We always hear it: “Living outside of KL is cheaper!” But is it really that affordable to live in smaller towns like Kelantan?
For 24-year-old Firdaus Hamzah, that statement doesn’t quite match reality. Despite earning a full-time salary of RM1,700 as a promoter in Kelantan, he says it’s a daily grind just to make ends meet. His wife also earns RM1,700 as a salesperson, bringing their total household income to RM3,400 a month.
Photo via Bloomberg
Even so, the couple admits they’re barely scraping by, “The idea that everything is cheap here? That might’ve been true a long time ago. Not anymore,” Firdaus said bluntly.
Food, surprisingly, takes up the biggest chunk of their spending—up to RM50 a day. To save where they can, the couple brings drinks from home and packs rice to work, only buying side dishes to cut costs.
They live with Firdaus’ in-laws and carpool to work to save on petrol. On weekends, Firdaus skips rest days to earn extra by setting up tents at the Wakaf Bharu market, earning RM50 a day. He also contributes RM300 monthly to his parents—and more when he can afford it.
Even with both of them working full-time jobs and picking up side hustles, Firdaus says they still can’t live comfortably. The rising cost of food, basic goods, and daily expenses has taken a toll.
So, is life outside KL really that much cheaper?
We get it—times are tough. Prices keep climbing, insurance and other commitments pile up, and families need to start thinking about emergency savings too. But finding stable, decent-paying jobs? That’s another battle altogether.
