Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $516 (excluding rent), and $896 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,184 (excluding rent), and $1,790 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MYR 14.33

$2.91 MYR 11.45

$4.85 MYR 19.06

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.95 MYR 74.5

$11.84 MYR 46.53

$28.42 MYR 112

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MYR 18.61

$5.45 MYR 21.42

Cappuccino

$2.81 MYR 11.06

$2.41 MYR 9.45

$3.61 MYR 14.18

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

$0.73 MYR 2.87

$0.62 MYR 2.42

$0.98 MYR 3.85

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.57

$0.25 MYR 0.99

$0.49 MYR 1.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 MYR 14.07

$2.86 MYR 11.25

$5.96 MYR 23.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MYR 19.52

$3.47 MYR 13.63

$6.93 MYR 27.23

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 7.64

$1.69 MYR 6.63

$2.05 MYR 8.04

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.71

$0.79 MYR 3.10

$2.94 MYR 11.57

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.00

$0.95 MYR 3.74

$2.86 MYR 11.25

Eggs

$2.25 MYR 8.84

$1.15 MYR 4.50

$2.87 MYR 11.27

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 MYR 41.45

$7.03 MYR 27.62

$11.71 MYR 46.02

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 13.96

$1.67 MYR 6.56

$4.26 MYR 16.73

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 MYR 31.02

$3.44 MYR 13.51

$15.14 MYR 59.5

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 10.95

$1.70 MYR 6.67

$4.84 MYR 19.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.57

$1.02 MYR 4.00

$1.85 MYR 7.26

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.61

$1.20 MYR 4.71

$4.13 MYR 16.24

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.72

$0.92 MYR 3.61

$1.52 MYR 5.99

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.63

$0.48 MYR 1.88

$1.92 MYR 7.55

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.22

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$1.85 MYR 7.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.75

$0.61 MYR 2.40

$1.22 MYR 4.81

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.30

$0.45 MYR 1.77

$0.79 MYR 3.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 16.75

$4.15 MYR 16.31

$4.74 MYR 18.65

Wine (Bottle)

$20.10 MYR 79.0

$16.33 MYR 64.2

$25.12 MYR 98.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 MYR 10.47

$1.85 MYR 7.27

$3.23 MYR 12.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MYR 15.39

$1.78 MYR 7.00

$4.74 MYR 18.64

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.01

$0.74 MYR 2.92

$1.24 MYR 4.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 45.55

$23.19 MYR 91.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 MYR 4.03

$0.73 MYR 2.86

$1.21 MYR 4.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.39

$0.23 MYR 0.90

$0.47 MYR 1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.50 MYR 37.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

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

$31.5K MYR 123.9K

$28.4K MYR 111.4K

$34.7K MYR 136.4K

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

$28.4K MYR 111.5K

$24.0K MYR 94.3K

$31.2K MYR 122.5K

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

$40.92 MYR 161

$23.53 MYR 92.5

$71.8 MYR 282

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

$9.19 MYR 36.10

$7.11 MYR 27.96

$10.67 MYR 41.95

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.78 MYR 89.5

$20.78 MYR 81.7

$35.01 MYR 138

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 MYR 143

$19.80 MYR 77.8

$44.27 MYR 174

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.22 MYR 28.36

$3.47 MYR 13.62

$11.54 MYR 45.34

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MYR 19.39

$3.53 MYR 13.87

$5.87 MYR 23.08

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

$211 MYR 828

$129 MYR 506

$351 MYR 1,381

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,077 MYR 31.7K

$7,024 MYR 27.6K

$11.7K MYR 46.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 MYR 194

$42.68 MYR 168

$59.3 MYR 233

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 MYR 136

$28.49 MYR 112

$41.55 MYR 163

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 MYR 209

$41.67 MYR 164

$69.4 MYR 273

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.25 MYR 190

$35.02 MYR 138

$70.0 MYR 275

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,826

$355 MYR 1,396

$592 MYR 2,326

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 MYR 1,331

$232 MYR 914

$418 MYR 1,644

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 MYR 3,258

$590 MYR 2,318

$1,061 MYR 4,172

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 MYR 2,143

$353 MYR 1,386

$1,293 MYR 5,081

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,253 MYR 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$803 MYR 3,156

$219 MYR 861

$1,387 MYR 5,450

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,811 MYR 7,115

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.02

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

Last update: March 1, 2026

Petaling Jaya Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

⛩️ Asia

Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.