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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $892 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,790 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 2% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Petaling Jaya and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 33% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 13.97

$8.10 ₸3,936

-57.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.73 MYR 75.4

$28.85 ₸14.0K

-35.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MYR 19.07

$5.76 ₸2,797

-17.71%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.81

$2.19 ₸1,066

22.83%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.91

$0.91 ₸444

-20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.58

$0.53 ₸259

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.84

$1.14 ₸554

201.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 MYR 20.46

$2.95 ₸1,432

72.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.60

$1.01 ₸492

87.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.78

$0.50 ₸245

88.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.14

$1.40 ₸680

26.43%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 8.87

$1.79 ₸868

22.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 MYR 42.47

$9.34 ₸4,537

12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 MYR 13.63

$4.73 ₸2,300

-28.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 MYR 32.44

$6.96 ₸3,381

15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 MYR 11.03

$1.36 ₸661

101.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.76

$1.87 ₸907

-10.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.05

$1.92 ₸935

30.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.06

$1.97 ₸959

-36.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.55

$0.58 ₸283

94.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.34

$0.38 ₸183

250.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.83

$1.02 ₸495

-6.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.54

$0.75 ₸364

-16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.50

$1.81 ₸878

140.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.58 MYR 82.8

$9.14 ₸4,440

125.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 11.07

$1.02 ₸497

169.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 MYR 15.51

$1.70 ₸823

126.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.88

$0.21 ₸102

242.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.96

$14.56 ₸7,075

-18.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.09

$1.79 ₸868

-43.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.31

$0.71 ₸345

-53.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.38 MYR 37.75

$4.51 ₸2,191

107.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.47 ₸226

4.26%

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

$31.1K MYR 125.1K

$20.7K ₸10.1M

49.90%

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

$28.2K MYR 113.4K

$24.7K ₸12.0M

13.82%

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

$41.04 MYR 165

$53.9 ₸26.2K

-23.92%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.70

$8.00 ₸3,888

10.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 MYR 91.3

$13.90 ₸6,751

63.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.62 MYR 151

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-24.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 MYR 30.36

$11.16 ₸5,419

-32.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.50

$5.30 ₸2,572

-8.49%

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

$213 MYR 857

$238 ₸115.8K

-10.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,116 MYR 32.7K

$4,790 ₸2.3M

69.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.18 MYR 194

$55.8 ₸27.1K

-13.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.97 MYR 141

$34.85 ₸16.9K

0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.9 MYR 217

$88.8 ₸43.1K

-39.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.40 MYR 195

$86.1 ₸41.8K

-43.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,868

$478 ₸232.1K

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 MYR 1,379

$328 ₸159.2K

4.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 MYR 3,341

$848 ₸412.2K

-2.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 MYR 2,167

$598 ₸290.3K

-9.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,212 MYR 12.9K

$1,378 ₸669.5K

133.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$211 MYR 848

$993 ₸482.3K

-78.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,782 MYR 7,173

$798 ₸387.8K

123.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

16.12

-72.15%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 1, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Petaling Jaya versus $478 in Astana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 123% higher in Petaling Jaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $29.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Petaling Jaya vs $178 in Astana – so Astana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $892 in Petaling Jaya, $912 in Astana – roughly 2% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,367 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petaling Jaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $213 per month in Petaling Jaya and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Astana at $912. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $892 in Petaling Jaya to $912 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Petaling Jaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.