Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $823 in Miri versus $1,032 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,245 in Miri versus $1,497 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Miri versus $1,963 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Miri costs roughly 20% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 40% lower, Petaling Jaya 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 MYR 13.93

$3.74 MYR 15.11

-7.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.16 MYR 49.13

$24.73 MYR 99.9

-50.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 MYR 18.62

$5.04 MYR 20.35

-8.53%

Cappuccino

$2.36 MYR 9.54

$3.05 MYR 12.31

-22.62%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.19

$0.86 MYR 3.49

-8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MYR 1.21

$0.42 MYR 1.69

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MYR 12.30

$3.31 MYR 13.36

-8.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 MYR 16.39

$5.83 MYR 23.55

-30.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 MYR 5.93

$1.86 MYR 7.53

-20.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MYR 7.60

$1.03 MYR 4.18

82.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 MYR 3.90

$1.45 MYR 5.87

-33.79%

Eggs

$3.47 MYR 14.01

$1.78 MYR 7.20

94.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 MYR 39.17

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 MYR 19.88

$3.31 MYR 13.37

48.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 MYR 61.3

$9.41 MYR 38.03

61.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.89

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.92

$1.93 MYR 7.78

1.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.20

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.43

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.44

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.00

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 MYR 5.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.56 MYR 2.25

-35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.22

$4.56 MYR 18.40

-6.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 78.9

$20.09 MYR 81.2

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 MYR 12.70

$2.83 MYR 11.41

10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 MYR 9.71

$4.22 MYR 17.06

-43.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MYR 2.04

$1.20 MYR 4.85

-57.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.33 MYR 57.9

$12.42 MYR 50.2

15.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MYR 5.11

$1.20 MYR 4.83

5.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.38 MYR 1.54

55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 MYR 25.24

$9.47 MYR 38.27

-34.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 MYR 2.38

$0.79 MYR 3.18

-25.32%

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

$51.0K MYR 205.8K

$41.3K MYR 166.9K

23.32%

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

$32.8K MYR 132.5K

$33.4K MYR 134.8K

-1.73%

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

$50.2 MYR 203

$39.91 MYR 161

25.73%

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

$9.89 MYR 39.95

$8.11 MYR 32.76

21.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.95 MYR 133

$27.20 MYR 110

21.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.03 MYR 121

$47.88 MYR 193

-37.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 MYR 24.71

$3.15 MYR 12.75

94.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 MYR 17.58

$4.84 MYR 19.57

-10.12%

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

$101 MYR 409

$280 MYR 1,132

-63.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,533 MYR 26.4K

$10.7K MYR 43.2K

-38.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.61 MYR 180

$52.0 MYR 210

-14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.79 MYR 92.1

$29.85 MYR 121

-23.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 MYR 223

$76.4 MYR 309

-27.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.41 MYR 171

$84.6 MYR 342

-49.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 MYR 1,377

$498 MYR 2,012

-31.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 MYR 1,138

$397 MYR 1,604

-29.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 MYR 2,405

$805 MYR 3,251

-26.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 MYR 2,427

$569 MYR 2,299

5.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 MYR 5,023

$3,177 MYR 12.8K

-60.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$678 MYR 2,741

$213 MYR 861

218.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 MYR 2,730

$1,747 MYR 7,056

-61.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.51

-8.65%

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

Last update for Miri: August 18, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Miri and $498 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 158% 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: $12.00 in Miri vs $25.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $247 per month, with Miri 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

Miri vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 158% lower in Petaling Jaya. 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: $341 in Miri versus $498 in Petaling Jaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Miri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $823 per month in Miri versus $1,032 in Petaling Jaya – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $823 in Miri versus $1,032 in Petaling Jaya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Miri but tight or insufficient in Petaling Jaya. The gap between the two cities makes Miri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Miri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Petaling Jaya, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Miri 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.