Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Updated Prices & Insights

34.34
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $515 (excluding rent), and $907 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,166 (excluding rent), and $1,745 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61 MYR 15.2
$2.88 MYR 12.16
$4.8 MYR 20.23
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 MYR 78.5
$11.64 MYR 49.08
$27.94 MYR 118
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.7 MYR 19.81
$4.7 MYR 19.81
$5.41 MYR 22.8
Cappuccino
$2.69 MYR 11.34
$2.3 MYR 9.7
$3.45 MYR 14.54
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MYR 3.08
$0.62 MYR 2.6
$0.98 MYR 4.14
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 MYR 1.68
$0.25 MYR 1.06
$0.49 MYR 2.07
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 MYR 15.22
$2.89 MYR 12.17
$6.01 MYR 25.33
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 MYR 21.05
$3.48 MYR 14.69
$6.96 MYR 29.35
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.87
$1.62 MYR 6.84
$1.97 MYR 8.29
White Bread (500g)
$1 MYR 4.22
$0.84 MYR 3.53
$3.12 MYR 13.18
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MYR 7.47
$0.95 MYR 3.99
$2.85 MYR 12.01
Eggs
$2.18 MYR 9.21
$1.11 MYR 4.69
$2.78 MYR 11.74
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.7 MYR 45.14
$7.13 MYR 30.08
$11.89 MYR 50.1
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.49 MYR 14.71
$1.64 MYR 6.91
$4.18 MYR 17.64
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.21 MYR 34.63
$3.58 MYR 15.08
$15.75 MYR 66.4
Apples (1kg)
$2.7 MYR 11.37
$1.64 MYR 6.92
$4.69 MYR 19.76
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 MYR 7.41
$1.07 MYR 4.51
$1.94 MYR 8.2
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 MYR 10.34
$1.2 MYR 5.07
$4.14 MYR 17.46
Tomato (1kg)
$1.2 MYR 5.08
$0.92 MYR 3.88
$1.53 MYR 6.44
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.76
$0.46 MYR 1.93
$1.84 MYR 7.76
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 MYR 5.87
$0.48 MYR 2.03
$1.93 MYR 8.16
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 4
$0.61 MYR 2.56
$1.22 MYR 5.13
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MYR 2.5
$0.46 MYR 1.93
$0.8 MYR 3.36
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 MYR 18.3
$4.23 MYR 17.83
$4.83 MYR 20.38
Wine (Bottle)
$19.2 MYR 81
$9.61 MYR 40.51
$24.01 MYR 101
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 MYR 11.21
$1.85 MYR 7.79
$3.22 MYR 13.6
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 MYR 16.27
$1.76 MYR 7.4
$4.67 MYR 19.7
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 MYR 3.16
$0.73 MYR 3.07
$1.21 MYR 5.11
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.6 MYR 48.94
$11.6 MYR 48.94
$23.22 MYR 97.9
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MYR 4.31
$0.73 MYR 3.06
$1.21 MYR 5.09
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 MYR 1.49
$0.23 MYR 0.97
$0.47 MYR 1.97
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.06 MYR 38.19
$9.06 MYR 38.19
$9.06 MYR 38.19
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 MYR 1.98
$0.47 MYR 1.98
$0.47 MYR 1.98
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K MYR 131.6K
$28.1K MYR 118.3K
$34.4K MYR 144.9K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MYR 119.3K
$23.9K MYR 100.8K
$31.1K MYR 131.1K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.24 MYR 174
$23.71 MYR 100
$72.3 MYR 305
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.07 MYR 38.27
$7.03 MYR 29.63
$10.55 MYR 44.47
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.42 MYR 98.7
$21.36 MYR 90.1
$35.99 MYR 152
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.65 MYR 155
$19.89 MYR 83.9
$44.46 MYR 187
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.46 MYR 31.47
$3.58 MYR 15.12
$11.93 MYR 50.3
Cinema Ticket
$5 MYR 21.07
$3.57 MYR 15.07
$5.94 MYR 25.07
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$209 MYR 880
$127 MYR 538
$348 MYR 1,466
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,109 MYR 34.2K
$7,052 MYR 29.7K
$11.8K MYR 49.6K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.76 MYR 206
$42.13 MYR 178
$58.5 MYR 247
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.76 MYR 142
$27.81 MYR 117
$40.55 MYR 171
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.5 MYR 230
$42.61 MYR 180
$71 MYR 299
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.61 MYR 205
$35.28 MYR 149
$70.6 MYR 298
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 MYR 1,929
$350 MYR 1,474
$583 MYR 2,457
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$343 MYR 1,448
$236 MYR 994
$424 MYR 1,789
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$814 MYR 3,434
$579 MYR 2,443
$1,043 MYR 4,397
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 MYR 2,310
$354 MYR 1,493
$1,298 MYR 5,476
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,917 MYR 12.3K
$1,795 MYR 7,569
$3,864 MYR 16.3K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$808 MYR 3,405
$203 MYR 857
$1,287 MYR 5,427
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,239 MYR 5,227
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.49
4.02
5
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Frequently Asked Questions
How does affordability stack up for travelers, expats, and digital nomads in Petaling Jaya?
Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia offers a comfortable middle ground for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You'll find a mix of affordable street food and reliable mid-range dining, versatile coworking spaces, and housing options that scale with your budget – from compact apartments to new developments with on-site conveniences. Public transit and ride-hailing keep commuting affordable, while neighborhoods with walkable hubs cut extra costs for errands. The city gives you access to Kuala Lumpur’s big-city perks without paying the full premium. Tip: map a 15-30 minute commute to balance time, cost, and lifestyle.
What does a typical day look like in terms of housing search, food options, transport, and errands in Petaling Jaya?
On a practical daily basis, you'll navigate housing by neighborhood vibe and transit access. Look for mid-rise buildings near commercial hubs for easier food shopping and coworking options. Food plentiful and affordable: street hawker stalls, casual cafes, and international options, with markets offering fresh produce. Transport is generally affordable and reliable through rail links, buses, and ride-hailing; you'll save by choosing a base within a few kilometers of a major transit line. Errands are straightforward with malls and neighborhood centers, but some areas can have limited late-night services. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia living cost varies by area, so compare several neighborhoods before committing to a lease. Tip: tour areas at different times of day to get real feel.
How can you optimize quality of life in Petaling Jaya through budgeting, seasonality awareness, and neighborhood fit?
Adopt a simple monthly framework: allocate essential housing, utilities, and food first, then set aside workspace and transit costs, and layer in leisure and personal care. In Petaling Jaya, you can stretch a budget by choosing neighborhoods with good transit access and walkable amenities, splitting costs with roommates, and cooking at home most days. Tap into off-peak shopping, seasonal markets, and neighborhood parks for free or low-cost recreation. Seasonality in rainfall can affect outdoor plans, so build flexible transport options and storage into your routine. Tip: map a baseline for rent, groceries, and transport and adjust every few weeks.
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