The Kuala Lumpur Neighbourhood Where Buying Costs RM1,372 Less than Renting: Juwai IQI
Kuala Lumpur , 9 June 2026 — In Jalan Kuching, renting a four-bedroom apartment costs you RM1,372 more every month than buying one. New data from Juwai IQI reveals where the monthly costs of renting are now higher than what buyers of similar homes would pay in monthly mortgage expenses.
The company’s Co-Founder and Group CEO, Kashif Ansari, said, “One of our IQI agents recently helped a family who exchanged their two-bedroom rental in Iskander Puteri for a purchased three-bedroom condo. They now have a larger home, but their monthly expenses are about the same as before. And their new
building even has a kids’ wading pool.
Top 10 Locations Where Buying Is More Affordable Than Renting
“If you can afford to move into a four-bedroom home in Jalan Kuching, Kuala Lumpur, you could save RM1,372 per month. Were rent and mortgage costs to hold steady, that would add up to more than RM164,000 over ten years.
“The property types where buying costs less on a monthly basis have soared from 18 in 2024 to 29 today.
“Meanwhile, the number of neighbourhoods where the monthly cost of renting is lower than a mortgage has plummeted by 29%. It has fallen from 34 in 2024 to 24 today.”
Where Buying Now Makes Sense
Mr Ansari said, “Twelve property categories that previously favoured renting have flipped to favour buying over the past two years because rents have risen faster than purchase prices or mortgage costs.
“Kuala Lumpur. The clearest example is Jalan Kuching, where you pay RM2,528 a month on average to rent a two-bedroom apartment. Yet, you could buy that same apartment and pay only RM2,239 in monthly mortgage expenses. “For a four-bedroom in the same area, the gap is even wider. Renters pay RM5,016 a month while buyers pay just RM3,644. Three-bedrooms in Bukit Bintang and two- bedrooms in Bukit Jalil also crossed over and are now cheaper to buy than rent.
“Outside Kuala Lumpur, two other cities shifted in favour of buyers. In Iskander Puteri, studios and two-bedroom apartments both flipped. A renter paying RM2,528 a month for a two-bedroom could instead own the same type of home for a monthly mortgage of RM2,331.
They would save nearly RM200 every month. “In Subang Jaya, a one-bedroom renter currently pays RM1,896 a month, while a buyer of a comparable unit pays only RM1,689. Again, they save more than RM200 a
month.
“For Malaysian families who have been waiting for the right time to buy, this data gives you a reason to consider doing so this year. But let’s be clear: buying still requires a down payment, and it is not the right choice for everyone at every stage of life. For families who are ready, and in the right locations, the monthly numbers are now working in their favour.”
Where Renting Still Makes More Sense
Mr Ansari said, “Twenty-four of the 59 property categories we analysed still favour renting on the basis of monthly costs. Renting beats buying most decisively at the premium end of the market.
“In KLCC, the monthly mortgage on a two-bedroom apartment runs to RM6,185, while renting the same type of unit costs RM4,463. In George Town, the gap between monthly mortgage costs and rents ranges from RM771 for a two-bedroom to RM804 for a three-bedroom. George Town property prices have held up well, but rents have not kept pace. If you just need a home to live in, renting in George Town or KLCC is the more affordable monthly choice.
“The data shows that more expensive properties are more likely to cost more to buy than rent. Luxury apartments in places like KLCC carry a price premium that has nothing to do with their potential to earn rental income. Instead, buyers are paying for an address, for scarcity, and for the status that comes with ownership.”
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