Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
-12% vs Kuala Lumpur avgBrickfields is a relatively affordable area in Kuala Lumpur, with a cost of living index of 28.9 — that is -12% compared to the Kuala Lumpur average. At #12 of 20, it is below the city average in cost. Estimated rent for a one-bedroom apartment here is around RM 1,968/month, compared to a range of RM 1,610 in Setapak to RM 2,907 in KLCC.
For a typical resident of Brickfields, housing takes up roughly 26% of monthly expenses. Food and groceries account for about 20%, while transportation costs around 10%. To live comfortably here — meaning rent stays at or below 30% of gross income — you would need an annual salary of approximately RM 78,723 before tax.
COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents of New York mid-range salaries — not local market pay. Based on the neighborhood COLI of 28.9 (NYC = 100):
After tax and deductions of 19.1% in Malaysia, take-home pay for someone earning RM 78,723 would be roughly RM 63,687/year. Use the salary converter to calculate an exact figure for your situation, including expat-specific tax adjustments.
Estimated annual deductions on a RM 88,136 salary in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur (local employee).
Rates shown are for a local employee. Use the salary converter for expat calculations.
What a $75,000 USD salary in Brickfields would need to be elsewhere:
| City | Currency | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| New York | USD | $21,675 |
| London | GBP | £18,653 |
| Dubai | AED | AED 108,457 |
| Neighborhood | COLI | Multiplier | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLCC | 42.6 | 1.30x | +30% |
| Bukit Bintang | 40.0 | 1.22x | +22% |
| Damansara Heights | 39.4 | 1.20x | +20% |
| Bangsar | 38.7 | 1.18x | +18% |
| Mont Kiara | 37.7 | 1.15x | +15% |
See exactly what you need to earn in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur to maintain your lifestyle.
Open Salary ConverterNeighborhoods with a similar cost of living to Brickfields:
Brickfields is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur. It costs about -12% less than the city average, ranking #12 out of 20 neighborhoods.
The cost of living in Brickfields is below the Kuala Lumpur average. With a multiplier of 0.88x, everyday expenses including rent, food, and transportation are -12% compared to the city baseline.