Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities โบ Kuala Lumpur vs Phnom Penh
Kuala Lumpur vs Phnom Penh cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated September 2026
๐ฒ๐พ Kuala Lumpur
๐ฐ๐ญ Phnom PenhPhnom Penh is 12% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur
Living on $1,704 a month in Kuala Lumpur feels like about $1,629 in Phnom Penh โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$84.7 vs $67.6
Per month
$1,704 vs $1,629
Local meal
RM 12 vs $ 3
$2.79 vs $3
Taxi 5 km
RM 13 vs $ 3
$3.02 vs $3
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafรฉs & drinksPhnom Penh 46% cheaper
TransportPhnom Penh 26% cheaper
StayPhnom Penh 17% cheaper
FunPhnom Penh 19% cheaper
- Where Phnom Penh is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (64%โ), Beer (64%โ), Haircut (55%โ)
- Where Kuala Lumpur is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (21%โ)
Item by item
| Item | Kuala Lumpur | Phnom Penh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | RM 12$2.79 | $ 3$3 | Kuala Lumpur โ7% |
| Street food1 item | RM 5.4$1.26 | $ 1.4$1.4 | Kuala Lumpur โ10% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | RM 45$10.5 | $ 10$10 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | RM 12$2.79 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Phnom Penh โ10% |
| Beerone bottle | RM 18$4.19 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Phnom Penh โ64% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | RM 47$10.9 | $ 3.9$3.9 | Phnom Penh โ64% |
| Bottled water | RM 2$0.47 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Kuala Lumpur โ7% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | RM 5$1.16 | $ 1.3$1.3 | Kuala Lumpur โ11% |
| Taxi5 km in town | RM 13$3.02 | $ 3$3 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | RM 13$3.02 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Phnom Penh โ50% |
| Transitone ride | RM 3$0.7 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Phnom Penh โ28% |
| Scooter rentalper day | RM 43$10 | $ 7$7 | Phnom Penh โ30% |
| Hotel night3-star | RM 220$51.2 | $ 35$35 | Phnom Penh โ32% |
| Studio rent (month) | RM 2,200$512 | $ 500$500 | similar |
| Laundry | RM 8.5$1.98 | $ 1$1 | Phnom Penh โ49% |
| SIM card1 week data | RM 30$6.98 | $ 5$5 | Phnom Penh โ28% |
| Haircutcut | RM 27$6.28 | $ 2.8$2.8 | Phnom Penh โ55% |
| Massage1 hour | RM 77$17.9 | $ 8$8 | Phnom Penh โ55% |
| Half-day tourper person | RM 150$34.9 | $ 25$25 | Phnom Penh โ28% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | RM 34$7.91 | $ 10$10 | Kuala Lumpur โ21% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is 12% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur. Daily budget $84.7 vs $67.6; a month $1,704 vs $1,629.
How do monthly costs compare between Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Kuala Lumpur is about $1,704 and Phnom Penh about $1,629 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.