Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Selangor vs $920 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Selangor vs $1,341 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Selangor vs $1,762 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Selangor costs about 8% more than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Selangor and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Petaling Jaya 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.42

$3.59 MYR 14.70

-28.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$18.95 MYR 77.5

26.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.26

$4.62 MYR 18.89

-19.26%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.40

$2.79 MYR 11.42

-17.56%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$0.69 MYR 2.81

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.27

$3.63 MYR 14.84

16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.00

$5.11 MYR 20.88

5.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.85 MYR 7.58

-2.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$1.02 MYR 4.17

-0.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.71 MYR 6.99

-12.28%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$2.17 MYR 8.87

-13.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$10.65 MYR 43.54

35.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$3.50 MYR 14.31

33.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.41

$8.07 MYR 33.00

22.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$2.69 MYR 11.02

11.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-10.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$2.52 MYR 10.32

8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$1.22 MYR 4.99

18.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.18 MYR 4.83

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.11

$1.39 MYR 5.68

-27.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$0.88 MYR 3.61

28.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.59 MYR 2.40

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.71

$4.26 MYR 17.42

1.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$19.75 MYR 80.8

-2.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.68

$2.70 MYR 11.03

24.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$3.94 MYR 16.12

8.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$11.64 MYR 47.61

1.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.02 MYR 4.16

13.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$0.35 MYR 1.43

214.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.77

$9.32 MYR 38.11

-53.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.46 MYR 1.88

8.70%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

$32.0K MYR 131.1K

26.23%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

$27.7K MYR 113.4K

11.07%

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

$64.9 MYR 265

$40.34 MYR 165

60.83%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$9.05 MYR 37.03

10.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$22.74 MYR 93.0

13.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$37.09 MYR 152

3.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.74

$7.35 MYR 30.05

-1.09%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.13

$4.81 MYR 19.68

7.48%

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

$116 MYR 476

$210 MYR 857

-44.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$8,024 MYR 32.8K

-45.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$49.98 MYR 204

21.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 150

$33.86 MYR 139

8.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 306

$55.2 MYR 226

35.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$48.48 MYR 198

62.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,838

$456 MYR 1,866

-1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,437

$344 MYR 1,405

2.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,413

$817 MYR 3,343

2.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,930

$537 MYR 2,198

-12.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,473

$3,204 MYR 13.1K

-50.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,891

$210 MYR 859

236.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,284

$1,713 MYR 7,008

-38.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.49

-11.80%

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

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Selangor versus $456 in Petaling Jaya. 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 64% higher in Petaling Jaya, 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $236 – making Petaling Jaya 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

Selangor vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selangor costs about 8% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,498 per month in Selangor and $1,381 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 2% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Selangor and $210 in Petaling Jaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petaling Jaya, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Selangor at $999. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selangor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $920 versus $999 in Selangor. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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