Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Johor Bahru versus $910 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,378 in Johor Bahru versus $1,354 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,791 in Johor Bahru versus $1,798 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 6% more expensive than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 28% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$3.44 MYR 13.59

2.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 MYR 73.8

$18.50 MYR 73.1

1.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.82

$4.61 MYR 18.21

3.25%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 11.90

$2.78 MYR 10.97

8.27%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.35

$0.67 MYR 2.65

26.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.36 MYR 1.43

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 13.85

$3.57 MYR 14.08

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 26.71

$5.17 MYR 20.44

30.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.11

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-5.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$0.97 MYR 3.82

1.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.79 MYR 7.07

-30.73%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$2.24 MYR 8.85

-17.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 MYR 42.16

$10.69 MYR 42.24

-0.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 14.01

$3.56 MYR 14.04

-0.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.25 MYR 32.60

$8.22 MYR 32.46

0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.51

$2.69 MYR 10.61

-1.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.76

$1.73 MYR 6.84

-15.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.16

$2.48 MYR 9.81

3.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.93

$1.27 MYR 5.00

-1.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.51

$1.19 MYR 4.69

-4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$1.34 MYR 5.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.71

$0.90 MYR 3.54

4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.29 MYR 16.95

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 57.3

$20.15 MYR 79.6

-28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.59

$2.77 MYR 10.94

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MYR 11.53

$3.92 MYR 15.50

-25.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.75 MYR 2.97

-4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 46.65

$11.70 MYR 46.22

0.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.84

$0.98 MYR 3.88

-1.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$0.35 MYR 1.38

191.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 MYR 35.92

$9.03 MYR 35.68

0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.98

-6.00%

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

$34.8K MYR 137.4K

$31.8K MYR 125.7K

9.32%

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

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

$28.1K MYR 110.8K

0.21%

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

$40.87 MYR 161

$40.25 MYR 159

1.54%

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

$9.23 MYR 36.44

$9.09 MYR 35.92

1.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 MYR 121

$22.94 MYR 90.6

33.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.09 MYR 139

$37.39 MYR 148

-6.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 22.99

$7.48 MYR 29.55

-22.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.35

$4.99 MYR 19.72

-1.80%

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

$191 MYR 755

$214 MYR 846

-10.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,900 MYR 27.3K

$8,042 MYR 31.8K

-14.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.07 MYR 194

$48.73 MYR 192

0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$33.82 MYR 134

-43.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 MYR 214

$55.0 MYR 217

-1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.65 MYR 157

$49.39 MYR 195

-19.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,848

$471 MYR 1,860

-0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 MYR 1,565

$347 MYR 1,371

14.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 MYR 3,331

$820 MYR 3,240

2.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,366

$555 MYR 2,190

7.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$3,321 MYR 13.1K

-37.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,190 MYR 4,700

$211 MYR 833

464.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,155 MYR 4,562

$1,757 MYR 6,938

-34.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.49

-9.35%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: April 25, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Johor Bahru and $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Johor Bahru vs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $239 per month, with Johor Bahru 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

Johor Bahru vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru and Petaling Jaya differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $910 including rent). Petaling Jaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Petaling Jaya earns 52% 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: $468 in Johor Bahru versus $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Petaling Jaya – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $19.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Johor Bahru versus $910 in Petaling Jaya – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Johor Bahru 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 Petaling Jaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.