Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kajang, Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kajang, Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $941 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,420 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,899 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Phuket costs about 31% more than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Kajang, Selangor 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$3.58 MYR 14.14

29.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$19.21 MYR 75.9

143.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$4.68 MYR 18.49

88.89%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$3.13 MYR 12.35

-4.15%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.84 MYR 3.32

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.49 MYR 1.93

-24.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$4.73 MYR 18.68

-48.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$5.96 MYR 23.56

-39.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.80 MYR 7.09

25.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.05 MYR 4.16

75.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.68 MYR 6.62

33.33%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$1.83 MYR 7.21

26.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$15.70 MYR 62.0

25.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$5.05 MYR 19.93

-27.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$9.91 MYR 39.15

32.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$2.95 MYR 11.65

14.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.63 MYR 6.43

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.76 MYR 10.92

-12.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$1.88 MYR 7.42

7.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.52 MYR 6.02

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.79 MYR 7.09

-16.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.22 MYR 4.82

-16.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.55 MYR 2.19

-10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$4.31 MYR 17.03

3.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$19.24 MYR 76.0

-1.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$2.73 MYR 10.79

-34.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.91 MYR 11.50

-5.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.72 MYR 2.85

94.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$11.95 MYR 47.19

-3.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.20 MYR 4.75

160.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$0.99 MYR 3.91

1.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$4.58 MYR 18.09

207.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$0.49 MYR 1.94

175.51%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$34.7K MYR 137.2K

-21.75%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$32.6K MYR 128.7K

1.07%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$45.66 MYR 180

173.72%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$9.57 MYR 37.79

41.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$31.09 MYR 123

-40.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$37.47 MYR 148

64.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$5.80 MYR 22.92

190.34%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$5.02 MYR 19.82

83.07%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$209 MYR 827

233.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$6,850 MYR 27.1K

127.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$61.7 MYR 244

-6.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$37.64 MYR 149

-6.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$86.9 MYR 343

30.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$71.3 MYR 282

21.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$388 MYR 1,532

58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$273 MYR 1,077

63.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$645 MYR 2,548

217.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$464 MYR 1,834

221.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$1,716 MYR 6,777

120.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$1,022 MYR 4,038

159.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$630 MYR 2,490

-16.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.07

30.96%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $388 in Kajang, 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 20% higher in Kajang, Selangor, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $267 – making Kajang, Selangor 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

Phuket vs Kajang, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $941 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 31% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,412 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $941 in Kajang, Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kajang, Selangor, where all-in costs run around $941, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Kajang, Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $941 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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