Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $892 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,341 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,790 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 21% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 47% lower, Petaling Jaya 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.08

$3.47 MYR 13.76

-34.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 MYR 87.2

$18.73 MYR 74.3

17.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.30

$4.74 MYR 18.79

-8.02%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 11.79

$2.69 MYR 10.65

10.41%

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

$0.44 MYR 1.75

$0.72 MYR 2.87

-38.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.07

$0.39 MYR 1.55

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.16

$3.44 MYR 13.63

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.27

$5.08 MYR 20.16

-4.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 MYR 6.12

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$0.94 MYR 3.73

2.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.77 MYR 7.04

-29.38%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.20 MYR 8.74

-6.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 59.8

$10.55 MYR 41.83

42.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 MYR 17.46

$3.39 MYR 13.42

29.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 38.38

$8.06 MYR 31.96

20.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.83

$2.74 MYR 10.87

8.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.76

$1.68 MYR 6.66

-13.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.20

$2.50 MYR 9.90

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$1.26 MYR 4.99

9.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.13 MYR 4.48

9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.16

$0.95 MYR 3.77

10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.63 MYR 2.50

-17.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.29

$4.35 MYR 17.24

0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 MYR 74.5

$20.58 MYR 81.6

-8.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.19

$2.75 MYR 10.91

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.93

$3.85 MYR 15.28

-21.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.72 MYR 2.84

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.50

$11.92 MYR 47.24

0.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$1.02 MYR 4.02

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$0.33 MYR 1.29

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 23.99

$9.38 MYR 37.19

-35.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$0.49 MYR 1.95

2.04%

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

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

$31.1K MYR 123.3K

13.82%

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

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

$28.2K MYR 111.7K

13.66%

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

$43.46 MYR 172

$41.04 MYR 163

5.90%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.07

$8.87 MYR 35.17

5.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MYR 118

$22.69 MYR 90.0

30.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 MYR 144

$37.62 MYR 149

-3.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.96

$7.54 MYR 29.91

-23.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 19.74

$4.85 MYR 19.21

2.68%

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

$184 MYR 730

$213 MYR 844

-13.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

$8,116 MYR 32.2K

-13.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 242

$48.18 MYR 191

26.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.86 MYR 106

$34.97 MYR 139

-23.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MYR 294

$53.9 MYR 214

37.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 202

$48.40 MYR 192

5.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MYR 787

$464 MYR 1,840

-57.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 MYR 476

$343 MYR 1,358

-64.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,571

$830 MYR 3,291

-21.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,084

$538 MYR 2,135

-49.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 MYR 7,823

$3,212 MYR 12.7K

-38.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 MYR 3,879

$211 MYR 836

364.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 MYR 2,001

$1,782 MYR 7,066

-71.69%

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 Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Kuala Terengganu and $464 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 253% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $237 per month, with Petaling Jaya 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

Kuala Terengganu vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Terengganu and Petaling Jaya differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $892 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Petaling Jaya earns 253% less. 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: $199 in Kuala Terengganu versus $464 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $892 in Petaling Jaya – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 1% less than in Petaling Jaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu 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, Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.