Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kajang, Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kajang, Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,036 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $939 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,414 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,889 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Petaling Jaya costs about 10% more than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Petaling Jaya and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 24% lower, Kajang, Selangor 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$3.64 MYR 14.85

-1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.59 MYR 100

$21.82 MYR 89.1

12.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.21

$4.78 MYR 19.51

3.56%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.88 MYR 11.75

3.47%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.76

$0.80 MYR 3.25

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.44 MYR 1.80

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MYR 13.29

$4.38 MYR 17.87

-25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 MYR 24.03

$6.10 MYR 24.88

-3.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.63

$1.67 MYR 6.80

11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.28

$1.06 MYR 4.34

-0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.43 MYR 5.82

5.59%

Eggs

$1.78 MYR 7.25

$1.75 MYR 7.14

1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 MYR 40.20

$18.09 MYR 73.8

-45.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.73

$4.68 MYR 19.10

-28.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 MYR 39.03

$10.00 MYR 40.83

-4.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.13

$3.26 MYR 13.32

6.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MYR 7.84

$1.67 MYR 6.84

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.93

$2.42 MYR 9.89

10.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.42

$1.67 MYR 6.83

8.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.48

$1.32 MYR 5.41

57.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.12

$1.72 MYR 7.03

15.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 MYR 6.11

$1.15 MYR 4.71

30.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.55 MYR 2.23

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MYR 18.20

$4.21 MYR 17.17

5.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.1

$13.96 MYR 57.0

38.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.75

$2.89 MYR 11.79

-9.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 18.44

$3.15 MYR 12.85

43.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.16

$0.78 MYR 3.17

61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.7

$12.11 MYR 49.42

2.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.15

$1.21 MYR 4.95

4.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.76 MYR 3.11

-52.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.15 MYR 37.37

$5.05 MYR 20.60

81.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$0.76 MYR 3.10

3.95%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.8K

$41.7K MYR 170.2K

-0.24%

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

$32.4K MYR 132.5K

$34.6K MYR 141.4K

-6.30%

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

$49.66 MYR 203

$53.6 MYR 219

-7.26%

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

$8.04 MYR 32.83

$10.09 MYR 41.19

-20.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.49 MYR 112

$25.82 MYR 105

6.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MYR 212

$45.02 MYR 184

15.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.50

$7.07 MYR 28.87

-56.72%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.55

$4.78 MYR 19.51

0.21%

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

$282 MYR 1,152

$218 MYR 890

29.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 43.0K

$4,492 MYR 18.3K

134.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 MYR 208

$67.1 MYR 274

-24.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 MYR 123

$16.55 MYR 67.6

82.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 MYR 322

$81.0 MYR 331

-2.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 MYR 345

$40.77 MYR 166

106.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,964

$460 MYR 1,877

4.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,636

$284 MYR 1,158

41.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 MYR 3,514

$642 MYR 2,622

34.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,309

$429 MYR 1,750

31.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

$2,207 MYR 9,012

45.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,980

$1,075 MYR 4,387

-9.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,978

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

4.06

11.08%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Petaling Jaya versus $460 in Kajang, Selangor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Petaling Jaya vs $259 in Kajang, Selangor – so Petaling Jaya 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 Kajang, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, $939 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 10% apart. Petaling Jaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,553 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,409 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Petaling Jaya and $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,036 in Petaling Jaya and $939 in Kajang, Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kajang, Selangor, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Kajang, Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Petaling Jaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $939 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,036 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 Kajang, Selangor. 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.