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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $999 in Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,341 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,432 in Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Petaling Jaya vs $1,865 in Selangor, rent included.

Petaling Jaya is about 8% cheaper than Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Petaling Jaya and Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Petaling Jaya 31% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$2.55 MYR 10.42

40.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 MYR 77.5

$23.88 MYR 97.7

-20.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$3.73 MYR 15.26

23.86%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.42

$2.30 MYR 9.40

21.30%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.77 MYR 3.17

-10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.36 MYR 1.48

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.84

$4.22 MYR 17.27

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 MYR 20.88

$5.38 MYR 22.00

-5.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.58

$1.81 MYR 7.39

2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$1.01 MYR 4.15

0.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.99

$1.50 MYR 6.12

14.00%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.87

$1.88 MYR 7.70

15.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 MYR 43.54

$14.38 MYR 58.8

-25.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.31

$4.68 MYR 19.14

-25.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 MYR 33.00

$9.88 MYR 40.41

-18.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.02

$3.00 MYR 12.27

-10.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.56 MYR 6.40

12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.32

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.99

$1.45 MYR 5.94

-15.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.83

$1.28 MYR 5.22

-7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.01 MYR 4.11

37.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.61

$1.13 MYR 4.63

-22.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.51 MYR 2.10

15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.42

$4.33 MYR 17.71

-1.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.75 MYR 80.8

$19.24 MYR 78.7

2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$3.35 MYR 13.68

-19.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 MYR 16.12

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-7.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.68 MYR 2.80

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MYR 47.61

$11.85 MYR 48.46

-1.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.16 MYR 4.75

-12.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.43

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-68.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.11

$4.35 MYR 17.77

114.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-8.00%

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

$32.0K MYR 131.1K

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

-20.78%

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

$27.7K MYR 113.4K

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

-9.97%

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

$40.34 MYR 165

$64.9 MYR 265

-37.82%

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

$9.05 MYR 37.03

$9.99 MYR 40.88

-9.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 MYR 93.0

$25.88 MYR 106

-12.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 MYR 152

$38.38 MYR 157

-3.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 30.05

$7.27 MYR 29.74

1.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.68

$5.17 MYR 21.13

-6.96%

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

$210 MYR 857

$116 MYR 476

80.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,024 MYR 32.8K

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

84.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 MYR 204

$60.9 MYR 249

-17.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.86 MYR 139

$36.78 MYR 150

-7.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.2 MYR 226

$74.9 MYR 306

-26.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.48 MYR 198

$78.8 MYR 322

-38.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 MYR 1,866

$449 MYR 1,838

1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MYR 1,405

$351 MYR 1,437

-2.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,343

$834 MYR 3,413

-2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 MYR 2,198

$472 MYR 1,930

13.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,204 MYR 13.1K

$1,583 MYR 6,473

102.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 859

$707 MYR 2,891

-70.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,713 MYR 7,008

$1,047 MYR 4,284

63.60%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Petaling Jaya versus $449 in Selangor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Petaling Jaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Petaling Jaya versus $24.00 in Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $261 – 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 Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selangor costs about 8% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,381 per month in Petaling Jaya and $1,498 in Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petaling Jaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $210 per month in Petaling Jaya and $116 in Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Selangor at $999. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selangor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $920 versus $999 in Selangor. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Petaling Jaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.