Cost of Living Comparison Between Putrajaya and Al Hillah Cost of Living Comparison Between Putrajaya and Al Hillah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $796 per month in Putrajaya vs $813 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,205 per month in Putrajaya vs $1,248 in Al Hillah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,614 per month in Putrajaya vs $1,684 in Al Hillah, rent included.

Putrajaya is about 2% cheaper than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Putrajaya and Al Hillah are more affordable than the global median – Putrajaya 40% lower, Al Hillah 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 MYR 14.53

$5.49 IQD 7,183

-35.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 76.4

$30.54 IQD 40.0K

-38.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.70

$6.20 IQD 8,114

-26.13%

Cappuccino

$2.86 MYR 11.69

$3.05 IQD 3,990

-6.23%

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

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$0.39 IQD 514

105.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.52

$0.22 IQD 286

68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 MYR 14.08

$2.88 IQD 3,773

19.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 17.94

$2.86 IQD 3,744

53.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.82

$1.35 IQD 1,773

23.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 MYR 3.41

$0.79 IQD 1,030

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.25

$1.61 IQD 2,108

-20.50%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.73 IQD 2,270

8.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.57 MYR 26.81

$4.48 IQD 5,866

46.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 MYR 17.60

$4.97 IQD 6,506

-13.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.23 MYR 37.67

$13.84 IQD 18.1K

-33.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 MYR 13.12

$1.28 IQD 1,676

150.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.64

$1.21 IQD 1,587

14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 MYR 12.69

$1.06 IQD 1,382

193.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 MYR 6.32

$0.75 IQD 980

106.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.19

$0.69 IQD 910

120.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$0.67 IQD 880

158.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 MYR 6.77

$0.59 IQD 767

181.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.12

$0.58 IQD 765

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MYR 17.43

$1.94 IQD 2,541

120.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.30 MYR 54.3

$13.83 IQD 18.1K

-3.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 MYR 11.58

$1.79 IQD 2,350

58.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.73

$2.12 IQD 2,775

35.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.94

$0.40 IQD 522

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 48.33

$65.7 IQD 86.0K

-81.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$2.25 IQD 2,953

-56.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.01

$1.49 IQD 1,953

-34.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 MYR 24.57

$3.51 IQD 4,590

71.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.53 IQD 692

-13.21%

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

$35.7K MYR 145.7K

$17.5K IQD 23.0M

103.60%

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

$37.9K MYR 154.8K

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

93.99%

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

$45.30 MYR 185

$76.8 IQD 100.5K

-40.98%

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

$9.28 MYR 37.88

$15.52 IQD 20.3K

-40.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.62 MYR 92.4

$38.88 IQD 50.9K

-41.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.22 MYR 156

$23.27 IQD 30.5K

64.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 MYR 36.80

$19.45 IQD 25.5K

-53.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MYR 20.78

$7.49 IQD 9,807

-32.04%

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

$186 MYR 759

$97.2 IQD 127.3K

91.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,832 MYR 27.9K

$774 IQD 1.0M

783.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 MYR 269

$27.44 IQD 35.9K

140.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.02 MYR 77.6

$27.57 IQD 36.1K

-31.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 MYR 301

$61.0 IQD 79.9K

21.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 MYR 163

$43.71 IQD 57.2K

-8.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 MYR 1,396

$369 IQD 483.4K

-7.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 MYR 959

$196 IQD 256.7K

19.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 MYR 2,533

$664 IQD 869.6K

-6.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,552

$313 IQD 409.9K

21.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,685 MYR 11.0K

$1,747 IQD 2.3M

53.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,803 MYR 7,364

$546 IQD 715.1K

230.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,041 MYR 4,251

$512 IQD 670.4K

103.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

5.67

-28.22%

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

Last update for Putrajaya: July 28, 2026

Last update for Al Hillah: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Putrajaya versus $369 in Al Hillah. 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 103% higher in Putrajaya, 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 Putrajaya versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Putrajaya vs $190 in Al Hillah – so Al Hillah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Putrajaya vs Al Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al Hillah is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,193 per month in Putrajaya and $1,219 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 455% less in Putrajaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Putrajaya and $97.2 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $796 in Putrajaya and $813 in Al Hillah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Putrajaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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