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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Skudai vs $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,322 per month in Skudai vs $1,491 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,738 per month in Skudai vs $1,946 in Petaling Jaya, rent included.

Skudai is about 13% cheaper than Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Skudai and Petaling Jaya are more affordable than the global median – Skudai 34% lower, Petaling Jaya 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 MYR 14.83

$3.60 MYR 14.75

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.46 MYR 87.8

$24.59 MYR 101

-12.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 MYR 20.37

$4.95 MYR 20.26

0.61%

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$2.98 MYR 12.21

0.67%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.15

$0.92 MYR 3.77

-16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.42 MYR 1.70

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MYR 13.20

$3.26 MYR 13.33

-0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 MYR 24.33

$5.89 MYR 24.09

0.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 MYR 7.14

$1.87 MYR 7.65

-6.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.05 MYR 4.29

-0.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.14

$1.51 MYR 6.17

-0.66%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.78 MYR 7.27

-1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 MYR 40.62

$9.85 MYR 40.31

0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 MYR 13.71

$3.36 MYR 13.76

-0.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.61 MYR 39.35

$9.56 MYR 39.13

0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 MYR 14.11

$3.46 MYR 14.17

-0.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.92 MYR 7.86

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$2.68 MYR 10.95

1.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.92

$1.82 MYR 7.44

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.82

$2.08 MYR 8.50

-31.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$1.99 MYR 8.14

-15.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 MYR 5.37

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-12.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.53 MYR 2.17

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 17.02

$4.46 MYR 18.25

-6.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.40 MYR 59.0

$19.38 MYR 79.3

-25.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 11.25

$2.63 MYR 10.77

4.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 MYR 12.72

$4.52 MYR 18.49

-31.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MYR 3.21

$1.26 MYR 5.17

-38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.11 MYR 49.57

$12.42 MYR 50.8

-2.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.18

$1.26 MYR 5.17

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.36 MYR 1.47

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.19 MYR 37.61

$9.15 MYR 37.46

0.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$0.79 MYR 3.22

-2.53%

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

$41.1K MYR 168.4K

$41.6K MYR 170.2K

-1.08%

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

$32.1K MYR 131.6K

$32.4K MYR 132.8K

-0.94%

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

$49.87 MYR 204

$49.66 MYR 203

0.42%

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

$8.45 MYR 34.58

$8.04 MYR 32.92

5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.27 MYR 112

$27.49 MYR 113

-0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.02 MYR 184

$51.9 MYR 212

-13.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.57 MYR 30.98

$3.06 MYR 12.53

147.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.69

$4.79 MYR 19.60

0.42%

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

$162 MYR 664

$282 MYR 1,155

-42.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,398 MYR 18.0K

$10.5K MYR 43.1K

-58.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 MYR 210

$50.9 MYR 208

0.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.77 MYR 68.6

$30.19 MYR 124

-44.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 MYR 322

$78.9 MYR 323

-0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.23 MYR 165

$84.4 MYR 345

-52.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,518

$481 MYR 1,969

-22.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 MYR 1,258

$401 MYR 1,640

-23.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 MYR 3,031

$861 MYR 3,523

-13.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 MYR 1,817

$566 MYR 2,315

-21.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,214 MYR 9,062

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

-31.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,218 MYR 4,986

$975 MYR 3,990

24.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,996

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.51

-9.98%

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

Last update for Skudai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Skudai versus $481 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Skudai versus $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $249 – making Skudai 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

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

Petaling Jaya costs about 14% more than Skudai, 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 $1,359 per month in Skudai and $1,553 in Petaling Jaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 3% less in Skudai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Skudai and $282 in Petaling Jaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Skudai, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Petaling Jaya at $1,036. In Skudai 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. Skudai costs $906 versus $1,036 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 Skudai. 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.