Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kuala Terengganu Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kuala Terengganu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $892 in Petaling Jaya versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,341 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Petaling Jaya is roughly 26% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petaling Jaya 33% lower, Kuala Terengganu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 13.76

$2.29 MYR 9.08

51.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.73 MYR 74.3

$21.99 MYR 87.2

-14.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MYR 18.79

$4.36 MYR 17.30

8.72%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.65

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-9.43%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.87

$0.44 MYR 1.75

63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.55

$0.27 MYR 1.07

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.63

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 MYR 20.16

$4.86 MYR 19.27

4.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.54 MYR 6.12

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.73

$0.96 MYR 3.79

-2.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.04

$1.25 MYR 4.95

41.60%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 8.74

$2.05 MYR 8.11

7.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 MYR 41.83

$15.08 MYR 59.8

-30.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 MYR 13.42

$4.40 MYR 17.46

-22.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 MYR 31.96

$9.68 MYR 38.38

-16.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 MYR 10.87

$2.98 MYR 11.83

-8.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.66

$1.45 MYR 5.76

15.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 9.90

$2.57 MYR 10.20

-2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 4.99

$1.38 MYR 5.47

-8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.48

$1.24 MYR 4.91

-8.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.77

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.50

$0.52 MYR 2.07

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.24

$4.36 MYR 17.29

-0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.58 MYR 81.6

$18.78 MYR 74.5

9.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 10.91

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-2.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 MYR 15.28

$3.01 MYR 11.93

27.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.84

$0.74 MYR 2.95

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.24

$11.98 MYR 47.50

-0.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.02

$1.20 MYR 4.77

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.29

$0.99 MYR 3.91

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.38 MYR 37.19

$6.05 MYR 23.99

55.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.50 MYR 2.00

-2.00%

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

$31.1K MYR 123.3K

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-12.15%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.7K

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

-12.02%

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

$41.04 MYR 163

$43.46 MYR 172

-5.57%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.17

$9.35 MYR 37.07

-5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 MYR 90.0

$29.66 MYR 118

-23.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.62 MYR 149

$36.44 MYR 144

3.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 MYR 29.91

$5.79 MYR 22.96

30.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.21

$4.98 MYR 19.74

-2.61%

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

$213 MYR 844

$184 MYR 730

15.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,116 MYR 32.2K

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

15.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.18 MYR 191

$60.9 MYR 242

-20.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.97 MYR 139

$26.86 MYR 106

30.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.9 MYR 214

$74.2 MYR 294

-27.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.40 MYR 192

$51.1 MYR 202

-5.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,840

$199 MYR 787

133.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 MYR 1,358

$120 MYR 476

185.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 MYR 3,291

$648 MYR 2,571

28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 MYR 2,135

$273 MYR 1,084

96.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,212 MYR 12.7K

$1,973 MYR 7,823

62.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$211 MYR 836

$978 MYR 3,879

-78.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,782 MYR 7,066

$505 MYR 2,001

253.21%

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 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $464 in Petaling Jaya and $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 253% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Petaling Jaya vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $250 per month, with Petaling Jaya cheaper across the board.

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 Kuala Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petaling Jaya and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($892 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Petaling Jaya pays 253% more on average, 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: $464 in Petaling Jaya versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $892 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 1% less than in Petaling Jaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.