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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Bintulu versus $909 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Bintulu versus $1,337 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Bintulu versus $1,765 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 12% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 40% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.83 MYR 15.52

$3.63 MYR 14.70

5.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.48 MYR 70.9

$18.88 MYR 76.6

-7.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 MYR 23.24

$4.69 MYR 19.02

22.17%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$2.71 MYR 10.99

2.58%

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

$0.67 MYR 2.71

$0.68 MYR 2.74

-1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.37 MYR 1.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 MYR 11.33

$3.51 MYR 14.24

-20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.65

$4.96 MYR 20.10

-2.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MYR 6.97

$1.92 MYR 7.78

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 MYR 5.35

$0.95 MYR 3.85

38.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.30

$1.74 MYR 7.07

-24.71%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.84

$2.16 MYR 8.75

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.62 MYR 67.4

$10.81 MYR 43.82

53.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 MYR 14.26

$3.56 MYR 14.45

-1.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 MYR 23.52

$7.94 MYR 32.21

-26.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.60

$2.76 MYR 11.18

-40.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-46.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.60

$2.47 MYR 10.04

-34.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.32

$1.21 MYR 4.89

-11.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-53.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 MYR 2.73

$0.94 MYR 3.83

-28.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.73

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-31.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 MYR 15.83

$4.13 MYR 16.74

-5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.51 MYR 79.1

$19.45 MYR 78.9

0.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.40

$2.74 MYR 11.09

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MYR 7.53

$3.77 MYR 15.30

-50.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 MYR 4.86

$0.76 MYR 3.08

57.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.64 MYR 63.4

$11.97 MYR 48.52

30.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$0.99 MYR 4.00

-8.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 MYR 3.55

$0.32 MYR 1.32

175.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 MYR 9.43

$9.35 MYR 37.92

-75.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.05

$0.47 MYR 1.90

8.51%

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

$42.4K MYR 171.9K

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

35.47%

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

$38.0K MYR 154.1K

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

34.95%

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

$59.1 MYR 240

$40.93 MYR 166

44.42%

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

$8.97 MYR 36.37

$8.87 MYR 35.97

1.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.31 MYR 119

$23.16 MYR 93.9

26.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.4 MYR 269

$36.87 MYR 149

80.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 MYR 23.83

$7.22 MYR 29.28

-18.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 MYR 16.79

$5.01 MYR 20.30

-17.37%

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

$121 MYR 491

$209 MYR 849

-42.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,172 MYR 29.1K

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

-11.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 MYR 253

$48.47 MYR 197

28.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.27 MYR 139

$33.99 MYR 138

0.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MYR 306

$53.9 MYR 219

40.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 MYR 356

$48.57 MYR 197

80.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 MYR 859

$471 MYR 1,911

-55.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 MYR 611

$347 MYR 1,407

-56.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 MYR 1,870

$817 MYR 3,311

-43.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 MYR 1,291

$543 MYR 2,200

-41.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,756 MYR 7,122

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

-44.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,159 MYR 4,701

$210 MYR 851

452.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 MYR 2,478

$1,742 MYR 7,066

-64.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.49

0.22%

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

Last update for Bintulu: June 7, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Bintulu and $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 185% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Bintulu vs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $236 per month, with Bintulu cheaper across the board.

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

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

Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Petaling Jaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Petaling Jaya earns 185% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $212 in Bintulu versus $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Bintulu versus $909 in Petaling Jaya – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 31% less than in Petaling Jaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $802 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bintulu and Petaling Jaya are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.