Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjul and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjul and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $664 per month in Banjul vs $1,060 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,191 per month in Banjul vs $1,503 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Banjul vs $1,946 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Banjul is about 37% cheaper than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Banjul and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Banjul 52% lower, Petaling Jaya 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 GMD 540

$3.62 MYR 14.74

102.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.8 GMD 5,663

$24.90 MYR 101

208.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 GMD 577

$4.81 MYR 19.58

62.79%

Cappuccino

$3.72 GMD 274

$3.11 MYR 12.66

19.61%

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

$2.66 GMD 196

$0.86 MYR 3.52

209.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 GMD 117

$0.42 MYR 1.71

276.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.69 GMD 419

$3.24 MYR 13.20

75.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 GMD 337

$5.89 MYR 23.96

-22.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 GMD 101

$1.88 MYR 7.65

-27.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 GMD 48.35

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-39.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 GMD 99.3

$1.44 MYR 5.85

-6.25%

Eggs

$1.95 GMD 144

$1.86 MYR 7.58

4.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.94 GMD 438

$10.14 MYR 41.27

-41.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.64 GMD 194

$3.21 MYR 13.07

-17.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.40 GMD 398

$9.53 MYR 38.75

-43.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 GMD 146

$3.42 MYR 13.91

-42.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 GMD 92.9

$1.87 MYR 7.59

-32.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 GMD 130

$2.65 MYR 10.80

-33.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 GMD 102

$1.77 MYR 7.22

-22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 GMD 64.8

$2.16 MYR 8.77

-59.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 GMD 73.6

$2.04 MYR 8.30

-50.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 GMD 16.93

$1.46 MYR 5.92

-84.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 GMD 45.65

$0.55 MYR 2.25

12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 GMD 125

$4.49 MYR 18.28

-62.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 GMD 479

$18.91 MYR 76.9

-65.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 GMD 110

$2.66 MYR 10.84

-43.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 GMD 123

$4.64 MYR 18.88

-64.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 GMD 13.54

$1.26 MYR 5.11

-85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.70 GMD 494

$12.30 MYR 50.0

-45.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 MYR 5.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 GMD 48.57

$0.36 MYR 1.45

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 GMD 305

$9.06 MYR 36.84

-54.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 GMD 79.8

$0.74 MYR 3.01

45.95%

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

$2,674 GMD 197.1K

$41.4K MYR 168.5K

-93.54%

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

$3,251 GMD 239.6K

$32.8K MYR 133.4K

-90.09%

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

$30.91 GMD 2,278

$49.97 MYR 203

-38.14%

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

$14.21 GMD 1,047

$8.26 MYR 33.61

72.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.06 GMD 3,321

$26.91 MYR 109

67.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.09 GMD 1,775

$53.3 MYR 217

-54.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.68 GMD 1,008

$3.16 MYR 12.87

332.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 GMD 245

$4.87 MYR 19.82

-31.62%

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

$6.70 GMD 494

$281 MYR 1,144

-97.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$137 GMD 10.1K

$10.5K MYR 42.7K

-98.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 GMD 4,026

$52.0 MYR 212

4.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.22 GMD 3,185

$30.01 MYR 122

44.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 GMD 7,418

$79.3 MYR 323

26.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 GMD 6,436

$85.3 MYR 347

2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 GMD 7,420

$494 MYR 2,008

-79.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.7 GMD 6,018

$413 MYR 1,680

-80.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 GMD 16.1K

$847 MYR 3,447

-74.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 GMD 9,869

$552 MYR 2,245

-75.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,452 GMD 107.0K

$3,224 MYR 13.1K

-54.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,139 GMD 83.9K

$951 MYR 3,868

19.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$60.9 GMD 4,485

$1,759 MYR 7,157

-96.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

232.59%

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

Last update for Banjul: September 5, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Banjul versus $494 in Petaling Jaya. 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 2791% higher in Petaling Jaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Banjul versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries tell a different story – $149 in Banjul vs $249 in Petaling Jaya – so Banjul 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

Banjul vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Petaling Jaya is pricier by about 60%, 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 $995 per month in Banjul and $1,590 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $664 in Banjul and $1,060 in Petaling Jaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 84% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,060. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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