Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $533 (excluding rent), and $898 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,168 (excluding rent), and $1,769 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 MYR 13.65

$2.76 MYR 10.91

$4.60 MYR 18.16

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.09 MYR 75.4

$11.93 MYR 47.11

$28.63 MYR 113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.09

$5.27 MYR 20.82

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.12

$2.41 MYR 9.51

$3.61 MYR 14.27

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

$0.67 MYR 2.63

$0.56 MYR 2.22

$0.89 MYR 3.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.55

$0.25 MYR 0.98

$0.48 MYR 1.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.61

$2.75 MYR 10.88

$5.73 MYR 22.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.21 MYR 20.59

$3.64 MYR 14.38

$7.27 MYR 28.72

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.40

$1.63 MYR 6.42

$1.97 MYR 7.78

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$0.86 MYR 3.38

$3.20 MYR 12.63

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.06

$0.95 MYR 3.77

$2.87 MYR 11.35

Eggs

$2.26 MYR 8.93

$1.15 MYR 4.55

$2.88 MYR 11.39

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.46 MYR 41.33

$6.97 MYR 27.54

$11.62 MYR 45.89

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 MYR 13.39

$1.59 MYR 6.29

$4.06 MYR 16.06

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 MYR 32.47

$3.58 MYR 14.14

$15.76 MYR 62.3

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.40

$1.60 MYR 6.33

$4.58 MYR 18.07

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.65

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$1.86 MYR 7.35

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 9.75

$1.21 MYR 4.78

$4.17 MYR 16.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$0.95 MYR 3.75

$1.58 MYR 6.22

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.50

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$1.86 MYR 7.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$1.86 MYR 7.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.76

$0.61 MYR 2.41

$1.22 MYR 4.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.45

$0.48 MYR 1.89

$0.84 MYR 3.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.20

$4.24 MYR 16.75

$4.85 MYR 19.15

Wine (Bottle)

$19.85 MYR 78.4

$16.13 MYR 63.7

$24.81 MYR 98.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.64

$1.87 MYR 7.39

$3.27 MYR 12.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 MYR 15.52

$1.79 MYR 7.06

$4.76 MYR 18.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 MYR 2.98

$0.73 MYR 2.90

$1.22 MYR 4.82

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.61 MYR 45.86

$23.23 MYR 91.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$1.16 MYR 4.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.29

$0.21 MYR 0.83

$0.43 MYR 1.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 MYR 37.35

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.85

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

$31.1K MYR 122.7K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$34.2K MYR 135.1K

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

$28.0K MYR 110.5K

$23.6K MYR 93.4K

$30.7K MYR 121.4K

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

$40.62 MYR 160

$23.36 MYR 92.3

$71.2 MYR 281

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

$9.08 MYR 35.87

$7.03 MYR 27.78

$10.55 MYR 41.68

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.14 MYR 91.4

$21.11 MYR 83.4

$35.56 MYR 140

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.14 MYR 147

$20.15 MYR 79.6

$45.05 MYR 178

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 MYR 28.39

$3.45 MYR 13.64

$11.49 MYR 45.38

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MYR 19.47

$3.52 MYR 13.92

$5.86 MYR 23.16

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

$211 MYR 833

$129 MYR 509

$352 MYR 1,389

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,152 MYR 32.2K

$7,088 MYR 28.0K

$11.8K MYR 46.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.59 MYR 196

$42.85 MYR 169

$59.5 MYR 235

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 MYR 138

$28.71 MYR 113

$41.86 MYR 165

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 MYR 216

$42.81 MYR 169

$71.4 MYR 282

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.12 MYR 194

$35.65 MYR 141

$71.3 MYR 282

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 MYR 1,798

$348 MYR 1,374

$580 MYR 2,290

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,371

$238 MYR 941

$429 MYR 1,694

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 MYR 3,271

$589 MYR 2,327

$1,061 MYR 4,189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 MYR 2,118

$347 MYR 1,369

$1,271 MYR 5,021

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,238 MYR 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$217 MYR 856

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,792 MYR 7,079

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: April 13, 2026

Petaling Jaya Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

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:

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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.