Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kangar, Perlis and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,396 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,491 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Kangar, Perlis vs $1,946 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Kangar, Perlis is about 8% cheaper than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kangar, Perlis and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Kangar, Perlis 30% lower, Petaling Jaya 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MYR 15.52

$3.60 MYR 14.75

5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.49 MYR 83.9

$24.59 MYR 101

-16.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.85

$4.95 MYR 20.26

-2.02%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.97

$2.98 MYR 12.21

-10.07%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.92 MYR 3.77

-22.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.62

$0.42 MYR 1.70

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 MYR 16.99

$3.26 MYR 13.33

27.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 MYR 19.49

$5.89 MYR 24.09

-19.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.55

$1.87 MYR 7.65

-1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.05 MYR 4.29

4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 MYR 6.36

$1.51 MYR 6.17

2.65%

Eggs

$1.99 MYR 8.15

$1.78 MYR 7.27

11.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 MYR 50.3

$9.85 MYR 40.31

24.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 MYR 17.95

$3.36 MYR 13.76

30.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 MYR 40.00

$9.56 MYR 39.13

2.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 MYR 13.49

$3.46 MYR 14.17

-4.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 7.01

$1.92 MYR 7.86

-10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 10.91

$2.68 MYR 10.95

-0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.52

$1.82 MYR 7.44

1.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 MYR 4.50

$2.08 MYR 8.50

-47.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.05

$1.99 MYR 8.14

-38.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-32.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.53 MYR 2.17

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.85 MYR 19.83

$4.46 MYR 18.25

8.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.05 MYR 82.1

$19.38 MYR 79.3

3.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.21

$2.63 MYR 10.77

13.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 MYR 16.48

$4.52 MYR 18.49

-10.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$1.26 MYR 5.17

-41.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.21 MYR 45.88

$12.42 MYR 50.8

-9.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.05 MYR 4.31

$1.26 MYR 5.17

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$0.36 MYR 1.47

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 MYR 32.18

$9.15 MYR 37.46

-14.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.45

$0.79 MYR 3.22

6.33%

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

$47.0K MYR 192.5K

$41.6K MYR 170.2K

13.08%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.7K

$32.4K MYR 132.8K

5.23%

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

$44.65 MYR 183

$49.66 MYR 203

-10.09%

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

$9.56 MYR 39.12

$8.04 MYR 32.92

18.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.71 MYR 105

$27.49 MYR 113

-6.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.17 MYR 189

$51.9 MYR 212

-10.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 MYR 30.47

$3.06 MYR 12.53

143.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.18 MYR 21.20

$4.79 MYR 19.60

8.14%

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

$192 MYR 787

$282 MYR 1,155

-31.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,435 MYR 22.2K

$10.5K MYR 43.1K

-48.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 MYR 266

$50.9 MYR 208

27.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.04 MYR 123

$30.19 MYR 124

-0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 MYR 363

$78.9 MYR 323

12.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 MYR 267

$84.4 MYR 345

-22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$421 MYR 1,724

$481 MYR 1,969

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 MYR 1,351

$401 MYR 1,640

-17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 MYR 2,389

$861 MYR 3,523

-32.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 2,024

$566 MYR 2,315

-12.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,783 MYR 7,299

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

-44.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 MYR 4,368

$975 MYR 3,990

9.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,996

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.51

-6.87%

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

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $421 in Kangar, Perlis 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 $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Kangar, Perlis 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

Kangar, Perlis vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $954 in Kangar, Perlis, $1,036 in Petaling Jaya – roughly 9% apart. Petaling Jaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis, 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 $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis 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 $954 in Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Kangar, Perlis 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 $954 in Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis. 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.