Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,008 per month in Selangor vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,449 per month in Selangor vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Selangor vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Selangor is about 5% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Selangor and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 MYR 10.16

$8.03 ₸3,934

-68.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.14 MYR 91.7

$38.47 ₸18.9K

-39.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.74 MYR 14.84

$6.97 ₸3,416

-46.34%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 8.83

$2.40 ₸1,174

-7.08%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.06

$0.98 ₸478

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.57 ₸277

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 MYR 16.62

$1.40 ₸687

199.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 MYR 21.15

$2.99 ₸1,464

78.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.26

$1.31 ₸644

39.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.00

$0.60 ₸293

68.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.74

$1.54 ₸756

-5.84%

Eggs

$1.83 MYR 7.24

$1.74 ₸852

5.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 MYR 57.2

$9.74 ₸4,773

48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 MYR 18.46

$4.70 ₸2,301

-0.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 MYR 38.98

$7.50 ₸3,678

31.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.37

$1.35 ₸661

112.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.52

$1.98 ₸970

-17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.65

$1.95 ₸957

37.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.98

$2.07 ₸1,014

-27.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.03

$0.63 ₸308

101.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 3.93

$0.42 ₸206

135.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.28

$1.24 ₸608

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.15

$0.71 ₸346

-23.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.12

$1.97 ₸965

119.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 77.5

$10.09 ₸4,947

93.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.37 MYR 13.35

$0.88 ₸433

282.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 16.88

$2.04 ₸999

108.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$0.24 ₸118

208.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.61 MYR 46.04

$17.76 ₸8,701

-34.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.79

$1.16 ₸567

4.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.38

$0.70 ₸343

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 MYR 17.39

$4.80 ₸2,355

-8.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.84

$0.49 ₸240

-6.12%

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

$39.3K MYR 155.8K

$23.2K ₸11.4M

69.33%

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

$31.9K MYR 126.5K

$27.2K ₸13.4M

17.10%

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

$65.4 MYR 259

$63.8 ₸31.3K

2.49%

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

$9.48 MYR 37.59

$8.60 ₸4,213

10.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.69 MYR 102

$13.83 ₸6,777

85.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.55 MYR 153

$48.67 ₸23.9K

-20.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.29 MYR 28.90

$21.24 ₸10.4K

-65.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 MYR 20.62

$5.11 ₸2,505

1.76%

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

$117 MYR 462

$267 ₸130.8K

-56.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,384 MYR 17.4K

$12.9K ₸6.3M

-65.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 237

$84.0 ₸41.1K

-28.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.96 MYR 147

$43.48 ₸21.3K

-15.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MYR 298

$96.8 ₸47.4K

-22.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 MYR 313

$119 ₸58.5K

-33.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 MYR 1,749

$665 ₸325.9K

-33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 MYR 1,379

$420 ₸205.7K

-17.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 MYR 3,365

$1,175 ₸575.8K

-27.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,871

$773 ₸378.9K

-38.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,659 MYR 6,577

$2,143 ₸1.0M

-22.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$726 MYR 2,878

$1,254 ₸614.6K

-42.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,004 MYR 3,980

$789 ₸386.9K

27.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

18.39

-78.47%

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

Last update for Selangor: June 2, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $441 in Selangor versus $665 in Almaty. 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 27% higher in 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 $23.00 in Selangor versus $38.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor vs $189 in Almaty – so Almaty 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

Selangor vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,511 per month in Selangor and $1,586 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 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 $23.00 in Selangor and $38.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,008 in Selangor and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.