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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $999 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,432 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,865 in Selangor, rent included.

Almaty costs about 8% more than Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Almaty and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,719

$2.55 MYR 10.42

209.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.2K

$23.88 MYR 97.7

61.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,255

$3.73 MYR 15.26

85.52%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,142

$2.30 MYR 9.40

5.65%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$0.77 MYR 3.17

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸247

$0.36 MYR 1.48

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸639

$4.22 MYR 17.27

-67.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,387

$5.38 MYR 22.00

-45.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸617

$1.81 MYR 7.39

-27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$1.01 MYR 4.15

-45.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸716

$1.50 MYR 6.12

1.33%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸829

$1.88 MYR 7.70

-6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,549

$14.38 MYR 58.8

-32.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,201

$4.68 MYR 19.14

-0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,619

$9.88 MYR 40.41

-22.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸656

$3.00 MYR 12.27

-53.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸901

$1.56 MYR 6.40

22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸915

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-28.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸971

$1.45 MYR 5.94

42.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$1.28 MYR 5.22

-54.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$1.01 MYR 4.11

-57.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸613

$1.13 MYR 4.63

15.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸347

$0.51 MYR 2.10

45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸913

$4.33 MYR 17.71

-55.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,018

$19.24 MYR 78.7

-44.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸387

$3.35 MYR 13.68

-75.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸991

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-50.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.68 MYR 2.80

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,631

$11.85 MYR 48.46

54.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸567

$1.16 MYR 4.75

3.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸336

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-35.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,180

$4.35 MYR 17.77

6.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.50 MYR 2.05

4.00%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

-41.75%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

-11.04%

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

$62.4 ₸29.4K

$64.9 MYR 265

-3.76%

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

$8.56 ₸4,028

$9.99 MYR 40.88

-14.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,546

$25.88 MYR 106

-46.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.1K

$38.38 MYR 157

22.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

$7.27 MYR 29.74

195.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,448

$5.17 MYR 21.13

0.58%

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

$268 ₸126.0K

$116 MYR 476

130.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

200.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$60.9 MYR 249

39.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$36.78 MYR 150

20.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.8K

$74.9 MYR 306

32.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.4K

$78.8 MYR 322

51.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.9K

$449 MYR 1,838

43.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$351 MYR 1,437

20.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.9K

$834 MYR 3,413

38.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸365.1K

$472 MYR 1,930

64.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

$1,583 MYR 6,473

49.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸641.9K

$707 MYR 2,891

92.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.6K

$1,047 MYR 4,284

-20.36%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $449 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 26% 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $24.00 in Selangor. Groceries tell a different story – $190 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 8%, 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 $1,620 per month in Almaty and $1,498 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 $39.00 in Almaty and $24.00 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 $1,080 in Almaty and $999 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 $999, than in Almaty at $1,080. 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.