For many Malaysians, eating out or even buying groceries has become a test of patience and budgeting skills.
With food prices steadily climbing, the question isn’t what to eat anymore but how much it will cost.
This struggle is especially real for those living in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley, where the cost of living continues to rise.
In light of this, a recent study by Belanjawanku has caught public attention for its bold claim: an individual living in the Klang Valley could survive on just RM22 per day for food.
According to their breakdown, the suggested budget looks like this:
- RM4.90 for breakfast,
- RM9 for lunch,
- RM1.90 for afternoon tea, and
- RM6.50 for dinner.
The Reality: It Doesn’t Add Up
Economy rice stalls, often seen as the most affordable option, are now charging RM10-15 per plate.
Popular hawker stall dishes like nasi lemak and chee cheong fun typically cost RM8-10, and that’s without adding a drink.
Include beverages, and your meal costs can easily climb to RM15-20, which is already the entire daily food budget proposed by the study.
Adding to the skepticism is the study’s assumption that a fully furnished room in the Klang Valley can be rented for just RM400 per month.
While it is possible to find rooms priced between RM220-400, most of them are either not fully furnished or located in low-cost flats.
How these numbers were derived remains unclear, and many are questioning if the study truly reflects the realities of living costs in the region.
While the numbers might seem manageable on paper, many were quick to call the findings out of touch with reality.
Also, many argued that such prices are nearly impossible to find given the rising cost of food, even at local eateries or hawker stalls.
