Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $680 per month in Alor Setar vs $850 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,049 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,359 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,417 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,868 in Penang, rent included.

Alor Setar is about 20% cheaper than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Alor Setar and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar 49% lower, Penang 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 MYR 9.24

$3.11 MYR 12.34

-25.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.63 MYR 46.11

$20.86 MYR 82.7

-44.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.16 MYR 16.51

$4.14 MYR 16.42

0.48%

Cappuccino

$1.62 MYR 6.44

$2.83 MYR 11.22

-42.76%

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

$0.51 MYR 2.03

$0.74 MYR 2.93

-31.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.06

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 MYR 13.99

$4.39 MYR 17.40

-19.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MYR 9.22

$4.45 MYR 17.63

-47.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 MYR 6.48

$1.90 MYR 7.53

-14.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 MYR 3.52

$0.99 MYR 3.92

-10.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$1.96 MYR 7.78

-38.78%

Eggs

$1.50 MYR 5.96

$2.14 MYR 8.47

-29.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 MYR 46.62

$17.10 MYR 67.8

-31.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 MYR 12.37

$5.07 MYR 20.11

-38.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 MYR 32.79

$14.51 MYR 57.5

-43.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MYR 11.47

$2.77 MYR 11.00

4.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 MYR 4.12

$1.52 MYR 6.01

-31.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$2.60 MYR 10.30

-46.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.29

$2.12 MYR 8.42

-1.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MYR 3.50

$1.13 MYR 4.47

-22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MYR 2.13

$1.21 MYR 4.80

-55.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MYR 2.70

$0.95 MYR 3.78

-28.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$0.49 MYR 1.95

-6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 MYR 11.13

$4.14 MYR 16.41

-32.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.36 MYR 76.8

$19.79 MYR 78.5

-2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 MYR 4.61

$2.60 MYR 10.31

-55.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 MYR 8.32

$3.51 MYR 13.94

-40.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.46 MYR 1.81

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 MYR 46.63

$18.00 MYR 71.4

-34.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$0.68 MYR 2.69

8.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 MYR 2.16

$0.54 MYR 2.16

1.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 MYR 28.68

$6.98 MYR 27.68

3.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.99

-8.00%

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

$33.8K MYR 134.0K

$34.0K MYR 134.8K

-0.59%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.8K

$27.0K MYR 106.9K

3.59%

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

$39.16 MYR 155

$39.05 MYR 155

0.28%

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

$7.01 MYR 27.80

$10.11 MYR 40.09

-30.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.13 MYR 108

$30.91 MYR 123

-12.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 MYR 144

$32.17 MYR 128

12.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.33 MYR 37.00

$5.41 MYR 21.44

72.46%

Cinema Ticket

$2.76 MYR 10.95

$4.92 MYR 19.49

-43.90%

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

$83.4 MYR 331

$240 MYR 950

-65.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,240 MYR 20.8K

$6,110 MYR 24.2K

-14.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.55 MYR 185

$55.5 MYR 220

-16.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.70 MYR 114

$28.97 MYR 115

-0.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 MYR 246

$60.7 MYR 241

2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.5 MYR 208

$52.0 MYR 206

0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 MYR 1,185

$388 MYR 1,539

-23.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 MYR 675

$229 MYR 909

-25.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$442 MYR 1,752

$638 MYR 2,530

-30.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 MYR 1,328

$513 MYR 2,034

-34.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 MYR 7,582

$2,318 MYR 9,190

-17.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$900 MYR 3,569

$1,180 MYR 4,678

-23.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,649 MYR 6,536

$949 MYR 3,762

73.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Alor Setar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $299 in Alor Setar versus $388 in Penang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 74% higher in Alor Setar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Alor Setar versus $21.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $285 – making Alor Setar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alor Setar vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang costs about 25% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,021 per month in Alor Setar and $1,275 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alor Setar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $83.4 per month in Alor Setar and $240 in Penang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Penang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Penang at $850. In Alor Setar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penang it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $680 versus $850 in Penang. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Alor Setar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Penang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.