{
  "id": 12789265,
  "title": "Single Malaysians in five cities need at least RM2,000 monthly for decent living",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/single-malaysians-in-five-cities-need-at-least-rm2-000-monthly-for",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:49:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1550385/single-malaysians-five-cities-need-least-rm2000-monthly-decent-living"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Malaysia, single individuals in five major cities need at least RM2,000 per month to live decently, according to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The cities with the highest requirements are Kuala Lumpur at RM2,403, Penang's Timur Laut district at RM2,180, Klang at RM2,161, Melaka Tengah at RM2,094, and Kuching at RM2,007. Other cities, such as Kuantan, Kinta, Seremban, Kota Kinabalu, Putrajaya, Labuan, Kota Baru, and Perlis, have lower PAKW rates, ranging from RM1,417 to RM1,994 per month. The regional differences in living costs are significant, with Kuala Lumpur and Perlis having a gap of RM986 a month. The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) aims to increase the median monthly wage to RM3,500 by 2030, up from RM2,602 in 2023. The current median wage for formal sector workers is RM3,027 in March 2026, with Kuala Lumpur recording the highest at RM4,527, while Kelantan has the lowest at RM1,827. The Economy Ministry defines PAKW as the monthly expenditure necessary for individuals or households to achieve a decent standard of living, considering factors such as location, household size, age, and gender.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Single individuals in several major Malaysian cities require at least RM2,000 a month to meet their Basic Expenditure for Decent Living (PAKW), according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).",
  "key_points": [
    "Single Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur need RM2,403 monthly for decent living",
    "PAKW rates range from RM1,417 to RM2,403 across five major cities",
    "13th Malaysia Plan targets median wage of RM3,500 by 2030"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This living wage gap highlights a significant challenge for low-income singles in urban Malaysia, particularly in cities like Kuala Lumpur, where the decent living threshold far exceeds the current median wage in some states.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}