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 $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $926 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,412 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,899 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Phuket costs about 36% more than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kajang, Selangor 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$3.45 MYR 13.98

32.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$18.76 MYR 76.1

148.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$4.73 MYR 19.16

79.07%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.99 MYR 12.13

1.34%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$4.75 MYR 19.28

-47.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.06 MYR 24.59

-39.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.89 MYR 7.68

15.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.05 MYR 4.24

80.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.66 MYR 6.73

32.53%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.80 MYR 7.31

23.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$15.67 MYR 63.6

27.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.13 MYR 20.79

-28.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$9.51 MYR 38.55

39.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.86 MYR 11.59

12.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.56 MYR 6.34

8.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.91 MYR 11.80

-17.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.86 MYR 7.52

11.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.51 MYR 6.14

5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.81 MYR 7.35

-18.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.22 MYR 4.95

-15.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.55 MYR 2.23

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$4.36 MYR 17.69

-2.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$14.31 MYR 58.0

31.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$2.75 MYR 11.14

-36.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.98 MYR 12.07

-7.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.69 MYR 2.81

97.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$11.87 MYR 48.13

-4.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$1.20 MYR 4.88

161.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.98 MYR 3.98

6.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$4.76 MYR 19.29

189.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.47 MYR 1.89

185.11%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$35.3K MYR 143.3K

-21.67%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$32.6K MYR 132.3K

3.78%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$45.07 MYR 183

174.22%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$9.53 MYR 38.66

41.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$31.14 MYR 126

-39.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$37.58 MYR 152

64.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$6.05 MYR 24.55

185.12%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$4.97 MYR 20.14

83.90%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$209 MYR 846

236.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

126.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$61.5 MYR 249

-3.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$37.02 MYR 150

-5.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$84.8 MYR 344

35.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$71.8 MYR 291

17.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$392 MYR 1,589

57.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$272 MYR 1,104

58.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$638 MYR 2,588

223.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$480 MYR 1,948

214.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$2,170 MYR 8,800

68.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,029 MYR 4,174

155.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$613 MYR 2,487

-17.34%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $392 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 21% 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: $293 vs $257 – 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: $1,261 in Phuket, $926 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 36% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,388 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $926 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 $926, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $926 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,261 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.