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: $955 in Johor Bahru versus $912 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Johor Bahru versus $1,335 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Johor Bahru versus $1,758 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 5% more expensive than in 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

$3.51 MYR 14.34

$3.50 MYR 14.29

0.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 MYR 77.6

$19.15 MYR 78.3

-0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.69

$4.78 MYR 19.54

0.84%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.94

$2.78 MYR 11.35

5.04%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.40

$0.72 MYR 2.96

15.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.39 MYR 1.60

25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 MYR 14.38

$3.61 MYR 14.77

-2.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 MYR 26.46

$4.93 MYR 20.15

31.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.46

$1.92 MYR 7.83

-5.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.80

$0.93 MYR 3.81

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.15

$1.79 MYR 7.32

-29.61%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.67

$2.20 MYR 8.98

-14.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.99

$10.52 MYR 43.01

2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 MYR 13.90

$3.41 MYR 13.93

-0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 MYR 33.27

$8.28 MYR 33.84

-1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MYR 11.26

$2.65 MYR 10.84

3.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.14

$1.68 MYR 6.88

-10.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.52

$2.53 MYR 10.33

1.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$1.20 MYR 4.91

1.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.18 MYR 4.81

-3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.71

$1.39 MYR 5.68

0.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.32

$0.59 MYR 2.42

-3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.01

$4.20 MYR 17.18

-0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 MYR 58.6

$19.92 MYR 81.4

-28.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.43

$2.78 MYR 11.36

0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.78

$3.97 MYR 16.21

-27.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.76 MYR 3.09

-5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.71

$11.59 MYR 47.38

2.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$1.02 MYR 4.16

0.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.18

$0.33 MYR 1.34

209.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 38.75

$9.42 MYR 38.49

0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.46 MYR 1.87

8.70%

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

$34.8K MYR 142.2K

$31.0K MYR 126.8K

12.10%

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

$27.4K MYR 112.0K

$28.3K MYR 115.5K

-3.02%

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

$40.42 MYR 165

$40.45 MYR 165

-0.07%

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

$8.82 MYR 36.04

$9.18 MYR 37.52

-3.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 MYR 125

$22.64 MYR 92.5

35.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.12 MYR 144

$37.27 MYR 152

-5.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 MYR 23.62

$7.35 MYR 30.02

-21.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 19.98

$4.88 MYR 19.96

0.20%

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

$184 MYR 753

$208 MYR 851

-11.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,005 MYR 28.6K

$8,031 MYR 32.8K

-12.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.22 MYR 201

$48.20 MYR 197

2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.59 MYR 76.0

$34.63 MYR 142

-46.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.9 MYR 225

$54.0 MYR 221

1.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.53 MYR 162

$49.14 MYR 201

-19.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,912

$460 MYR 1,882

1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 MYR 1,635

$340 MYR 1,390

17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 MYR 3,328

$826 MYR 3,378

-1.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 MYR 2,491

$538 MYR 2,198

13.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,036 MYR 8,322

$3,118 MYR 12.7K

-34.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,158 MYR 4,732

$204 MYR 835

466.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 MYR 4,346

$1,764 MYR 7,210

-39.72%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Johor Bahru and $460 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 66% 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 $236 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 5% in total monthly costs ($955 vs $912 including rent). Petaling Jaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 66% 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: $468 in Johor Bahru versus $460 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 $955 per month in Johor Bahru versus $912 in Petaling Jaya – a 5% 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 5% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.