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 $982 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,065 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,469 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,537 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,956 per month in Setia Alam vs $2,010 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Setia Alam is about 8% cheaper than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Setia Alam and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Setia Alam 29% lower, Petaling Jaya 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 MYR 19.64

$3.74 MYR 15.07

30.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.49 MYR 98.8

$24.99 MYR 101

-2.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.44

$5.09 MYR 20.54

-5.30%

Cappuccino

$3.23 MYR 13.05

$3.11 MYR 12.53

3.86%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.20

$0.86 MYR 3.46

-8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.85

$0.41 MYR 1.65

12.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.57 MYR 18.45

$3.32 MYR 13.40

37.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MYR 24.71

$5.72 MYR 23.08

7.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.45

$1.98 MYR 7.97

-6.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$1.09 MYR 4.40

-29.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.28

$1.52 MYR 6.11

-30.26%

Eggs

$1.79 MYR 7.23

$1.79 MYR 7.22

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 MYR 20.42

$9.89 MYR 39.89

-48.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 MYR 17.30

$3.22 MYR 12.97

33.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.65 MYR 38.94

$9.50 MYR 38.32

1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.56

$3.55 MYR 14.34

-61.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 MYR 7.68

$1.94 MYR 7.81

-2.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.53

$2.67 MYR 10.77

-48.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.18

$1.75 MYR 7.08

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.61

$2.17 MYR 8.74

-35.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.43

$2.00 MYR 8.08

-32.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 MYR 2.56

$1.52 MYR 6.14

-58.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 MYR 17.52

$4.49 MYR 18.10

-3.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 78.3

$19.08 MYR 77.0

1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 MYR 14.19

$2.79 MYR 11.27

26.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.59

$4.50 MYR 18.17

8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.86

$1.20 MYR 4.85

-40.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 MYR 49.01

$12.44 MYR 50.2

-2.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MYR 5.11

$1.26 MYR 5.09

0.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 MYR 5.11

$0.39 MYR 1.56

225.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 MYR 20.11

$9.20 MYR 37.13

-45.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 MYR 2.65

$0.78 MYR 3.15

-15.38%

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

$41.6K MYR 168.0K

$42.5K MYR 171.5K

-2.05%

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

$34.8K MYR 140.5K

$32.6K MYR 131.6K

6.77%

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

$63.0 MYR 254

$50.5 MYR 204

24.91%

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

$9.14 MYR 36.86

$8.47 MYR 34.18

7.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 MYR 107

$27.19 MYR 110

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 MYR 231

$53.0 MYR 214

8.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 MYR 26.33

$3.06 MYR 12.35

113.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.42

$4.85 MYR 19.56

9.48%

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

$176 MYR 711

$286 MYR 1,152

-38.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K MYR 44.9K

$10.5K MYR 42.2K

6.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 MYR 297

$52.3 MYR 211

40.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.69 MYR 104

$30.30 MYR 122

-15.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 MYR 367

$77.3 MYR 312

17.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.4 MYR 223

$85.7 MYR 346

-35.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 MYR 2,163

$485 MYR 1,956

10.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 MYR 1,277

$411 MYR 1,658

-22.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 MYR 3,521

$840 MYR 3,390

3.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 MYR 2,219

$559 MYR 2,256

-1.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,066 MYR 8,335

$3,233 MYR 13.0K

-36.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,112 MYR 4,487

$975 MYR 3,932

14.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,151 MYR 4,643

$1,719 MYR 6,935

-33.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.51

-8.65%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: August 30, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $536 in Setia Alam versus $485 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 49% higher in Petaling Jaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Setia Alam versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $251 – making Setia Alam 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

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

Petaling Jaya costs about 8% more than Setia Alam, 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 $1,472 per month in Setia Alam and $1,597 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Setia Alam, 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 Setia Alam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Setia Alam and $286 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 Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,065. In Setia Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Petaling Jaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Setia Alam costs $982 versus $1,065 in Petaling Jaya. 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 Setia Alam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Petaling Jaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.