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: $912 in Petaling Jaya versus $955 in Johor Bahru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,335 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,366 in Johor Bahru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,758 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,776 in Johor Bahru.

Living in Petaling Jaya costs roughly 5% 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

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$3.51 MYR 14.34

-0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.15 MYR 78.3

$18.98 MYR 77.6

0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.54

$4.82 MYR 19.69

-0.83%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.35

$2.92 MYR 11.94

-4.79%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.83 MYR 3.40

-13.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.49 MYR 1.98

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 MYR 14.77

$3.52 MYR 14.38

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 MYR 20.15

$6.47 MYR 26.46

-23.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 MYR 7.83

$1.82 MYR 7.46

5.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.81

$0.93 MYR 3.80

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.32

$1.26 MYR 5.15

42.06%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 8.98

$1.88 MYR 7.67

17.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 MYR 43.01

$10.76 MYR 43.99

-2.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 13.93

$3.40 MYR 13.90

0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 MYR 33.84

$8.14 MYR 33.27

1.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$2.75 MYR 11.26

-3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$1.50 MYR 6.14

12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.33

$2.57 MYR 10.52

-1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.22 MYR 4.98

-1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.14 MYR 4.67

3.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.40 MYR 5.71

-0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.42

$0.57 MYR 2.32

3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 17.18

$4.16 MYR 17.01

0.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.92 MYR 81.4

$14.34 MYR 58.6

38.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.36

$2.80 MYR 11.43

-0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 MYR 16.21

$2.88 MYR 11.78

37.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MYR 3.09

$0.72 MYR 2.96

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.38

$11.92 MYR 48.71

-2.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.03 MYR 4.19

-0.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.34

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-67.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.42 MYR 38.49

$9.48 MYR 38.75

-0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-8.00%

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

$31.0K MYR 126.8K

$34.8K MYR 142.2K

-10.80%

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

$28.3K MYR 115.5K

$27.4K MYR 112.0K

3.12%

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

$40.45 MYR 165

$40.42 MYR 165

0.07%

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

$9.18 MYR 37.52

$8.82 MYR 36.04

4.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 MYR 92.5

$30.58 MYR 125

-25.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.27 MYR 152

$35.12 MYR 144

6.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 30.02

$5.78 MYR 23.62

27.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 MYR 19.96

$4.89 MYR 19.98

-0.20%

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

$208 MYR 851

$184 MYR 753

13.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,031 MYR 32.8K

$7,005 MYR 28.6K

14.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 MYR 197

$49.22 MYR 201

-2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.63 MYR 142

$18.59 MYR 76.0

86.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.0 MYR 221

$54.9 MYR 225

-1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.14 MYR 201

$39.53 MYR 162

24.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MYR 1,882

$468 MYR 1,912

-1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 MYR 1,390

$400 MYR 1,635

-14.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 MYR 3,378

$814 MYR 3,328

1.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 MYR 2,198

$609 MYR 2,491

-11.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,118 MYR 12.7K

$2,036 MYR 8,322

53.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$204 MYR 835

$1,158 MYR 4,732

-82.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,764 MYR 7,210

$1,063 MYR 4,346

65.88%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Petaling Jaya and $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 66% 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 $236 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 5% in total monthly costs ($912 vs $955 including rent). Petaling Jaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 66% higher in Petaling Jaya, 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: $460 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 $912 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $955 in Johor Bahru – a 5% 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 5% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.