Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kulim Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Kulim

🙂 Solo nomad: Petaling Jaya is 20.6% cheaper than Kulim without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Petaling Jaya is 15.8% cheaper than Kulim without rent, and 13.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 MYR 14.63
$2.61 MYR 11
32.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.92 MYR 79.8
$23.2 MYR 97.8
-18.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.6 MYR 19.4
$3.88 MYR 16.35
18.56%
Cappuccino
$2.72 MYR 11.47
$2.22 MYR 9.35
22.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MYR 3.07
$0.73 MYR 3.09
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.66
$0.36 MYR 1.54
8.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MYR 14.62
$4.2 MYR 17.7
-17.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 MYR 20.75
$5.44 MYR 22.93
-9.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.89
$1.9 MYR 8.01
-1.58%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 MYR 4.01
$1.13 MYR 4.75
-15.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MYR 7.24
$1.43 MYR 6.03
20.28%
Eggs
$2.18 MYR 9.18
$1.82 MYR 7.67
19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 MYR 44.87
$22.77 MYR 96
-53.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 MYR 14.3
$4.8 MYR 20.26
-29.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.19 MYR 34.54
$10.82 MYR 45.62
-24.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 MYR 11.76
$3.94 MYR 16.6
-29.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MYR 7.37
$1.78 MYR 7.51
-1.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 10.68
$3.31 MYR 13.94
-23.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 MYR 5.27
$2.63 MYR 11.1
-52.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.75
$1.68 MYR 7.08
-32.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 MYR 5.89
$1 MYR 4.21
40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 MYR 4.04
$1.12 MYR 4.72
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MYR 2.45
$0.55 MYR 2.33
5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MYR 18.01
$4.28 MYR 18.05
-0.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 MYR 79.6
$29.51 MYR 124
-36.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 MYR 11.31
$4.38 MYR 18.45
-38.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 MYR 16.16
$5.51 MYR 23.24
-30.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 MYR 2.99
$0.49 MYR 2.07
44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.75 MYR 49.57
$11.76 MYR 49.58
-0.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 MYR 4.33
$1.2 MYR 5.06
-14.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 MYR 1.49
$1.04 MYR 4.38
-66.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.36 MYR 39.46
$4.2 MYR 17.72
122.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 2.07
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K MYR 132.2K
$44.1K MYR 186.2K
-29.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28K MYR 118.2K
$30.9K MYR 130.1K
-9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.58 MYR 175
$75.6 MYR 319
-45.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 MYR 37.47
$9.75 MYR 41.12
-8.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97 MYR 96.9
$28.96 MYR 122
-20.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.26 MYR 157
$36.27 MYR 153
2.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.23 MYR 30.5
$5.97 MYR 25.19
21.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 MYR 21.43
$5.63 MYR 23.74
-9.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 MYR 887
$118 MYR 499
77.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,001 MYR 33.7K
$4,241 MYR 17.9K
88.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.01 MYR 207
$111 MYR 470
-56.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.16 MYR 144
$27.55 MYR 116
23.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.2 MYR 233
$76.6 MYR 323
-27.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.06 MYR 203
$79 MYR 333
-39.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 MYR 1,917
$392 MYR 1,651
16.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 MYR 1,471
$272 MYR 1,148
28.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 MYR 3,471
$638 MYR 2,690
29.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 MYR 2,287
$477 MYR 2,013
13.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,404 MYR 10.1K
$1,594 MYR 6,722
50.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$821 MYR 3,463
$1,065 MYR 4,490
-22.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Petaling Jaya
Kulim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,668 MYR 7,036
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
3.96
13.38%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: October 27, 2025

Last update for Kulim: October 27, 2025

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