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 $849 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,040 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,356 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,401 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,863 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 MYR 9.76

$3.14 MYR 12.85

-23.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.99 MYR 49.05

$21.56 MYR 88.2

-44.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 MYR 16.37

$4.18 MYR 17.10

-4.31%

Cappuccino

$1.62 MYR 6.62

$2.95 MYR 12.05

-45.08%

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

$0.55 MYR 2.26

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-20.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.19

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 MYR 14.63

$4.38 MYR 17.91

-18.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MYR 9.47

$4.54 MYR 18.59

-48.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 MYR 6.57

$1.88 MYR 7.68

-14.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$1.00 MYR 4.07

-13.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.96 MYR 8.00

-40.31%

Eggs

$1.47 MYR 6.00

$2.03 MYR 8.30

-27.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.08 MYR 49.43

$17.29 MYR 70.7

-30.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.37

$5.23 MYR 21.41

-42.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 MYR 34.59

$14.76 MYR 60.4

-42.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.37

$2.79 MYR 11.40

-0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.46 MYR 5.99

-28.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.67

$2.61 MYR 10.69

-46.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.49

$2.11 MYR 8.64

-1.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.18 MYR 4.81

-24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MYR 2.19

$1.16 MYR 4.74

-53.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 MYR 2.84

$0.91 MYR 3.72

-24.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.98

$0.45 MYR 1.85

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 MYR 11.34

$4.30 MYR 17.58

-35.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.93 MYR 77.4

$19.38 MYR 79.3

-2.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MYR 4.88

$2.70 MYR 11.03

-55.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 MYR 8.54

$3.41 MYR 13.94

-38.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$0.46 MYR 1.87

60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 MYR 48.79

$17.34 MYR 70.9

-31.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.68 MYR 2.80

1.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.53 MYR 2.17

-3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 MYR 28.63

$6.89 MYR 28.19

1.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.46 MYR 1.89

2.17%

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

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

3.09%

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

$28.0K MYR 114.3K

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

2.48%

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

$39.42 MYR 161

$38.52 MYR 158

2.34%

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

$7.26 MYR 29.69

$10.16 MYR 41.54

-28.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.83 MYR 110

$31.68 MYR 130

-15.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.19 MYR 148

$32.43 MYR 133

11.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.65 MYR 39.49

$5.57 MYR 22.80

73.25%

Cinema Ticket

$2.91 MYR 11.90

$4.89 MYR 20.01

-40.49%

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

$82.5 MYR 338

$238 MYR 973

-65.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,299 MYR 21.7K

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

-16.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.53 MYR 194

$54.3 MYR 222

-12.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 MYR 119

$29.23 MYR 120

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 MYR 254

$61.8 MYR 253

0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.6 MYR 219

$52.6 MYR 215

1.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 MYR 1,219

$380 MYR 1,553

-21.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 MYR 713

$222 MYR 910

-21.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 MYR 1,857

$641 MYR 2,620

-29.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 MYR 1,400

$516 MYR 2,111

-33.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,225 MYR 9,100

$2,245 MYR 9,183

-0.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,040 MYR 4,253

$1,168 MYR 4,779

-11.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,620 MYR 6,625

$921 MYR 3,765

75.95%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Alor Setar versus $380 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 76% 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 $22.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 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 $1,020 per month in Alor Setar and $1,273 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 $82.5 per month in Alor Setar and $238 in Penang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Penang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $680 in Alor Setar and $849 in Penang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $680 versus $849 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.