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

😐 Solo nomad: Petaling Jaya is 5.8% more expensive than Tawau without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Petaling Jaya is 14.2% cheaper than Tawau without rent, and 2.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47 MYR 14.63
$3.6 MYR 15.19
-3.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.92 MYR 79.8
$19.17 MYR 80.9
-1.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.6 MYR 19.4
$4.02 MYR 16.96
14.43%
Cappuccino
$2.72 MYR 11.47
$2.31 MYR 9.75
17.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MYR 3.07
$0.74 MYR 3.11
-1.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.66
$0.39 MYR 1.65
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MYR 14.62
$2.41 MYR 10.16
43.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 MYR 20.75
$3.36 MYR 14.17
46.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.89
$1.56 MYR 6.56
19.87%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 MYR 4.01
$1.3 MYR 5.49
-26.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MYR 7.24
$1.73 MYR 7.3
-0.58%
Eggs
$2.18 MYR 9.18
$2.05 MYR 8.63
6.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 MYR 44.87
$15.13 MYR 63.8
-29.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 MYR 14.3
$4.48 MYR 18.91
-24.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.19 MYR 34.54
$9.58 MYR 40.4
-14.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 MYR 11.76
$2.86 MYR 12.06
-2.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MYR 7.37
$1.48 MYR 6.22
18.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 MYR 10.68
$2.6 MYR 10.98
-2.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 MYR 5.27
$1.44 MYR 6.05
-13.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.75
$1.18 MYR 4.96
-4.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.4 MYR 5.89
$1.33 MYR 5.6
5.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 MYR 4.04
$1.04 MYR 4.4
-7.69%
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
$4.3 MYR 18.13
-0.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 MYR 79.6
$14.44 MYR 60.9
30.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 MYR 11.31
$2.88 MYR 12.13
-6.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 MYR 16.16
$2.94 MYR 12.39
30.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 MYR 2.99
$0.68 MYR 2.85
4.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.75 MYR 49.57
$11.97 MYR 50.5
-1.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 MYR 4.33
$1.16 MYR 4.9
-11.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 MYR 1.49
$0.98 MYR 4.15
-64.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.36 MYR 39.46
$5.77 MYR 24.33
62.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 2.07
$0.49 MYR 2.09
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K MYR 132.2K
$35.7K MYR 150.5K
-12.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28K MYR 118.2K
$31K MYR 130.6K
-9.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.58 MYR 175
$43.49 MYR 183
-4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 MYR 37.47
$9.16 MYR 38.65
-2.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97 MYR 96.9
$28.84 MYR 122
-20.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.26 MYR 157
$37.56 MYR 158
-0.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.23 MYR 30.5
$5.93 MYR 24.99
21.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 MYR 21.43
$2.91 MYR 12.27
74.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 MYR 887
$191 MYR 804
10.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,001 MYR 33.7K
$7,045 MYR 29.7K
13.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.01 MYR 207
$59.8 MYR 252
-18.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.16 MYR 144
$27.2 MYR 115
25.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.2 MYR 233
$72.8 MYR 307
-24.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.06 MYR 203
$50.5 MYR 213
-4.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 MYR 1,917
$387 MYR 1,633
17.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 MYR 1,471
$266 MYR 1,123
30.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 MYR 3,471
$646 MYR 2,724
27.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 MYR 2,287
$478 MYR 2,015
13.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,404 MYR 10.1K
$1,845 MYR 7,781
30.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$821 MYR 3,463
$1,106 MYR 4,664
-25.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Petaling Jaya
Tawau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,668 MYR 7,036
-
-
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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Tawau: October 26, 2025

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