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: $703 in Miri versus $909 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,113 in Miri versus $1,337 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,524 in Miri versus $1,765 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 48% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 MYR 12.66

$3.63 MYR 14.70

-14.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 MYR 47.94

$18.88 MYR 76.6

-37.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 MYR 15.82

$4.69 MYR 19.02

-16.84%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.90

$2.71 MYR 10.99

-0.74%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$0.68 MYR 2.74

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.75

$3.51 MYR 14.24

-17.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.57

$4.96 MYR 20.10

-22.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.50

$1.92 MYR 7.78

-29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 MYR 5.68

$0.95 MYR 3.85

47.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$1.74 MYR 7.07

-51.15%

Eggs

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$2.16 MYR 8.75

57.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.65

$10.81 MYR 43.82

-0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.81

$3.56 MYR 14.45

30.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 MYR 47.45

$7.94 MYR 32.21

47.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MYR 12.38

$2.76 MYR 11.18

10.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.84

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-31.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 MYR 9.26

$2.47 MYR 10.04

-7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.60

$1.21 MYR 4.89

14.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-52.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MYR 3.64

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-34.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$0.94 MYR 3.83

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 MYR 17.23

$4.13 MYR 16.74

2.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.08 MYR 81.4

$19.45 MYR 78.9

3.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.79

$2.74 MYR 11.09

6.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MYR 9.46

$3.77 MYR 15.30

-38.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.51

$0.76 MYR 3.08

78.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.64 MYR 35.03

$11.97 MYR 48.52

-27.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$0.99 MYR 4.00

17.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.32 MYR 1.32

131.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MYR 24.25

$9.35 MYR 37.92

-36.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.47 MYR 1.90

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

$58.7K MYR 238.1K

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

87.68%

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

$27.8K MYR 112.9K

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

-1.11%

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

$30.31 MYR 123

$40.93 MYR 166

-25.95%

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

$9.63 MYR 39.06

$8.87 MYR 35.97

8.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 MYR 131

$23.16 MYR 93.9

39.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.31 MYR 115

$36.87 MYR 149

-23.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 24.57

$7.22 MYR 29.28

-16.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 MYR 16.99

$5.01 MYR 20.30

-16.37%

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

$97.3 MYR 395

$209 MYR 849

-53.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,106 MYR 20.7K

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

-37.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.16 MYR 143

$48.47 MYR 197

-27.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.21 MYR 77.9

$33.99 MYR 138

-43.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.81 MYR 182

$53.9 MYR 219

-16.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.13 MYR 130

$48.57 MYR 197

-33.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 MYR 1,289

$471 MYR 1,911

-32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 664

$347 MYR 1,407

-52.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 MYR 2,000

$817 MYR 3,311

-39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,532

$543 MYR 2,200

-30.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 MYR 5,042

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

-60.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 MYR 2,807

$210 MYR 851

229.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 MYR 3,045

$1,742 MYR 7,066

-56.91%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $318 in Miri and $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 132% 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 $245 vs $236, 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 132% 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: $318 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 $703 per month in Miri versus $909 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.