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 $1,060 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,124 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,503 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,819 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $2,514 in Astana, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 6% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Petaling Jaya and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 23% lower, Astana 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 MYR 14.74

$10.49 ₸4,729

-65.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.90 MYR 101

$37.23 ₸16.8K

-33.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.58

$7.60 ₸3,426

-36.71%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MYR 12.66

$2.56 ₸1,152

21.48%

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

$0.86 MYR 3.52

$1.13 ₸507

-23.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.71

$0.64 ₸288

-34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 MYR 13.20

$1.29 ₸580

151.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 MYR 23.96

$2.17 ₸979

171.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.65

$1.25 ₸564

50.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.44

$0.57 ₸259

91.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$1.82 ₸819

-20.88%

Eggs

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$2.23 ₸1,004

-16.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.14 MYR 41.27

$11.53 ₸5,197

-12.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 13.07

$5.68 ₸2,559

-43.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.53 MYR 38.75

$10.53 ₸4,746

-9.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 MYR 13.91

$1.80 ₸812

90.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.59

$2.46 ₸1,108

-23.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.80

$2.22 ₸1,000

19.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.22

$2.38 ₸1,074

-25.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MYR 8.77

$0.75 ₸338

188.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 MYR 8.30

$0.45 ₸202

353.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MYR 5.92

$1.52 ₸687

-3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.86 ₸388

-36.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.49 MYR 18.28

$2.18 ₸982

105.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.91 MYR 76.9

$11.06 ₸4,983

70.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MYR 10.84

$1.33 ₸598

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 MYR 18.88

$2.38 ₸1,072

94.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.11

$0.25 ₸113

404.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.30 MYR 50.0

$16.49 ₸7,431

-25.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 MYR 5.00

$2.58 ₸1,164

-52.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$1.11 ₸501

-67.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.06 MYR 36.84

$6.49 ₸2,923

39.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.65 ₸293

13.85%

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

$41.4K MYR 168.5K

$24.2K ₸10.9M

71.15%

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

$32.8K MYR 133.4K

$29.9K ₸13.5M

9.62%

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

$49.97 MYR 203

$66.7 ₸30.0K

-25.03%

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

$8.26 MYR 33.61

$9.82 ₸4,423

-15.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.91 MYR 109

$17.73 ₸7,991

51.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 MYR 217

$58.0 ₸26.1K

-8.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.16 MYR 12.87

$20.39 ₸9,190

-84.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 MYR 19.82

$6.25 ₸2,817

-22.08%

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

$281 MYR 1,144

$376 ₸169.5K

-25.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 42.7K

$11.8K ₸5.3M

-11.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 MYR 212

$66.9 ₸30.2K

-22.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.01 MYR 122

$45.46 ₸20.5K

-33.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 MYR 323

$117 ₸52.6K

-32.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 MYR 347

$127 ₸57.4K

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 2,008

$562 ₸253.3K

-12.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 MYR 1,680

$380 ₸171.4K

8.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 MYR 3,447

$1,170 ₸527.0K

-27.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 MYR 2,245

$775 ₸349.2K

-28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,224 MYR 13.1K

$1,499 ₸675.6K

115.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$951 MYR 3,868

$1,116 ₸502.8K

-14.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 MYR 7,157

$852 ₸383.8K

106.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

16.2

-72.16%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 8, 2026

Last update for Astana: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Petaling Jaya versus $562 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 107% 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 $25.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $37.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Petaling Jaya vs $227 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: $1,060 in Petaling Jaya, $1,124 in Astana – roughly 6% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,590 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,687 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 $281 per month in Petaling Jaya and $376 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 $1,060, than in Astana at $1,124. 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 $1,060 in Petaling Jaya to $1,124 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.