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 $920 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Petaling Jaya costs about 3% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Petaling Jaya and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 31% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$8.27 ₸3,889

-56.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 MYR 77.5

$29.74 ₸14.0K

-36.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$5.74 ₸2,697

-19.51%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.42

$2.22 ₸1,045

25.68%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.91 ₸429

-24.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.57 ₸266

-35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.84

$1.18 ₸557

207.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 MYR 20.88

$3.01 ₸1,413

69.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.58

$0.97 ₸456

90.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$0.46 ₸219

121.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.99

$1.38 ₸650

23.91%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.87

$1.69 ₸794

28.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 MYR 43.54

$9.49 ₸4,460

12.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.31

$4.83 ₸2,269

-27.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 MYR 33.00

$6.98 ₸3,281

15.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.02

$1.37 ₸643

96.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.84 ₸863

-4.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.32

$1.90 ₸895

32.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.99

$1.88 ₸886

-35.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$0.56 ₸262

110.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$0.37 ₸176

275.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.61

$0.96 ₸449

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.74 ₸349

-20.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.42

$1.90 ₸895

124.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.75 MYR 80.8

$9.54 ₸4,482

107.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$0.97 ₸455

178.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 MYR 16.12

$1.68 ₸789

134.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.23 ₸108

213.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 47.61

$14.80 ₸6,955

-21.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.80 ₸844

-43.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.43

$0.71 ₸333

-50.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.11

$4.32 ₸2,028

115.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.51 ₸239

-9.80%

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

$32.0K MYR 131.1K

$20.3K ₸9.5M

58.05%

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

$27.7K MYR 113.4K

$25.2K ₸11.9M

9.78%

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

$40.34 MYR 165

$53.3 ₸25.0K

-24.24%

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

$9.05 MYR 37.03

$8.34 ₸3,918

8.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 MYR 93.0

$13.70 ₸6,438

65.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 MYR 152

$51.0 ₸24.0K

-27.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 30.05

$10.96 ₸5,150

-32.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.68

$5.22 ₸2,454

-7.85%

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

$210 MYR 857

$239 ₸112.3K

-12.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 MYR 32.8K

$4,800 ₸2.3M

67.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 MYR 204

$57.4 ₸27.0K

-12.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MYR 139

$35.08 ₸16.5K

-3.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 MYR 226

$87.6 ₸41.2K

-36.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.48 MYR 198

$87.7 ₸41.2K

-44.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 MYR 1,866

$467 ₸219.4K

-2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MYR 1,405

$323 ₸151.6K

6.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,343

$860 ₸404.3K

-4.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 MYR 2,198

$587 ₸276.0K

-8.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,204 MYR 13.1K

$1,409 ₸662.3K

127.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 859

$1,013 ₸476.3K

-79.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,713 MYR 7,008

$845 ₸397.2K

102.73%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Petaling Jaya versus $467 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 103% higher in Petaling Jaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $30.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Petaling Jaya vs $177 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: $920 in Petaling Jaya, $892 in Astana – roughly 3% apart. Petaling Jaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,338 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $210 per month in Petaling Jaya and $239 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Petaling Jaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $920 in Petaling Jaya and $892 in Astana, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $892 in Astana to $920 in Petaling Jaya. 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 Astana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petaling Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.