Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Putrajaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hillah and Putrajaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $813 per month in Al Hillah vs $796 in Putrajaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,248 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,205 in Putrajaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,684 per month in Al Hillah vs $1,614 in Putrajaya, rent included.

Al Hillah costs about 2% more than Putrajaya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al Hillah and Putrajaya are more affordable than the global median – Al Hillah 39% lower, Putrajaya 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.49 IQD 7,183

$3.56 MYR 14.53

54.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.54 IQD 40.0K

$18.70 MYR 76.4

63.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 IQD 8,114

$4.58 MYR 18.70

35.37%

Cappuccino

$3.05 IQD 3,990

$2.86 MYR 11.69

6.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 514

$0.80 MYR 3.26

-51.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 IQD 286

$0.37 MYR 1.52

-40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 IQD 3,773

$3.45 MYR 14.08

-16.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IQD 3,744

$4.39 MYR 17.94

-34.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 IQD 1,773

$1.67 MYR 6.82

-19.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 IQD 1,030

$0.83 MYR 3.41

-4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 IQD 2,108

$1.28 MYR 5.25

25.78%

Eggs

$1.73 IQD 2,270

$1.88 MYR 7.68

-7.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 IQD 5,866

$6.57 MYR 26.81

-31.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 IQD 6,506

$4.31 MYR 17.60

15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.84 IQD 18.1K

$9.23 MYR 37.67

49.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.28 IQD 1,676

$3.21 MYR 13.12

-60.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 IQD 1,587

$1.38 MYR 5.64

-12.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 IQD 1,382

$3.11 MYR 12.69

-65.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 IQD 980

$1.55 MYR 6.32

-51.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 IQD 910

$1.52 MYR 6.19

-54.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 880

$1.73 MYR 7.07

-61.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 IQD 767

$1.66 MYR 6.77

-64.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 IQD 765

$0.52 MYR 2.12

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 IQD 2,541

$4.27 MYR 17.43

-54.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

$13.30 MYR 54.3

3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 IQD 2,350

$2.84 MYR 11.58

-36.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 IQD 2,775

$2.87 MYR 11.73

-26.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 IQD 522

$0.72 MYR 2.94

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

$11.84 MYR 48.33

454.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 IQD 2,953

$0.98 MYR 3.99

129.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 IQD 1,953

$0.98 MYR 4.01

52.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 IQD 4,590

$6.02 MYR 24.57

-41.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 IQD 692

$0.46 MYR 1.89

15.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.5K IQD 23.0M

$35.7K MYR 145.7K

-50.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

$37.9K MYR 154.8K

-48.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

$45.30 MYR 185

69.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.52 IQD 20.3K

$9.28 MYR 37.88

67.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.88 IQD 50.9K

$22.62 MYR 92.4

71.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.27 IQD 30.5K

$38.22 MYR 156

-39.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

$9.01 MYR 36.80

115.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.49 IQD 9,807

$5.09 MYR 20.78

47.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$97.2 IQD 127.3K

$186 MYR 759

-47.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$774 IQD 1.0M

$6,832 MYR 27.9K

-88.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.44 IQD 35.9K

$66.0 MYR 269

-58.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

$19.02 MYR 77.6

44.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 IQD 79.9K

$73.8 MYR 301

-17.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

$39.92 MYR 163

9.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 IQD 483.4K

$342 MYR 1,396

7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 IQD 256.7K

$235 MYR 959

-16.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$664 IQD 869.6K

$620 MYR 2,533

7.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 IQD 409.9K

$380 MYR 1,552

-17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,747 IQD 2.3M

$2,685 MYR 11.0K

-34.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$546 IQD 715.1K

$1,803 MYR 7,364

-69.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 IQD 670.4K

$1,041 MYR 4,251

-50.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

4.07

39.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Hillah: July 26, 2026

Last update for Putrajaya: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Al Hillah versus $342 in Putrajaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 103% higher in Putrajaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Al Hillah versus $19.00 in Putrajaya. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Al Hillah vs $219 in Putrajaya – so Al Hillah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Al Hillah vs Putrajaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,219 per month in Al Hillah and $1,193 in Putrajaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Putrajaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 455% less in Putrajaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $97.2 per month in Al Hillah and $186 in Putrajaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $813 in Al Hillah and $796 in Putrajaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Putrajaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Putrajaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Hillah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.