15% cheaper than Bali for this household, a difference of 173 USD a month.

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

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $5,698 a month in Kuala Lumpur and $5,833 in Bali, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

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

Kuala Lumpur scores 68/100 on safety and 76/100 on healthcare; Bali scores 66 and 54. Kuala Lumpur averages 28°C against 27°C in Bali.