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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,029 per month in Selangor vs $1,364 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,494 per month in Selangor vs $2,124 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,960 per month in Selangor vs $2,885 in Almaty, rent included.

Selangor is about 25% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Selangor and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Almaty 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 MYR 17.76

$12.92 ₸5,880

-66.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.22 MYR 81.8

$45.03 ₸20.5K

-55.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.06 MYR 16.43

$8.61 ₸3,916

-52.85%

Cappuccino

$2.24 MYR 9.06

$3.15 ₸1,431

-28.89%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.41

$1.33 ₸604

-36.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.73

$0.82 ₸371

-47.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.50 MYR 18.19

$2.43 ₸1,104

85.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MYR 20.09

$3.92 ₸1,781

26.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.62

$1.65 ₸749

13.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$0.81 ₸367

37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.02

$2.08 ₸948

-28.37%

Eggs

$2.01 MYR 8.14

$2.30 ₸1,048

-12.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.12 MYR 65.2

$12.23 ₸5,563

31.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 MYR 19.79

$6.66 ₸3,028

-26.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.92 MYR 40.10

$10.73 ₸4,881

-7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.58

$1.85 ₸842

81.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.45

$2.36 ₸1,074

-22.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 MYR 9.51

$2.90 ₸1,318

-18.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.69

$2.77 ₸1,260

-40.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.41

$0.75 ₸342

78.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.24

$0.57 ₸260

84.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.74

$1.60 ₸726

-26.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.36

$0.97 ₸441

-40.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 MYR 18.46

$2.57 ₸1,171

77.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 MYR 77.2

$10.75 ₸4,892

77.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.69

$1.17 ₸533

189.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 MYR 20.49

$2.38 ₸1,082

113.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 MYR 5.07

$0.25 ₸114

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.60 MYR 50.9

$21.05 ₸9,576

-40.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.33 ₸603

-8.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$0.63 ₸287

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 MYR 18.05

$10.91 ₸4,963

-59.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 MYR 2.77

$0.67 ₸307

2.99%

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

$42.9K MYR 173.5K

$26.2K ₸11.9M

63.66%

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

$35.5K MYR 143.5K

$29.5K ₸13.4M

20.27%

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

$65.6 MYR 265

$90.4 ₸41.1K

-27.52%

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

$9.42 MYR 38.10

$10.95 ₸4,981

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.41 MYR 107

$17.47 ₸7,947

51.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.52 MYR 164

$75.1 ₸34.2K

-46.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.09 MYR 28.68

$29.29 ₸13.3K

-75.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.43 MYR 21.96

$6.32 ₸2,875

-14.08%

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

$123 MYR 499

$425 ₸193.5K

-70.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,417 MYR 30.0K

$11.6K ₸5.3M

-36.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.3 MYR 288

$86.7 ₸39.4K

-17.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.00 MYR 174

$46.71 ₸21.3K

-7.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 MYR 319

$139 ₸63.3K

-43.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 MYR 333

$133 ₸60.3K

-37.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 MYR 2,057

$791 ₸359.7K

-35.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 MYR 1,405

$498 ₸226.4K

-30.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$911 MYR 3,685

$1,432 ₸651.5K

-36.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 MYR 1,977

$912 ₸415.1K

-46.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,618 MYR 6,540

$2,446 ₸1.1M

-33.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$711 MYR 2,874

$1,504 ₸684.3K

-52.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,060 MYR 4,285

$850 ₸386.5K

24.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

20.61

-80.79%

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

Last update for Selangor: August 30, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Selangor versus $791 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 25% 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 $20.00 in Selangor versus $45.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Selangor vs $247 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 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,543 per month in Selangor and $2,046 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 $20.00 in Selangor and $45.00 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 $1,029 in Selangor and $1,364 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 $1,029, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.