Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $939 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,491 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,889 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,946 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Kajang, Selangor is about 9% cheaper than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kajang, Selangor and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Kajang, Selangor 31% lower, Petaling Jaya 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.85

$3.60 MYR 14.71

1.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.82 MYR 89.1

$24.59 MYR 100

-11.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.51

$4.95 MYR 20.21

-3.43%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.75

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-3.36%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.25

$0.92 MYR 3.76

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MYR 1.80

$0.42 MYR 1.70

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.87

$3.26 MYR 13.29

34.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 MYR 24.88

$5.89 MYR 24.03

3.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.80

$1.87 MYR 7.63

-10.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.34

$1.05 MYR 4.28

0.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.82

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-5.30%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.14

$1.78 MYR 7.25

-1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.09 MYR 73.8

$9.85 MYR 40.20

83.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.10

$3.36 MYR 13.73

39.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.00 MYR 40.83

$9.56 MYR 39.03

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 MYR 13.32

$3.46 MYR 14.13

-5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.84

$1.92 MYR 7.84

-13.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 MYR 9.89

$2.68 MYR 10.93

-9.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$1.82 MYR 7.42

-8.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.41

$2.08 MYR 8.48

-36.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.99 MYR 8.12

-13.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.50 MYR 6.11

-23.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.53 MYR 2.16

3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 MYR 17.17

$4.46 MYR 18.20

-5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.96 MYR 57.0

$19.38 MYR 79.1

-27.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 MYR 11.79

$2.63 MYR 10.75

9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 MYR 12.85

$4.52 MYR 18.44

-30.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MYR 3.17

$1.26 MYR 5.16

-38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.11 MYR 49.42

$12.42 MYR 50.7

-2.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.26 MYR 5.15

-3.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 MYR 3.11

$0.36 MYR 1.47

111.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 MYR 20.60

$9.15 MYR 37.37

-44.81%

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)

$41.7K MYR 170.2K

$41.6K MYR 169.8K

0.24%

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

$34.6K MYR 141.4K

$32.4K MYR 132.5K

6.72%

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

$53.6 MYR 219

$49.66 MYR 203

7.83%

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

$10.09 MYR 41.19

$8.04 MYR 32.83

25.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.82 MYR 105

$27.49 MYR 112

-6.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.02 MYR 184

$51.9 MYR 212

-13.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.07 MYR 28.87

$3.06 MYR 12.50

131.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 MYR 19.51

$4.79 MYR 19.55

-0.21%

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

$218 MYR 890

$282 MYR 1,152

-22.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,492 MYR 18.3K

$10.5K MYR 43.0K

-57.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 MYR 274

$50.9 MYR 208

31.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.55 MYR 67.6

$30.19 MYR 123

-45.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 MYR 331

$78.9 MYR 322

2.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.77 MYR 166

$84.4 MYR 345

-51.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MYR 1,877

$481 MYR 1,964

-4.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 MYR 1,158

$401 MYR 1,636

-29.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,622

$861 MYR 3,514

-25.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 MYR 1,750

$566 MYR 2,309

-24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,207 MYR 9,012

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

-31.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,075 MYR 4,387

$975 MYR 3,980

10.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,978

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.51

-9.98%

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

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: September 13, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Kajang, Selangor versus $481 in Petaling Jaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Kajang, Selangor vs $249 in Petaling Jaya – so Petaling Jaya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kajang, Selangor vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $939 in Kajang, Selangor, $1,036 in Petaling Jaya – roughly 10% apart. Petaling Jaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,409 per month in Kajang, Selangor and $1,553 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kajang, Selangor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor and $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $939 in Kajang, Selangor and $1,036 in Petaling Jaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kajang, Selangor, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Kajang, Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Petaling Jaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $939 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,036 in Petaling Jaya. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kajang, Selangor. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petaling Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.