Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,223 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,370 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $2,237 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $3,251 in Phuket, rent included.

Kajang, Selangor is about 26% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kajang, Selangor and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kajang, Selangor 32% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.50 MYR 14.24

$4.51 ฿147

-22.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 MYR 76.3

$46.62 ฿1,515

-59.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 MYR 18.96

$8.49 ฿276

-44.99%

Cappuccino

$3.07 MYR 12.47

$3.08 ฿100

-0.32%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.68 ฿22.07

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.36 ฿11.75

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 MYR 19.03

$2.43 ฿78.8

92.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 MYR 24.16

$3.63 ฿118

63.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.62

$2.19 ฿71.1

-14.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.09

$1.81 ฿59.0

-44.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.73

$2.23 ฿72.5

-25.56%

Eggs

$1.86 MYR 7.57

$2.24 ฿72.7

-16.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.51 MYR 63.1

$19.60 ฿637

-20.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 MYR 20.47

$3.72 ฿121

35.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 MYR 38.34

$13.47 ฿438

-29.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.09

$3.36 ฿109

-11.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.33

$1.62 ฿52.5

-3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 MYR 11.57

$2.41 ฿78.3

18.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 MYR 7.46

$1.99 ฿64.6

-8.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.53 ฿49.76

-3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.99

$1.45 ฿47.19

18.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$1.01 ฿32.96

14.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.26

$0.48 ฿15.73

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.71

$4.27 ฿139

2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.11 MYR 57.4

$19.12 ฿621

-26.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.69

$1.84 ฿59.7

56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.22

$2.74 ฿89.1

9.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$1.42 ฿46.06

-48.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.94 MYR 48.53

$11.72 ฿381

1.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.67

$3.00 ฿97.6

-61.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.23

$1.05 ฿34.00

-0.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 MYR 19.40

$13.90 ฿452

-65.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$1.29 ฿41.94

-61.24%

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

$36.0K MYR 146.2K

$28.0K ฿911.1K

28.28%

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

$32.4K MYR 131.6K

$33.5K ฿1.1M

-3.38%

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

$46.36 MYR 188

$122 ฿3,964

-61.99%

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

$9.53 MYR 38.73

$13.93 ฿453

-31.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.01 MYR 126

$18.87 ฿613

64.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.17 MYR 151

$61.3 ฿1,992

-39.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.32

$16.84 ฿547

-64.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MYR 19.68

$8.89 ฿289

-45.56%

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

$212 MYR 862

$691 ฿22.5K

-69.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,851 MYR 27.9K

$16.2K ฿525.2K

-57.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 MYR 251

$57.8 ฿1,878

6.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.60 MYR 149

$35.39 ฿1,150

3.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 MYR 355

$113 ฿3,685

-23.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 MYR 284

$83.0 ฿2,698

-15.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,578

$607 ฿19.7K

-36.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,114

$448 ฿14.6K

-38.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,602

$2,029 ฿66.0K

-68.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,917

$1,493 ฿48.5K

-68.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 MYR 8,052

$3,585 ฿116.5K

-44.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$943 MYR 3,832

$2,585 ฿84.0K

-63.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 MYR 2,511

$505 ฿16.4K

22.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

5.33

-23.64%

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

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: June 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Kajang, Selangor versus $607 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Kajang, Selangor, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $292 – making Kajang, Selangor the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $906 in Kajang, Selangor, $1,223 in Phuket – roughly 35% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in Kajang, Selangor and $1,835 in Phuket. 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 $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $906 in Kajang, Selangor and $1,223 in Phuket. 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 $906, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Kajang, Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $906 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,223 in Phuket. 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, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.