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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $611 in Banjul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,093 in Banjul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,576 in Banjul, rent included.

Petaling Jaya costs about 51% more than Banjul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Petaling Jaya and Banjul are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 31% lower, Banjul 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$5.56 GMD 413

-35.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 MYR 77.5

$64.6 GMD 4,789

-70.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.90

$6.81 GMD 505

-32.16%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.43

$2.52 GMD 187

10.71%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$2.16 GMD 160

-68.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$1.35 GMD 99.9

-72.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.85

$4.09 GMD 303

-11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 MYR 20.89

$4.23 GMD 314

20.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.58

$1.40 GMD 104

32.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.18

$0.53 GMD 39.56

92.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 7.00

$1.41 GMD 104

21.28%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.88

$2.07 GMD 154

4.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 MYR 43.57

$6.19 GMD 459

72.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.32

$2.91 GMD 216

20.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 MYR 33.02

$5.93 GMD 440

36.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.03

$2.12 GMD 157

26.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.27 GMD 94.1

37.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.32

$1.88 GMD 139

34.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.99

$1.46 GMD 108

-16.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$0.92 GMD 68.3

28.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.69

$1.00 GMD 73.8

39.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.61

$0.24 GMD 17.68

266.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.40 GMD 29.61

47.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.43

$1.78 GMD 132

139.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.75 MYR 80.8

$6.36 GMD 471

210.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$1.58 GMD 117

70.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 MYR 16.13

$1.72 GMD 128

129.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.22 GMD 16.32

227.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 47.64

$6.71 GMD 497

73.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$0.36 GMD 26.70

183.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.43

$0.68 GMD 50.2

-48.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.13

$4.14 GMD 307

125.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.14 GMD 84.5

-59.65%

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

$32.0K MYR 131.2K

$2,717 GMD 201.5K

1079.34%

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

$27.7K MYR 113.4K

$3,409 GMD 252.8K

712.97%

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

$40.34 MYR 165

$32.46 GMD 2,407

24.28%

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

$9.05 MYR 37.05

$15.13 GMD 1,122

-40.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 MYR 93.1

$47.78 GMD 3,543

-52.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 MYR 152

$24.52 GMD 1,819

51.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 30.07

$14.10 GMD 1,046

-47.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.69

$3.65 GMD 270

31.78%

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

$210 MYR 858

$6.91 GMD 512

2932.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 MYR 32.8K

$140 GMD 10.4K

5637.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 MYR 205

$55.6 GMD 4,119

-10.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MYR 139

$45.17 GMD 3,349

-25.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 MYR 226

$99.5 GMD 7,381

-44.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.48 MYR 198

$85.8 GMD 6,359

-43.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 MYR 1,867

$103 GMD 7,607

344.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MYR 1,406

$54.3 GMD 4,025

532.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,345

$231 GMD 17.1K

254.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 MYR 2,200

$142 GMD 10.5K

278.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,204 MYR 13.1K

$1,436 GMD 106.5K

123.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 859

$1,152 GMD 85.4K

-81.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,713 MYR 7,012

$61.4 GMD 4,554

2690.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

10.12

-55.63%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 12, 2026

Last update for Banjul: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Petaling Jaya versus $103 in Banjul. 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 2690% 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 $65.0 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Petaling Jaya vs $152 in Banjul – so Banjul 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 Banjul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Petaling Jaya is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Petaling Jaya and $916 in Banjul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $920 in Petaling Jaya and $611 in Banjul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 73% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $920 in Petaling Jaya and $611 in Banjul, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Banjul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Banjul. 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.