Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $525 (excluding rent), and $903 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,194 (excluding rent), and $1,762 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 MYR 14.28

$2.77 MYR 11.42

$4.6 MYR 19

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.63 MYR 76.9

$11.64 MYR 48.04

$27.95 MYR 115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.6 MYR 18.99

$5.29 MYR 21.85

Cappuccino

$2.71 MYR 11.19

$2.32 MYR 9.57

$3.48 MYR 14.36

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

$0.67 MYR 2.78

$0.57 MYR 2.35

$0.91 MYR 3.74

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.63

$0.25 MYR 1.03

$0.49 MYR 2.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 14.19

$2.75 MYR 11.34

$5.72 MYR 23.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.19 MYR 21.41

$3.62 MYR 14.95

$7.23 MYR 29.86

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 MYR 8.03

$1.69 MYR 6.97

$2.05 MYR 8.45

White Bread (500g)

$1 MYR 4.11

$0.83 MYR 3.44

$3.11 MYR 12.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.32

$0.95 MYR 3.91

$2.85 MYR 11.77

Eggs

$2.25 MYR 9.31

$1.15 MYR 4.74

$2.87 MYR 11.86

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 MYR 44.62

$7.2 MYR 29.73

$12 MYR 49.54

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 MYR 13.91

$1.58 MYR 6.53

$4.04 MYR 16.67

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 MYR 32.71

$3.45 MYR 14.24

$15.2 MYR 62.7

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.46

$1.69 MYR 6.98

$4.83 MYR 19.92

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.26

$1.07 MYR 4.42

$1.94 MYR 8.03

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 MYR 10.07

$1.2 MYR 4.93

$4.12 MYR 17.01

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 5

$0.93 MYR 3.82

$1.54 MYR 6.35

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.93

$0.48 MYR 2

$1.95 MYR 8.03

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.54

$0.46 MYR 1.92

$1.87 MYR 7.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.96

$0.61 MYR 2.54

$1.23 MYR 5.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.44

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.8 MYR 3.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.96

$4.24 MYR 17.49

$4.85 MYR 20

Wine (Bottle)

$18.97 MYR 78.3

$9.79 MYR 40.4

$24.49 MYR 101

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 MYR 11.43

$1.92 MYR 7.94

$3.36 MYR 13.87

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 MYR 15.94

$1.76 MYR 7.25

$4.68 MYR 19.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.7 MYR 2.87

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$1.12 MYR 4.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.72

$23.13 MYR 95.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 4.02

$0.69 MYR 2.85

$1.15 MYR 4.74

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.21 MYR 0.88

$0.44 MYR 1.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.34 MYR 38.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

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

$31.8K MYR 131.1K

$28.6K MYR 117.9K

$35K MYR 144.3K

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

$28K MYR 115.4K

$23.6K MYR 97.5K

$30.7K MYR 126.8K

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

$40.66 MYR 168

$23.38 MYR 96.5

$71.3 MYR 294

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

$8.9 MYR 36.73

$6.89 MYR 28.44

$10.34 MYR 42.68

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.43 MYR 96.7

$21.38 MYR 88.2

$36.02 MYR 149

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.84 MYR 152

$19.99 MYR 82.5

$44.69 MYR 184

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.59 MYR 31.32

$3.65 MYR 15.04

$12.13 MYR 50.1

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MYR 19.97

$3.46 MYR 14.28

$5.76 MYR 23.77

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

$211 MYR 870

$129 MYR 532

$351 MYR 1,450

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,127 MYR 33.5K

$7,067 MYR 29.2K

$11.8K MYR 48.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.35 MYR 200

$41.77 MYR 172

$58 MYR 239

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.89 MYR 140

$27.92 MYR 115

$40.72 MYR 168

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 MYR 221

$41.91 MYR 173

$69.8 MYR 288

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.97 MYR 202

$35.54 MYR 147

$71.1 MYR 293

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 MYR 1,922

$356 MYR 1,469

$593 MYR 2,448

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 MYR 1,420

$236 MYR 975

$425 MYR 1,755

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$819 MYR 3,379

$582 MYR 2,404

$1,048 MYR 4,327

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 MYR 2,240

$351 MYR 1,448

$1,287 MYR 5,311

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,483 MYR 10.2K

$1,824 MYR 7,528

$3,141 MYR 13K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$802 MYR 3,310

$202 MYR 833

$1,278 MYR 5,274

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 MYR 7,147

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: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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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.