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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Selangor vs $1,080 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Selangor vs $1,692 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Selangor vs $2,304 in Almaty, rent included.

Selangor is about 8% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Selangor and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Almaty 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$7.90 ₸3,720

-67.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$38.58 ₸18.2K

-38.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.27

$6.92 ₸3,256

-46.10%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.41

$2.43 ₸1,142

-5.35%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$0.99 ₸465

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.52 ₸247

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.28

$1.36 ₸639

210.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.02

$2.95 ₸1,387

82.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.31 ₸617

38.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$0.55 ₸258

83.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.52 ₸716

-1.32%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$1.76 ₸829

6.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$9.66 ₸4,550

48.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$4.67 ₸2,201

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.43

$7.69 ₸3,620

28.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$1.39 ₸657

115.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.91 ₸901

-18.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.19

$1.94 ₸915

40.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$2.06 ₸972

-29.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$0.58 ₸275

120.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.12

$0.43 ₸202

134.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$1.30 ₸613

-13.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.74 ₸347

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.72

$1.94 ₸913

123.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$10.66 ₸5,019

80.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.69

$0.82 ₸387

308.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.42

$2.11 ₸992

101.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.24 ₸114

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.49

$18.33 ₸8,633

-35.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.20 ₸567

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$0.71 ₸336

54.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.78

$4.63 ₸2,181

-6.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.52 ₸245

-3.85%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.6K

$23.6K ₸11.1M

71.69%

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

$30.8K MYR 126.0K

$27.4K ₸12.9M

12.41%

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

$64.9 MYR 266

$62.4 ₸29.4K

3.91%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.90

$8.56 ₸4,029

16.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$13.90 ₸6,547

86.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$46.84 ₸22.1K

-18.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.75

$21.46 ₸10.1K

-66.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.14

$5.20 ₸2,449

-0.58%

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

$116 MYR 476

$268 ₸126.0K

-56.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$13.0K ₸6.1M

-66.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$84.9 ₸40.0K

-28.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 151

$44.46 ₸20.9K

-17.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 307

$99.5 ₸46.8K

-24.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$120 ₸56.4K

-34.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,839

$643 ₸302.9K

-30.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,438

$425 ₸200.1K

-17.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,415

$1,157 ₸545.0K

-27.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,931

$776 ₸365.2K

-39.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,477

$2,362 ₸1.1M

-32.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,893

$1,364 ₸642.1K

-48.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,286

$834 ₸392.7K

25.57%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Selangor versus $643 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 26% 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 $24.00 in Selangor versus $39.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor vs $190 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 8%, 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 $1,498 per month in Selangor and $1,620 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 $24.00 in Selangor and $39.00 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 $999 in Selangor and $1,080 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 $999, than in Almaty at $1,080. 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.