Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in George Town versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in George Town versus $1,491 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in George Town versus $1,946 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in George Town costs roughly 6% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 29% lower, Petaling Jaya 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.36 MYR 13.72

$3.60 MYR 14.71

-6.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 MYR 61.3

$24.59 MYR 100

-38.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 MYR 19.39

$4.95 MYR 20.21

-4.04%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.35

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-6.71%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$0.92 MYR 3.76

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.42 MYR 1.70

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 MYR 9.96

$3.26 MYR 13.29

-25.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 MYR 17.78

$5.89 MYR 24.03

-25.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.36

$1.87 MYR 7.63

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.05 MYR 4.28

3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.89

$1.51 MYR 6.15

11.92%

Eggs

$2.22 MYR 9.06

$1.78 MYR 7.25

24.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 MYR 53.0

$9.85 MYR 40.20

31.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$3.36 MYR 13.73

27.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 MYR 35.22

$9.56 MYR 39.03

-9.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.93

$3.46 MYR 14.13

-29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.05

$1.92 MYR 7.84

-22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 MYR 9.13

$2.68 MYR 10.93

-16.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.96

$1.82 MYR 7.42

-32.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$2.08 MYR 8.48

-55.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.49

$1.99 MYR 8.12

-57.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 MYR 3.15

$1.50 MYR 6.11

-48.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.53 MYR 2.16

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.62 MYR 18.84

$4.46 MYR 18.20

3.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.06 MYR 77.8

$19.38 MYR 79.1

-1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 MYR 10.26

$2.63 MYR 10.75

-4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 MYR 14.65

$4.52 MYR 18.44

-20.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$1.26 MYR 5.16

-62.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.93 MYR 44.63

$12.42 MYR 50.7

-12.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$1.26 MYR 5.15

-4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 MYR 1.94

$0.36 MYR 1.47

30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.71 MYR 27.41

$9.15 MYR 37.37

-26.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 MYR 3.10

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-3.80%

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

$42.6K MYR 173.7K

$41.6K MYR 169.8K

2.33%

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

$28.7K MYR 117.1K

$32.4K MYR 132.5K

-11.61%

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

$36.69 MYR 150

$49.66 MYR 203

-26.12%

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

$8.25 MYR 33.68

$8.04 MYR 32.83

2.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.93 MYR 122

$27.49 MYR 112

8.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.24 MYR 168

$51.9 MYR 212

-20.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.77 MYR 19.49

$3.06 MYR 12.50

55.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 MYR 19.23

$4.79 MYR 19.55

-1.67%

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

$175 MYR 715

$282 MYR 1,152

-37.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,966 MYR 20.3K

$10.5K MYR 43.0K

-52.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 MYR 225

$50.9 MYR 208

8.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.40 MYR 140

$30.19 MYR 123

13.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 MYR 298

$78.9 MYR 322

-7.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$84.4 MYR 345

-15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 2,034

$481 MYR 1,964

3.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,524

$401 MYR 1,636

-6.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 MYR 3,750

$861 MYR 3,514

6.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 MYR 4,001

$566 MYR 2,309

73.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,980

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,081 MYR 4,414

$1,709 MYR 6,978

-36.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.51

-5.99%

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

Last update for George Town: September 15, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in George Town and $481 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 58% 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: $15.00 in George Town vs $25.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $249 per month, with George Town 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

George Town vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

George Town is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 58% 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: $498 in George Town versus $481 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in George Town runs roughly 14% less than in Petaling Jaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $175 in George Town versus $282 in Petaling Jaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $969 in George Town versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in George Town but tight or insufficient in Petaling Jaya. The gap between the two cities makes George Town the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, George Town is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Petaling Jaya, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, George Town 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 George Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.