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: $705 in Miri versus $910 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,097 in Miri versus $1,354 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Miri versus $1,798 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Miri costs roughly 23% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 47% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 MYR 12.69

$3.44 MYR 13.59

-6.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.00 MYR 47.40

$18.50 MYR 73.1

-35.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 MYR 16.12

$4.61 MYR 18.21

-11.50%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MYR 10.43

$2.78 MYR 10.97

-5.04%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.95

$0.67 MYR 2.65

11.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.32

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.40

$3.57 MYR 14.08

-19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.28

$5.17 MYR 20.44

-25.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.36

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-28.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.71

$0.97 MYR 3.82

49.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.15

$1.79 MYR 7.07

-55.31%

Eggs

$3.35 MYR 13.23

$2.24 MYR 8.85

49.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 MYR 43.68

$10.69 MYR 42.24

3.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 MYR 18.82

$3.56 MYR 14.04

33.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MYR 46.69

$8.22 MYR 32.46

43.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MYR 12.26

$2.69 MYR 10.61

15.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.49

$1.73 MYR 6.84

-34.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 MYR 8.96

$2.48 MYR 9.81

-8.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.69

$1.27 MYR 5.00

13.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.35

$1.19 MYR 4.69

-50.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MYR 3.67

$1.34 MYR 5.29

-30.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.80

$0.90 MYR 3.54

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MYR 16.20

$4.29 MYR 16.95

-4.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.84 MYR 78.4

$20.15 MYR 79.6

-1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.46

$2.77 MYR 10.94

4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 MYR 9.27

$3.92 MYR 15.50

-40.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.38

$0.75 MYR 2.97

81.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.73 MYR 34.49

$11.70 MYR 46.22

-25.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$0.98 MYR 3.88

18.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$0.35 MYR 1.38

114.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 MYR 23.41

$9.03 MYR 35.68

-34.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.50 MYR 1.98

-2.00%

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

$58.9K MYR 232.5K

$31.8K MYR 125.7K

84.92%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.2K

$28.1K MYR 110.8K

0.36%

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

$30.80 MYR 122

$40.25 MYR 159

-23.48%

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

$9.60 MYR 37.93

$9.09 MYR 35.92

5.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.90 MYR 130

$22.94 MYR 90.6

43.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.07 MYR 111

$37.39 MYR 148

-24.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 MYR 23.06

$7.48 MYR 29.55

-21.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$4.99 MYR 19.72

-16.23%

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

$100 MYR 396

$214 MYR 846

-53.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,157 MYR 20.4K

$8,042 MYR 31.8K

-35.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MYR 142

$48.73 MYR 192

-26.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.09 MYR 75.4

$33.82 MYR 134

-43.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MYR 180

$55.0 MYR 217

-17.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.69 MYR 125

$49.39 MYR 195

-35.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 MYR 1,224

$471 MYR 1,860

-34.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 MYR 658

$347 MYR 1,371

-51.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 1,950

$820 MYR 3,240

-39.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,499

$555 MYR 2,190

-31.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,284 MYR 5,070

$3,321 MYR 13.1K

-61.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$703 MYR 2,775

$211 MYR 833

233.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 MYR 2,940

$1,757 MYR 6,938

-57.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

4.49

-19.15%

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

Last update for Miri: April 26, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in Miri and $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 136% 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $239, with Petaling Jaya cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Petaling Jaya earns 136% 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: $310 in Miri versus $471 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $705 per month in Miri versus $910 in Petaling Jaya – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Miri gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 29% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.