# Kuala Lumpur vs Bucharest: cost of living compared

> Kuala Lumpur runs about 14% cheaper than Bucharest for this household, a difference of 163 USD a month.

- **Source:** https://cost-of-life.com/compare/kuala-lumpur-vs-bucharest
- **Household priced:** one adult, one-bedroom in the centre, moderate lifestyle
- **Salary tested:** $100,000 gross per year

| Group | Metric | Kuala Lumpur | Bucharest |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost | Total monthly cost | 1,171 USD | 1,334 USD |
| Cost | Cost index (New York = 100) | 18 | 21 |
| Cost | Housing | 600 USD | 600 USD |
| Cost | Utilities | 86 USD | 134 USD |
| Cost | Food | 300 USD | 385 USD |
| Cost | Transport | 40 USD | 45 USD |
| Cost | Healthcare | 14 USD | 17 USD |
| Cost | Lifestyle | 90 USD | 99 USD |
| Income & tax | Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr | 5,698 USD | 4,583 USD |
| Income & tax | Effective tax + social rate | 31.6% | 45.0% |
| Income & tax | Left over each month | 4,527 USD | 3,249 USD |
| Income & tax | Average local net salary | 1,000 USD | 1,200 USD |
| Housing | 1-bed rent, city centre | 600 USD | 600 USD |
| Housing | 3-bed rent, city centre | 1,300 USD | 1,100 USD |
| Housing | Buy price per m², centre | 2,600 USD | 2,400 USD |
| Quality of life | Safety | 68/100 | 74/100 |
| Quality of life | Healthcare | 76/100 | 62/100 |
| Quality of life | Air quality | 50/100 | 46/100 |
| Quality of life | Public transport | 70/100 | 78/100 |
| Quality of life | Walkability | 58/100 | 72/100 |
| Quality of life | English proficiency | 84/100 | 60/100 |
| Quality of life | Nightlife | 72/100 | 86/100 |
| Quality of life | Family friendliness | 74/100 | 70/100 |
| Quality of life | Median broadband | 180 Mbps | 260 Mbps |
| Climate | Average temperature | 28°C | 12°C |
| Climate | Summer high | 33°C | 30°C |
| Climate | Winter low | 23°C | -4°C |
| Climate | Sunshine hours per year | 2,100 h | 2,120 h |
| Climate | Annual rainfall | 2500 mm | 600 mm |
| Practicalities | Remote-work visa | Yes | Yes |
| Practicalities | Beach access | 60 min | None nearby |
| Practicalities | Currency | MYR | RON |
| Practicalities | Time zone | Asia/Kuala_Lumpur | Europe/Bucharest |

Figures are modelled estimates. Methodology: https://cost-of-life.com/methodology