Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Petaling Jaya

🙂 Solo nomad: Kota Bharu is 6.5% cheaper than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 27.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 15.7% cheaper than Petaling Jaya without rent, and 11.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.76 MYR 6.95
$3.45 MYR 13.65
-48.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.93 MYR 82.7
$19.09 MYR 75.4
9.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.20 MYR 16.59
$4.58 MYR 18.09
-8.30%
Cappuccino
$2.31 MYR 9.14
$2.82 MYR 11.12
-18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MYR 1.81
$0.67 MYR 2.63
-31.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 0.99
$0.39 MYR 1.55
-35.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.27 MYR 16.88
$3.44 MYR 13.61
24.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 MYR 16.92
$5.21 MYR 20.59
-17.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 MYR 5.88
$1.87 MYR 7.40
-20.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.77 MYR 3.03
$1.02 MYR 4.04
-24.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.77 MYR 3.05
$1.79 MYR 7.06
-56.98%
Eggs
$1.48 MYR 5.85
$2.26 MYR 8.93
-34.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.12 MYR 59.7
$10.46 MYR 41.33
44.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.96 MYR 11.71
$3.39 MYR 13.39
-12.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.21 MYR 24.55
$8.22 MYR 32.47
-24.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 MYR 5.65
$2.63 MYR 10.40
-45.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.73
$1.68 MYR 6.65
-13.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.46
$2.47 MYR 9.75
-44.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 MYR 3.55
$1.24 MYR 4.91
-27.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 MYR 3.22
$1.14 MYR 4.50
-28.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.75
$1.34 MYR 5.30
-10.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.74
$0.95 MYR 3.76
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 MYR 1.59
$0.62 MYR 2.45
-35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 MYR 12.01
$4.35 MYR 17.20
-30.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.44 MYR 76.8
$19.85 MYR 78.4
-2.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 MYR 5.50
$2.69 MYR 10.64
-48.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 MYR 13.40
$3.93 MYR 15.52
-13.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MYR 2.75
$0.75 MYR 2.98
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.85 MYR 46.80
$11.61 MYR 45.86
2.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 MYR 2.76
$0.98 MYR 3.89
-28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MYR 2.10
$0.33 MYR 1.29
60.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 MYR 14.22
$9.45 MYR 37.35
-61.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 1.99
$0.47 MYR 1.85
6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K MYR 119.0K
$31.1K MYR 122.7K
-2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 107.5K
$28.0K MYR 110.5K
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.15 MYR 155
$40.62 MYR 160
-3.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.41 MYR 33.22
$9.08 MYR 35.87
-7.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.11 MYR 103
$23.14 MYR 91.4
12.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.05 MYR 146
$37.14 MYR 147
-0.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84 MYR 23.08
$7.19 MYR 28.39
-18.78%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 MYR 16.87
$4.93 MYR 19.47
-13.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 MYR 470
$211 MYR 833
-43.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,291 MYR 24.8K
$8,152 MYR 32.2K
-22.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 MYR 206
$49.59 MYR 196
5.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.77 MYR 74.1
$34.85 MYR 138
-46.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.6 MYR 243
$54.7 MYR 216
12.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.6 MYR 208
$49.12 MYR 194
7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 MYR 1,044
$455 MYR 1,798
-41.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 MYR 553
$347 MYR 1,371
-59.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$860 MYR 3,395
$828 MYR 3,271
3.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 MYR 1,880
$536 MYR 2,118
-11.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,238 MYR 12.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$217 MYR 856
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Petaling Jaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$304 MYR 1,199
$1,792 MYR 7,079
-83.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.49
-7.35%

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

Last update for Kota Bharu: April 13, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: April 13, 2026

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

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