Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Penang

🙂 Solo nomad: Almaty is 5.2% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Almaty is 9.1% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 ₸3,996
$3.07 MYR 12.07
160.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.87 ₸19.4K
$21.19 MYR 83.3
83.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.02 ₸3,505
$4.20 MYR 16.49
67.14%
Cappuccino
$2.38 ₸1,187
$2.96 MYR 11.65
-19.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₸455
$0.74 MYR 2.91
22.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₸268
$0.37 MYR 1.44
45.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 ₸669
$4.49 MYR 17.64
-70.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₸1,425
$4.40 MYR 17.31
-35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ₸633
$1.90 MYR 7.48
-33.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₸294
$0.99 MYR 3.90
-40.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ₸747
$2.05 MYR 8.07
-26.83%
Eggs
$1.74 ₸866
$2.15 MYR 8.44
-19.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.44 ₸4,709
$17.37 MYR 68.3
-45.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.68 ₸2,333
$5.00 MYR 19.64
-6.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.58 ₸3,784
$14.88 MYR 58.5
-49.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.36 ₸678
$2.78 MYR 10.91
-51.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 ₸949
$1.47 MYR 5.77
29.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ₸985
$2.58 MYR 10.15
-23.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ₸1,031
$2.19 MYR 8.62
-5.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 ₸287
$1.14 MYR 4.48
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸210
$1.20 MYR 4.72
-65.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 ₸652
$0.89 MYR 3.51
47.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₸349
$0.49 MYR 1.92
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 ₸993
$4.35 MYR 17.09
-54.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.04 ₸4,010
$19.52 MYR 76.7
-58.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸449
$2.62 MYR 10.29
-65.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₸1,058
$3.48 MYR 13.68
-39.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸120
$0.46 MYR 1.79
-47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.04 ₸8,999
$17.36 MYR 68.2
3.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₸591
$0.68 MYR 2.67
75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₸351
$0.50 MYR 1.97
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 ₸2,352
$7.19 MYR 28.24
-34.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸242
$0.49 MYR 1.95
-2.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K ₸11.6M
$34.0K MYR 133.5K
-31.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K ₸13.3M
$27.9K MYR 109.5K
-4.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ₸31.0K
$39.37 MYR 155
57.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50 ₸4,240
$10.01 MYR 39.34
-15.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.46 ₸6,718
$31.45 MYR 124
-57.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.24 ₸23.6K
$33.02 MYR 130
43.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55 ₸10.8K
$5.53 MYR 21.73
289.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 ₸2,681
$4.81 MYR 18.91
11.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₸130.0K
$237 MYR 932
9.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.4M
$6,252 MYR 24.6K
105.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 ₸42.4K
$54.3 MYR 213
56.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.20 ₸21.6K
$29.00 MYR 114
48.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ₸49.4K
$62.5 MYR 246
58.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₸60.3K
$52.4 MYR 206
130.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$657 ₸327.9K
$394 MYR 1,548
66.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$416 ₸207.7K
$230 MYR 905
80.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 ₸585.8K
$641 MYR 2,518
83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$773 ₸385.5K
$517 MYR 2,032
49.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,004 ₸999.8K
$2,335 MYR 9,178
-14.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 ₸570.2K
$1,191 MYR 4,679
-4.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$750 ₸374.2K
$974 MYR 3,830
-23.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.39
4.16
342.07%

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

Last update for Almaty: March 1, 2026

Last update for Penang: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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