Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $910 in Petaling Jaya versus $966 in Johor Bahru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,378 in Johor Bahru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,798 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,791 in Johor Bahru.

Living in Petaling Jaya costs roughly 6% less than in Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petaling Jaya 32% lower, Johor Bahru 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 MYR 13.59

$3.53 MYR 13.93

-2.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.50 MYR 73.1

$18.69 MYR 73.8

-1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 MYR 18.21

$4.76 MYR 18.82

-3.15%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 10.97

$3.01 MYR 11.90

-7.64%

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

$0.67 MYR 2.65

$0.85 MYR 3.35

-21.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.49 MYR 1.93

-26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.08

$3.51 MYR 13.85

1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 MYR 20.44

$6.76 MYR 26.71

-23.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.56

$1.80 MYR 7.11

6.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MYR 3.82

$0.98 MYR 3.89

-1.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.07

$1.24 MYR 4.89

44.35%

Eggs

$2.24 MYR 8.85

$1.84 MYR 7.26

21.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 MYR 42.24

$10.67 MYR 42.16

0.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 14.04

$3.55 MYR 14.01

0.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 32.46

$8.25 MYR 32.60

-0.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.61

$2.66 MYR 10.51

1.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 6.84

$1.46 MYR 5.76

18.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 MYR 9.81

$2.57 MYR 10.16

-3.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.00

$1.25 MYR 4.93

1.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.69

$1.14 MYR 4.51

4.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.29

$1.34 MYR 5.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.54

$0.94 MYR 3.71

-4.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.48

$0.52 MYR 2.04

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 16.95

$4.17 MYR 16.47

2.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.15 MYR 79.6

$14.50 MYR 57.3

38.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 MYR 10.94

$2.68 MYR 10.59

3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MYR 15.50

$2.92 MYR 11.53

34.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$0.72 MYR 2.86

4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 MYR 46.22

$11.81 MYR 46.65

-0.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.88

$0.97 MYR 3.84

1.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.38

$1.02 MYR 4.04

-65.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 MYR 35.68

$9.09 MYR 35.92

-0.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.47 MYR 1.84

6.38%

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

$31.8K MYR 125.7K

$34.8K MYR 137.4K

-8.52%

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

$28.1K MYR 110.8K

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

-0.21%

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

$40.25 MYR 159

$40.87 MYR 161

-1.52%

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

$9.09 MYR 35.92

$9.23 MYR 36.44

-1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.94 MYR 90.6

$30.64 MYR 121

-25.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.39 MYR 148

$35.09 MYR 139

6.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.48 MYR 29.55

$5.82 MYR 22.99

28.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.99 MYR 19.72

$4.90 MYR 19.35

1.84%

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

$214 MYR 846

$191 MYR 755

12.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,042 MYR 31.8K

$6,900 MYR 27.3K

16.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 MYR 192

$49.07 MYR 194

-0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.82 MYR 134

$19.14 MYR 75.6

76.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.0 MYR 217

$54.2 MYR 214

1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.39 MYR 195

$39.65 MYR 157

24.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,860

$468 MYR 1,848

0.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,371

$396 MYR 1,565

-12.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$820 MYR 3,240

$843 MYR 3,331

-2.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 MYR 2,190

$599 MYR 2,366

-7.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,321 MYR 13.1K

$2,090 MYR 8,254

58.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$211 MYR 833

$1,190 MYR 4,700

-82.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,757 MYR 6,938

$1,155 MYR 4,562

52.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.07

10.32%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: April 26, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Petaling Jaya and $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Petaling Jaya vs $19.00 in Johor Bahru. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $218, with Johor Bahru 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

Petaling Jaya vs Johor Bahru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($910 vs $966 including rent). Petaling Jaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Petaling Jaya pays 52% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Petaling Jaya versus $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Petaling Jaya – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $19.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $910 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $966 in Johor Bahru – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Petaling Jaya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru 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 Petaling Jaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.