Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $527 (excluding rent), and $893 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,174 (excluding rent), and $1,757 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 MYR 14.12

$2.78 MYR 11.28

$4.63 MYR 18.78

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.63 MYR 75.6

$11.64 MYR 47.26

$27.94 MYR 113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 MYR 18.97

$5.38 MYR 21.83

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.44

$2.41 MYR 9.78

$3.61 MYR 14.67

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

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.62 MYR 2.52

$0.99 MYR 4.01

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.23 MYR 0.94

$0.45 MYR 1.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 MYR 14.04

$2.76 MYR 11.22

$5.75 MYR 23.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.19 MYR 21.08

$3.63 MYR 14.72

$7.24 MYR 29.40

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$1.66 MYR 6.74

$2.01 MYR 8.17

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.11

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$3.16 MYR 12.84

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.09

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$2.81 MYR 11.41

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.22

$1.16 MYR 4.69

$2.89 MYR 11.75

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 MYR 42.88

$7.04 MYR 28.57

$11.72 MYR 47.60

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.95

$1.61 MYR 6.55

$4.12 MYR 16.73

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.23 MYR 33.41

$3.58 MYR 14.55

$15.78 MYR 64.1

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.90

$1.63 MYR 6.64

$4.67 MYR 18.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.06

$1.06 MYR 4.29

$1.92 MYR 7.80

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 MYR 10.09

$1.22 MYR 4.94

$4.20 MYR 17.04

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.85

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.52 MYR 6.15

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.82

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$1.94 MYR 7.86

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.60

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$1.92 MYR 7.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.63

$0.57 MYR 2.33

$1.15 MYR 4.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.41

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.80 MYR 3.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.59

$4.22 MYR 17.13

$4.82 MYR 19.59

Wine (Bottle)

$19.00 MYR 77.2

$9.81 MYR 39.83

$24.52 MYR 99.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.91

$1.87 MYR 7.58

$3.26 MYR 13.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 MYR 15.54

$1.74 MYR 7.07

$4.64 MYR 18.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 MYR 3.03

$0.73 MYR 2.94

$1.21 MYR 4.89

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.71 MYR 47.54

$23.43 MYR 95.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$0.72 MYR 2.94

$1.20 MYR 4.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.44

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.47 MYR 1.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.01 MYR 36.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

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

$31.9K MYR 129.5K

$28.7K MYR 116.4K

$35.1K MYR 142.5K

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

$27.5K MYR 111.6K

$23.2K MYR 94.3K

$30.2K MYR 122.6K

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

$41.33 MYR 168

$23.76 MYR 96.5

$72.5 MYR 294

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

$9.31 MYR 37.82

$7.21 MYR 29.28

$10.82 MYR 43.95

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.39 MYR 95.0

$21.34 MYR 86.6

$35.95 MYR 146

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.06 MYR 150

$20.10 MYR 81.6

$44.95 MYR 182

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 MYR 29.75

$3.52 MYR 14.29

$11.71 MYR 47.54

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 MYR 19.51

$3.44 MYR 13.95

$5.72 MYR 23.21

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

$213 MYR 864

$130 MYR 528

$355 MYR 1,440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,234 MYR 33.4K

$7,160 MYR 29.1K

$11.9K MYR 48.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.78 MYR 202

$43.01 MYR 175

$59.7 MYR 243

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.45 MYR 140

$28.38 MYR 115

$41.39 MYR 168

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.1 MYR 220

$42.36 MYR 172

$70.6 MYR 287

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.92 MYR 199

$35.50 MYR 144

$71.0 MYR 288

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,843

$347 MYR 1,409

$578 MYR 2,348

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 MYR 1,418

$240 MYR 973

$431 MYR 1,751

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 MYR 3,388

$594 MYR 2,410

$1,069 MYR 4,339

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 MYR 2,249

$358 MYR 1,454

$1,313 MYR 5,333

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,218 MYR 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$759 MYR 3,081

$207 MYR 840

$1,311 MYR 5,321

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,712 MYR 6,952

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: January 13, 2026

Petaling Jaya Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

268

Mbps

140

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.