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 $892 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $906 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,329 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,370 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,767 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,834 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 2% cheaper than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Petaling Jaya and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 33% lower, Kajang, Selangor 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 14.50

$3.50 MYR 14.24

2.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.09 MYR 77.6

$18.78 MYR 76.3

1.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.78

$4.67 MYR 18.96

-1.07%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.90

$3.07 MYR 12.47

-12.70%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.85 MYR 3.47

-14.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.49 MYR 1.99

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 MYR 14.64

$4.68 MYR 19.03

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 MYR 20.03

$5.94 MYR 24.16

-17.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.60

$1.87 MYR 7.62

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.12

$1.01 MYR 4.09

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.27

$1.66 MYR 6.73

7.83%

Eggs

$2.21 MYR 8.97

$1.86 MYR 7.57

18.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.77 MYR 43.79

$15.51 MYR 63.1

-30.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.75

$5.04 MYR 20.47

-32.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.50

$9.43 MYR 38.34

-12.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.21

$2.98 MYR 12.09

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.88

$1.56 MYR 6.33

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.03

$2.85 MYR 11.57

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.94

$1.83 MYR 7.46

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.61

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-22.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.40

$1.72 MYR 6.99

-22.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.65

$1.16 MYR 4.72

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.37

$0.56 MYR 2.26

3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.94

$4.36 MYR 17.71

-4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.95 MYR 81.1

$14.11 MYR 57.4

41.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.93

$2.88 MYR 11.69

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 MYR 15.50

$3.01 MYR 12.22

26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MYR 3.10

$0.73 MYR 2.98

4.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.86 MYR 48.20

$11.94 MYR 48.53

-0.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.15 MYR 4.67

-11.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$1.04 MYR 4.23

-65.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.21 MYR 37.42

$4.77 MYR 19.40

93.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-2.00%

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

$31.0K MYR 126.0K

$36.0K MYR 146.2K

-13.84%

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

$27.5K MYR 111.7K

$32.4K MYR 131.6K

-15.08%

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

$40.35 MYR 164

$46.36 MYR 188

-12.96%

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

$9.18 MYR 37.30

$9.53 MYR 38.73

-3.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.28 MYR 94.6

$31.01 MYR 126

-24.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.31 MYR 148

$37.17 MYR 151

-2.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.21 MYR 29.31

$5.98 MYR 24.32

20.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 MYR 19.82

$4.84 MYR 19.68

0.83%

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

$215 MYR 874

$212 MYR 862

1.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,089 MYR 32.9K

$6,851 MYR 27.9K

18.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 MYR 201

$61.7 MYR 251

-20.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.48 MYR 140

$36.60 MYR 149

-5.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.7 MYR 218

$87.3 MYR 355

-38.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.61 MYR 198

$69.8 MYR 284

-30.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,914

$388 MYR 1,578

21.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,409

$274 MYR 1,114

26.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 MYR 3,323

$640 MYR 2,602

27.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 MYR 2,238

$471 MYR 1,917

16.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,192 MYR 13.0K

$1,981 MYR 8,052

61.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$209 MYR 848

$943 MYR 3,832

-77.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,770 MYR 7,197

$618 MYR 2,511

186.57%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Petaling Jaya versus $388 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.

Salaries run about 187% higher in Petaling Jaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $255 – making Petaling Jaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $892 in Petaling Jaya, $906 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 2% apart. Kajang, Selangor costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,359 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petaling Jaya, 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya and $19.00 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 $892 in Petaling Jaya and $906 in Kajang, Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Kajang, Selangor at $906. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kajang, Selangor 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 $892 in Petaling Jaya to $906 in Kajang, Selangor. 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 Petaling Jaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kajang, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.