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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $1,008 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,449 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,890 in Selangor, rent included.

Almaty costs about 5% more than Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Almaty and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,934

$2.56 MYR 10.16

213.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.9K

$23.14 MYR 91.7

66.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,416

$3.74 MYR 14.84

86.36%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,174

$2.23 MYR 8.83

7.62%

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

$0.98 ₸478

$0.77 MYR 3.06

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸277

$0.33 MYR 1.32

72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸687

$4.19 MYR 16.62

-66.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,464

$5.33 MYR 21.15

-43.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸644

$1.83 MYR 7.26

-28.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸293

$1.01 MYR 4.00

-40.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸756

$1.45 MYR 5.74

6.21%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸852

$1.83 MYR 7.24

-4.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,773

$14.43 MYR 57.2

-32.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,301

$4.66 MYR 18.46

0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,678

$9.83 MYR 38.98

-23.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸661

$2.87 MYR 11.37

-52.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸970

$1.64 MYR 6.52

20.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸957

$2.69 MYR 10.65

-27.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,014

$1.51 MYR 5.98

37.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸308

$1.27 MYR 5.03

-50.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸206

$0.99 MYR 3.93

-57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸608

$1.08 MYR 4.28

14.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸346

$0.54 MYR 2.15

31.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸965

$4.32 MYR 17.12

-54.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,947

$19.54 MYR 77.5

-48.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸433

$3.37 MYR 13.35

-73.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸999

$4.26 MYR 16.88

-52.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.74 MYR 2.94

-67.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

$11.61 MYR 46.04

52.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸567

$1.21 MYR 4.79

-4.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸343

$1.10 MYR 4.38

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,355

$4.38 MYR 17.39

9.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.46 MYR 1.84

6.52%

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

$23.2K ₸11.4M

$39.3K MYR 155.8K

-40.94%

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

$27.2K ₸13.4M

$31.9K MYR 126.5K

-14.60%

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

$63.8 ₸31.3K

$65.4 MYR 259

-2.43%

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

$8.60 ₸4,213

$9.48 MYR 37.59

-9.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,777

$25.69 MYR 102

-46.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.9K

$38.55 MYR 153

26.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.4K

$7.29 MYR 28.90

191.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,505

$5.20 MYR 20.62

-1.73%

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

$267 ₸130.8K

$117 MYR 462

128.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$4,384 MYR 17.4K

193.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸41.1K

$59.8 MYR 237

40.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.3K

$36.96 MYR 147

17.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.4K

$75.1 MYR 298

28.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.5K

$78.9 MYR 313

51.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸325.9K

$441 MYR 1,749

50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸205.7K

$348 MYR 1,379

20.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸575.8K

$849 MYR 3,365

38.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸378.9K

$472 MYR 1,871

63.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$1,659 MYR 6,577

29.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸614.6K

$726 MYR 2,878

72.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸386.9K

$1,004 MYR 3,980

-21.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

3.96

364.39%

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

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Last update for Selangor: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $441 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 27% 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $23.00 in Selangor. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $261 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 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Almaty and $1,511 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 $38.00 in Almaty and $23.00 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $1,008 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 $1,008, than in Almaty at $1,057. 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.