✦ Compare
Kuala Lumpur vs
New York
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in New York, NY, you'd need
$164,868 / year
New York, NY is 120% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (New York, NY vs Kuala Lumpur, MY)
- Housing+278%
- Food & groceries+72%
- Transport+123%
- Utilities+44%
- Healthcare+54%
- Goods & services+52%
Median 1-bed rent
$600 /mo
Kuala Lumpur, MY overview →
Median 1-bed rent
$3,800 /mo
New York, NY overview →
▤ Full comparison
| Kuala Lumpur, MY | New York, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 51 | 113 |
| Housing | 45 | 170 |
| Food | 50 | 86 |
| Transport | 40 | 89 |
| Utilities | 55 | 79 |
| Healthcare | 50 | 77 |
| Goods & services | 62 | 94 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $600/mo | $3,800/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $380/mo | $2,600/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,200/mo | $7,500/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $2,400 | $15,000 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,949 | $887 |
| Inexpensive meal | $3 | $25 |
| Monthly transit pass | $22 | $132 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 30% | 37% |
| VAT / sales tax | 8% | 0% |
| Social security (employee) | — | 7.7% |
| Corporate tax | 24% | 21% |
| Capital gains | — | 20% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $900/mo | $4,300/mo |
| Minimum wage | $350/mo | $1,257/mo |
| GDP per capita | $12,000 | $90,027 |
| Inflation (annual) | 2% | — |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | No |
| English proficiency | High | Native |
| Coworking spaces | 40 | 200 |
| Time zone | UTC+8 | UTC-5 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 62 | 55 |
| Healthcare index | 72 | 78 |
| Pollution index | 55 | 55 |
| Internet speed | 100 Mbps | 200 Mbps |
| Walkability | 45 | 90 |
| Public transport | 65 | 85 |
| Family-friendly | 62 | 55 |
| Tap water | Use caution | Safe to drink |
| Health insurance | — | $500/mo |
| Life expectancy | 76 yr | 79 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Low | High |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +27 °C | 0 °C |
| July avg | +27 °C | +25 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 200 | 234 |
| Rainfall / year | 2,400 mm | 1,200 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1 h | 1 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Malaysia vs United States. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Kuala Lumpur to New York: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Kuala Lumpur to New York, your cost of living will be roughly 120% more expensive. New York’s cost-of-living index is 113 versus 51 for Kuala Lumpur (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Kuala Lumpur cheaper than New York?
New York is about 120% more expensive than Kuala Lumpur overall — its cost-of-living index is 113 versus 51 for Kuala Lumpur.
How much do you need to earn in New York to live like in Kuala Lumpur?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Kuala Lumpur is worth about $164,868 in New York. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Kuala Lumpur or New York?
Malaysia has the lower top income-tax rate — 30% versus 37% in United States.
◷ More comparisons from Kuala Lumpur
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.