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: $920 in Petaling Jaya versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,341 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,762 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Petaling Jaya is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petaling Jaya 31% lower, Kuala Terengganu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$2.41 MYR 9.87

48.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 MYR 77.5

$22.12 MYR 90.5

-14.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$4.58 MYR 18.72

0.87%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.42

$2.92 MYR 11.96

-4.45%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.48 MYR 1.96

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.27 MYR 1.11

37.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.84

$3.60 MYR 14.71

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 MYR 20.88

$5.00 MYR 20.45

2.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.58

$1.55 MYR 6.33

19.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$0.96 MYR 3.91

6.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.99

$1.31 MYR 5.35

30.53%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.87

$2.12 MYR 8.67

2.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 MYR 43.54

$15.02 MYR 61.4

-29.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.31

$4.43 MYR 18.12

-20.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 MYR 33.00

$9.49 MYR 38.80

-14.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.02

$2.90 MYR 11.85

-7.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.50 MYR 6.15

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.32

$2.52 MYR 10.31

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.99

$1.42 MYR 5.82

-14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$1.18 MYR 4.82

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.27 MYR 5.20

9.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.61

$1.03 MYR 4.22

-14.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.52 MYR 2.15

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.42

$4.31 MYR 17.61

-1.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.75 MYR 80.8

$18.63 MYR 76.2

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$2.83 MYR 11.59

-4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 MYR 16.12

$3.02 MYR 12.34

30.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 47.61

$11.55 MYR 47.23

0.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-11.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.43

$0.98 MYR 4.02

-64.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.11

$5.96 MYR 24.38

56.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.49 MYR 2.02

-6.12%

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

$32.0K MYR 131.1K

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

-8.07%

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

$27.7K MYR 113.4K

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

-11.53%

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

$40.34 MYR 165

$43.18 MYR 177

-6.58%

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

$9.05 MYR 37.03

$8.96 MYR 36.63

1.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 MYR 93.0

$29.00 MYR 119

-21.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 MYR 152

$37.41 MYR 153

-0.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 30.05

$5.73 MYR 23.45

28.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.68

$4.85 MYR 19.82

-0.82%

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

$210 MYR 857

$187 MYR 763

12.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 MYR 32.8K

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

17.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 MYR 204

$61.3 MYR 251

-18.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MYR 139

$27.14 MYR 111

24.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 MYR 226

$73.5 MYR 301

-24.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.48 MYR 198

$50.8 MYR 208

-4.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 MYR 1,866

$200 MYR 820

127.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MYR 1,405

$116 MYR 474

196.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,343

$648 MYR 2,651

26.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 MYR 2,198

$273 MYR 1,116

97.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,204 MYR 13.1K

$2,050 MYR 8,383

56.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 859

$1,138 MYR 4,653

-81.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,713 MYR 7,008

$490 MYR 2,003

249.92%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $456 in Petaling Jaya and $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 250% 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 $236 vs $249 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 32% in total monthly costs ($920 vs $696 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 250% higher in Petaling Jaya, 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: $456 in Petaling Jaya versus $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $920 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu – a 32% 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 32% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.