Living Cost in Kuala Lumpur

I lived in Kuala Lumpur (KL) for 7 years as a graduate student. It was a great experience and the living cost is relatively cheap. But, of course, it depends on your lifestyle. Here is my expense during my stay in KL as a student:

1. Accommodation

In my first year, I lived in a mid-class apartment. I only rented a tiny room that cost RM300 a month. The property is clean with 24-hour security guarded and located next to a train station. It is also a walking distance from my campus (University of Malaya). Most residents are workers, students, and only a few families. The second apartment was RM 150 a month (it's a shared room with one roommate). It is cheap but not clean. Many mid-class families live here. But for a student like me who mostly stays on campus all day long and only goes home for sleep, it's not a big deal. I chose this apartment because I can commute by my campus free shuttle bus from here.

2. Meals

As a student, having cheap meals in the campus canteen is a privilege. Sometimes, I only spent about RM 7 a day. Roti Canai and drinks for breakfast only cost me RM2. I take away meals at the canteen for RM 5 and I can eat them for lunch and dinner.

But, somehow I went out to a mall or a restaurant. some are cheap and others are pricy. But, on average, I can have a delicious meal for about RM10 to RM45. 

Cooking is relatively cheap if you are a family. But for a solo like me, it can be a solution for saving money by cooking meals in a bulk and store it a fridge for the next few days. 

3. Transportation

Since I mostly took the free shuttle to campus, so I didn't really spend that much on transport. Unless if I go somewhere else. And as a student, the Malaysian government gives a 50% cut on public transport by using a transportation pass card. For a public bus (Rapid KL), it cost RM1 to RM3 (depending on the distance), meaning it only charged me RM0,50 to RM1,50. Same with the train fare. So, roughly, I spent RM15 - RM30 for a month. 

4. Miscellaneous

Any other expenses, like clothes, movies, and technology devices are relatively cheap. There are some affordable shops like Brand Outlet (for clothes), Bookxeces (for books), and Low Yat Plaza (for Electronics). For movies, it costs about RM10, but they have a discount every Wednesday. 

To sum up, here is an average of my monthly expense:

Accommodation: RM 200 (including utility without Wifi)

Meals: RM 300

Transport: RM 50

Miscellaneous: RM 350 (it can vary based on my needs)

TOTAL: RM900

Nevertheless, sometimes I spent about RM1500 to RM3000 a month if I have extra needs like electronics, academics, or a vacation.