Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Setia Alam vs $892 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,341 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,842 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,790 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Setia Alam costs about 4% more than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Setia Alam and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Setia Alam 31% lower, Petaling Jaya 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 MYR 18.31

$3.47 MYR 13.85

32.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 MYR 92.4

$18.73 MYR 74.7

23.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.32

$4.74 MYR 18.91

2.11%

Cappuccino

$3.13 MYR 12.50

$2.69 MYR 10.72

16.36%

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

$0.89 MYR 3.56

$0.72 MYR 2.88

23.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.47

$0.39 MYR 1.56

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 MYR 16.99

$3.44 MYR 13.72

23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 MYR 22.91

$5.08 MYR 20.29

12.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.16

$1.89 MYR 7.53

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 MYR 2.72

$0.94 MYR 3.75

-27.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 3.91

$1.77 MYR 7.08

-44.63%

Eggs

$1.73 MYR 6.91

$2.20 MYR 8.79

-21.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 MYR 18.44

$10.55 MYR 42.10

-56.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 MYR 15.63

$3.39 MYR 13.51

15.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 MYR 37.69

$8.06 MYR 32.16

17.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.29

$2.74 MYR 10.94

-51.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 MYR 6.34

$1.68 MYR 6.71

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.14

$2.50 MYR 9.96

-48.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.71

$1.26 MYR 5.02

13.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.93

$1.13 MYR 4.51

8.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.07

$1.33 MYR 5.30

-4.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 MYR 2.42

$0.95 MYR 3.79

-35.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.24

$0.63 MYR 2.51

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MYR 16.20

$4.35 MYR 17.34

-6.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.94 MYR 79.6

$20.58 MYR 82.1

-3.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.23 MYR 12.90

$2.75 MYR 10.98

17.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 MYR 17.05

$3.85 MYR 15.37

10.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.89

$0.72 MYR 2.86

1.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 MYR 47.61

$11.92 MYR 47.54

0.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.64

$1.02 MYR 4.05

13.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.54

$0.33 MYR 1.30

245.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MYR 18.42

$9.38 MYR 37.43

-50.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.90

$0.49 MYR 1.96

-2.04%

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

$39.3K MYR 156.9K

$31.1K MYR 124.1K

26.43%

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

$32.2K MYR 128.6K

$28.2K MYR 112.4K

14.38%

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

$58.1 MYR 232

$41.04 MYR 164

41.45%

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

$10.59 MYR 42.26

$8.87 MYR 35.39

19.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.89 MYR 103

$22.69 MYR 90.6

14.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 MYR 223

$37.62 MYR 150

48.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.35 MYR 9.37

$7.54 MYR 30.10

-68.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 MYR 20.39

$4.85 MYR 19.33

5.36%

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

$193 MYR 769

$213 MYR 849

-9.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,575 MYR 38.2K

$8,116 MYR 32.4K

17.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 245

$48.18 MYR 192

27.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.70 MYR 98.6

$34.97 MYR 140

-29.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 MYR 337

$53.9 MYR 215

56.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 MYR 208

$48.40 MYR 193

7.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MYR 1,979

$464 MYR 1,851

6.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MYR 1,233

$343 MYR 1,367

-9.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 MYR 3,252

$830 MYR 3,312

-1.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 MYR 2,091

$538 MYR 2,149

-2.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,965 MYR 7,840

$3,212 MYR 12.8K

-38.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$991 MYR 3,955

$211 MYR 841

370.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,180 MYR 4,708

$1,782 MYR 7,111

-33.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.49

-8.24%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: June 2, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $496 in Setia Alam versus $464 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 51% 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 $23.00 in Setia Alam versus $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Setia Alam vs $237 in Petaling Jaya – so Setia Alam 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

Setia Alam vs Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Setia Alam costs about 4% more than Petaling Jaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,390 per month in Setia Alam and $1,338 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 0% less in Petaling Jaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $193 per month in Setia Alam and $213 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 $892, than in Setia Alam at $927. In Petaling Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Setia Alam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Petaling Jaya costs $892 versus $927 in Setia Alam. 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, Setia Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.