Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $1,029 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,494 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $1,960 in Selangor, rent included.

Almaty costs about 33% more than Selangor, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,880

$4.39 MYR 17.76

194.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$20.22 MYR 81.8

122.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,916

$4.06 MYR 16.43

112.07%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,431

$2.24 MYR 9.06

40.62%

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

$1.33 ₸604

$0.84 MYR 3.41

58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸371

$0.43 MYR 1.73

90.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,104

$4.50 MYR 18.19

-46.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,781

$4.97 MYR 20.09

-21.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸749

$1.88 MYR 7.62

-12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$1.11 MYR 4.49

-27.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸948

$1.49 MYR 6.02

39.60%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,048

$2.01 MYR 8.14

14.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,563

$16.12 MYR 65.2

-24.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,028

$4.89 MYR 19.79

36.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,881

$9.92 MYR 40.10

8.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸842

$3.36 MYR 13.58

-44.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,074

$1.84 MYR 7.45

28.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,318

$2.35 MYR 9.51

23.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,260

$1.66 MYR 6.69

66.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸342

$1.34 MYR 5.41

-44.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$1.05 MYR 4.24

-45.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸726

$1.17 MYR 4.74

36.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.58 MYR 2.36

67.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,171

$4.57 MYR 18.46

-43.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,892

$19.08 MYR 77.2

-43.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$3.39 MYR 13.69

-65.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,082

$5.07 MYR 20.49

-53.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$1.25 MYR 5.07

-80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,576

$12.60 MYR 50.9

67.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸603

$1.22 MYR 4.95

9.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸287

$1.26 MYR 5.10

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,963

$4.47 MYR 18.05

144.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.69 MYR 2.77

-2.90%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$42.9K MYR 173.5K

-38.90%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$35.5K MYR 143.5K

-16.86%

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

$90.4 ₸41.1K

$65.6 MYR 265

37.97%

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

$10.95 ₸4,981

$9.42 MYR 38.10

16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,947

$26.41 MYR 107

-33.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$40.52 MYR 164

85.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$7.09 MYR 28.68

313.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,875

$5.43 MYR 21.96

16.39%

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

$425 ₸193.5K

$123 MYR 499

244.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$7,417 MYR 30.0K

56.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.4K

$71.3 MYR 288

21.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$43.00 MYR 174

8.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.3K

$79.0 MYR 319

76.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.3K

$82.5 MYR 333

60.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸359.7K

$509 MYR 2,057

55.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.4K

$348 MYR 1,405

43.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸651.5K

$911 MYR 3,685

57.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.1K

$489 MYR 1,977

86.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,618 MYR 6,540

51.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸684.3K

$711 MYR 2,874

111.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸386.5K

$1,060 MYR 4,285

-19.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

3.96

420.45%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Selangor: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $509 in Selangor. 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 25% higher in Selangor, 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 $45.00 in Almaty versus $20.00 in Selangor. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Almaty vs $275 in Selangor – so Almaty 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

Almaty vs Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,543 in Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $20.00 in Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,364 in Almaty and $1,029 in Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Almaty at $1,364. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.