Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,036 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $954 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,491 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,396 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,838 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Petaling Jaya costs about 9% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 24% lower, Kangar, Perlis 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$3.79 MYR 15.48

-5.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.59 MYR 100

$20.49 MYR 83.6

20.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.21

$4.85 MYR 19.80

2.06%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.68 MYR 10.95

11.19%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.76

$0.71 MYR 2.90

29.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.40 MYR 1.62

5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MYR 13.29

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-21.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 MYR 24.03

$4.76 MYR 19.44

23.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.63

$1.84 MYR 7.53

1.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.28

$1.10 MYR 4.50

-4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.55 MYR 6.35

-2.58%

Eggs

$1.78 MYR 7.25

$1.99 MYR 8.13

-10.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 MYR 40.20

$12.28 MYR 50.1

-19.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.73

$4.39 MYR 17.90

-23.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 MYR 39.03

$9.77 MYR 39.90

-2.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.13

$3.30 MYR 13.45

4.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MYR 7.84

$1.71 MYR 7.00

12.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.93

$2.67 MYR 10.88

0.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.42

$1.84 MYR 7.50

-1.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.48

$1.10 MYR 4.49

89.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.12

$1.23 MYR 5.03

61.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 MYR 6.11

$1.01 MYR 4.12

48.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.49 MYR 2.01

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MYR 18.20

$4.85 MYR 19.78

-8.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.1

$20.05 MYR 81.8

-3.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.75

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-11.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 18.44

$4.03 MYR 16.43

12.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.16

$0.74 MYR 3.00

70.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.7

$11.21 MYR 45.76

10.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.15

$1.05 MYR 4.30

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.15 MYR 37.37

$7.86 MYR 32.10

16.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$0.84 MYR 3.44

-5.95%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.8K

$47.0K MYR 192.0K

-11.57%

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

$32.4K MYR 132.5K

$34.1K MYR 139.4K

-4.97%

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

$49.66 MYR 203

$44.65 MYR 182

11.22%

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

$8.04 MYR 32.83

$9.56 MYR 39.02

-15.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.49 MYR 112

$25.71 MYR 105

6.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MYR 212

$46.17 MYR 188

12.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.50

$7.45 MYR 30.39

-58.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.55

$5.18 MYR 21.14

-7.53%

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

$282 MYR 1,152

$192 MYR 785

46.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 43.0K

$5,435 MYR 22.2K

93.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 MYR 208

$65.0 MYR 265

-21.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 MYR 123

$30.04 MYR 123

0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 MYR 322

$88.6 MYR 362

-11.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 MYR 345

$65.2 MYR 266

29.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,964

$421 MYR 1,720

14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,636

$330 MYR 1,348

21.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 MYR 3,514

$584 MYR 2,383

47.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,309

$494 MYR 2,018

14.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

$1,783 MYR 7,281

80.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,980

$1,067 MYR 4,357

-8.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,978

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

4.2

7.38%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Petaling Jaya versus $421 in Kangar, Perlis. 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 $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Petaling Jaya vs $257 in Kangar, Perlis – 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, $954 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 9% apart. Petaling Jaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,553 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,431 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kangar, Perlis, 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 $20.00 in Kangar, Perlis. 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 $954 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Kangar, Perlis 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 $954 in Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis. 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.