😐A single person spends $892 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $877 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,329 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,334 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,767 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,791 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.
😐Petaling Jaya costs about 2% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya33% lower, Kangar, Perlis34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57MYR 14.50
$3.60MYR 14.64
-0.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09MYR 77.6
$18.94MYR 77.0
0.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62MYR 18.78
$4.75MYR 19.29
-2.74%
Cappuccino
$2.68MYR 10.90
$2.87MYR 11.66
-6.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73MYR 2.98
$0.73MYR 2.97
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MYR 1.60
$0.37MYR 1.49
5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.60MYR 14.64
$3.50MYR 14.22
2.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93MYR 20.03
$5.03MYR 20.46
-1.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87MYR 7.60
$1.88MYR 7.63
-0.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01MYR 4.12
$0.99MYR 4.03
2.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79MYR 7.27
$1.30MYR 5.28
37.69%
Eggs
$2.21MYR 8.97
$2.11MYR 8.59
4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.77MYR 43.79
$15.08MYR 61.3
-28.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.38MYR 13.75
$4.44MYR 18.03
-23.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24MYR 33.50
$9.40MYR 38.21
-12.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76MYR 11.21
$3.00MYR 12.19
-8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69MYR 6.88
$1.47MYR 5.98
14.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47MYR 10.03
$2.53MYR 10.27
-2.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.22MYR 4.94
$1.45MYR 5.90
-15.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14MYR 4.61
$1.19MYR 4.83
-4.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33MYR 5.40
$1.26MYR 5.13
5.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MYR 3.65
$0.99MYR 4.03
-9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MYR 2.37
$0.56MYR 2.27
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17MYR 16.94
$4.33MYR 17.59
-3.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.95MYR 81.1
$18.87MYR 76.7
5.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69MYR 10.93
$2.76MYR 11.22
-2.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81MYR 15.50
$2.86MYR 11.63
33.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76MYR 3.10
$0.72MYR 2.93
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.86MYR 48.20
$11.83MYR 48.09
0.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02MYR 4.16
$1.19MYR 4.85
-14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MYR 1.44
$1.04MYR 4.21
-65.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.21MYR 37.42
$5.73MYR 23.31
60.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.00
$0.46MYR 1.89
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0KMYR 126.0K
$35.8KMYR 145.6K
-13.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KMYR 111.7K
$31.1KMYR 126.4K
-11.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.35MYR 164
$43.08MYR 175
-6.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.18MYR 37.30
$9.26MYR 37.63
-0.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.28MYR 94.6
$28.55MYR 116
-18.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.31MYR 148
$36.94MYR 150
-1.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.21MYR 29.31
$6.03MYR 24.50
19.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88MYR 19.82
$4.81MYR 19.56
1.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$215MYR 874
$191MYR 776
12.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,089MYR 32.9K
$6,937MYR 28.2K
16.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.37MYR 201
$60.8MYR 247
-18.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.48MYR 140
$27.37MYR 111
25.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.7MYR 218
$74.1MYR 301
-27.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.61MYR 198
$50.6MYR 206
-3.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471MYR 1,914
$387MYR 1,575
21.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MYR 1,409
$269MYR 1,092
29.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818MYR 3,323
$634MYR 2,577
28.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551MYR 2,238
$464MYR 1,887
18.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,192MYR 13.0K
$2,158MYR 8,771
47.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$209MYR 848
$830MYR 3,373
-74.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Petaling Jaya
Kangar, Perlis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,770MYR 7,197
-
-
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 Kangar, Perlis: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Petaling Jaya versus $387 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $253 – 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis compare in cost of living?
Petaling Jaya costs about 2% more than Kangar, Perlis, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What salary covers living expenses in Petaling Jaya compared to Kangar, Perlis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,316 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya and $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Petaling Jaya or Kangar, Perlis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $892 in Petaling Jaya and $877 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $877, than in Petaling Jaya at $892. In Kangar, Perlis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis?
It depends on your priorities. Petaling Jaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $877 in Kangar, Perlis to $892 in Petaling Jaya. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Petaling Jaya or Kangar, Perlis safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Petaling Jaya and Kangar, Perlis?
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.
Petaling Jaya vs other spots: cost of living compared