🇲🇾 Southeast Asia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Southeast Asia ✓ Live Numbeo data See Malaysia country profile →
MM2H visa program; excellent English; multicultural food scene
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Kuala Lumpur climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 294,676 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 272 Mbps | 153 Mbps | 6 ms | 195,771 |
| Mobile | 177 Mbps | 36.3 Mbps | 20 ms | 98,905 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 4.068 MYR, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $610 | MYR 2,481 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $1,249 | — |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $2,226 | MYR 9,056 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $1,708 | MYR 6,946 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $639 | MYR 2,600 |
| 1BR outside center | $379 | MYR 1,544 |
| 3BR city center | $1,215 | MYR 4,943 |
| 3BR outside center | $616 | MYR 2,506 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $382 | MYR 1,556 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $135 | MYR 551 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $4.92 | MYR 20.00 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $27.04 | MYR 110 |
| Fast food combo | $4.92 | MYR 20.00 |
| Beef (per lb) | $4.47 | MYR 18.17 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $1.98 | MYR 8.05 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD | Local |
|---|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $66 | MYR 270 |
| Phone plan / mo | $10 | MYR 39.12 |
| Internet / mo | $27 | MYR 108 |
| Gym membership / mo | $50 | MYR 203 |
| Cinema ticket | $5.41 | MYR 22.00 |
| Preschool / mo | $300 | MYR 1,219 |
| International school / yr | $12,372 | MYR 50,329 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $41,927 | MYR 170,560 |
Visa, taxes & legal in Malaysia
Country-level research that applies to living in Kuala Lumpur — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Tourist entry (US passport) | 90 days visa-free |
| Digital nomad visa | DE Rantau Nomad Pass — income requirement $24,000/yr (~$2,000/mo) for tech; $60,000/yr for non-tech roles — compare all countries → |
| Path to permanent residency | No practical PR path from either |
| Tax if you become resident | Territorial-leaning ⭐ system · top rate 30% top — tax breakdown → |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 5/10 · cross-border collection 3/10 — legal detail → |
Everything about the country in one place: Malaysia profile for American nomads →
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo