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: $796 in Bintulu versus $912 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,228 in Bintulu versus $1,335 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,661 in Bintulu versus $1,758 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 13% 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 15.63

$3.50 MYR 14.28

9.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.41 MYR 71.1

$19.15 MYR 78.2

-9.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 MYR 22.53

$4.78 MYR 19.52

15.48%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.38

$2.78 MYR 11.34

0.36%

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

$0.66 MYR 2.71

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 MYR 11.61

$3.61 MYR 14.75

-21.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 MYR 20.53

$4.93 MYR 20.13

2.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.92 MYR 7.82

-10.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 MYR 5.58

$0.93 MYR 3.81

47.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.18

$1.79 MYR 7.31

-29.05%

Eggs

$2.10 MYR 8.58

$2.20 MYR 8.97

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.76 MYR 68.4

$10.52 MYR 42.97

59.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 MYR 14.18

$3.41 MYR 13.91

1.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.63 MYR 22.97

$8.28 MYR 33.81

-32.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.62

$2.65 MYR 10.83

-38.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$1.68 MYR 6.87

-45.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 MYR 6.54

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-36.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.35

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-10.83%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$1.18 MYR 4.80

-55.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.87

$1.39 MYR 5.68

-14.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.96 MYR 3.93

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.76

$0.59 MYR 2.42

-27.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 MYR 16.46

$4.20 MYR 17.17

-4.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.73 MYR 80.6

$19.92 MYR 81.3

-0.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.72

$2.78 MYR 11.35

3.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 MYR 7.87

$3.97 MYR 16.20

-51.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$0.76 MYR 3.08

57.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.40 MYR 62.9

$11.59 MYR 47.33

32.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 4.00

$1.02 MYR 4.16

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 MYR 3.80

$0.33 MYR 1.34

181.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 MYR 9.46

$9.42 MYR 38.45

-75.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.46 MYR 1.87

19.57%

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

$42.9K MYR 175.0K

$31.0K MYR 126.7K

38.10%

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

$37.0K MYR 151.2K

$28.3K MYR 115.4K

31.06%

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

$57.3 MYR 234

$40.45 MYR 165

41.68%

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

$9.36 MYR 38.21

$9.18 MYR 37.49

1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.91 MYR 122

$22.64 MYR 92.4

32.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.2 MYR 266

$37.27 MYR 152

74.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.96 MYR 24.33

$7.35 MYR 29.99

-18.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 MYR 17.10

$4.88 MYR 19.94

-14.14%

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

$121 MYR 493

$208 MYR 850

-42.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,017 MYR 28.7K

$8,031 MYR 32.8K

-12.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 MYR 251

$48.20 MYR 197

27.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.91 MYR 138

$34.63 MYR 141

-2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.4 MYR 312

$54.0 MYR 221

41.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 MYR 362

$49.14 MYR 201

80.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 MYR 875

$460 MYR 1,880

-53.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 MYR 622

$340 MYR 1,389

-55.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 MYR 1,881

$826 MYR 3,374

-44.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 MYR 1,287

$538 MYR 2,196

-41.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,704 MYR 6,956

$3,118 MYR 12.7K

-45.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,154 MYR 4,711

$204 MYR 834

464.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$601 MYR 2,455

$1,764 MYR 7,202

-65.91%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Bintulu and $460 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 193% 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 $224 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 15% 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, salaries run 193% lower in Petaling Jaya. 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: $214 in Bintulu versus $460 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $796 per month in Bintulu versus $912 in Petaling Jaya – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 33% 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 $796 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 15% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.