Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Butterworth vs $862 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,299 per month in Butterworth vs $1,379 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,747 per month in Butterworth vs $1,895 in Penang, rent included.

Butterworth is about 1% cheaper than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Butterworth and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Butterworth 37% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 11.75

$3.10 MYR 12.24

-4.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.48 MYR 84.8

$21.13 MYR 83.5

1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MYR 18.65

$4.12 MYR 16.27

14.56%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.18

$2.88 MYR 11.36

-1.74%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.68

$0.70 MYR 2.75

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.13 MYR 16.31

$4.30 MYR 16.98

-3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.56

$4.43 MYR 17.51

0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.42

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.89

$1.03 MYR 4.05

-3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.80

$1.99 MYR 7.86

-13.57%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.44

$2.04 MYR 8.07

4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.48 MYR 57.2

$17.30 MYR 68.4

-16.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 MYR 18.16

$4.95 MYR 19.54

-7.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.41 MYR 37.18

$15.01 MYR 59.3

-37.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.47

$2.88 MYR 11.38

0.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.51 MYR 5.96

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.60

$2.63 MYR 10.38

1.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.80

$2.09 MYR 8.24

-29.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.18 MYR 4.64

-2.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.80

$1.17 MYR 4.63

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 MYR 3.62

$0.91 MYR 3.59

1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.09

$4.29 MYR 16.94

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 MYR 74.9

$19.41 MYR 76.7

-2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.30

$2.74 MYR 10.82

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.23

$3.39 MYR 13.39

-1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.74

$0.46 MYR 1.80

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 MYR 47.24

$17.53 MYR 69.3

-31.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.89

$0.74 MYR 2.94

-1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 MYR 18.94

$6.95 MYR 27.46

-30.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.46 MYR 1.82

2.17%

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

$33.3K MYR 131.7K

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

-0.49%

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

$27.7K MYR 109.4K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

-0.83%

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

$39.29 MYR 155

$39.31 MYR 155

-0.05%

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

$9.99 MYR 39.46

$10.23 MYR 40.40

-2.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.55 MYR 101

$31.17 MYR 123

-18.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.46 MYR 144

$33.28 MYR 131

9.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 23.92

$5.39 MYR 21.30

12.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MYR 19.99

$4.81 MYR 19.01

5.20%

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

$240 MYR 950

$240 MYR 947

0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,261 MYR 24.7K

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 MYR 214

$54.4 MYR 215

-0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.44 MYR 116

$29.08 MYR 115

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 MYR 240

$60.4 MYR 239

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 211

$52.6 MYR 208

1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,549

$381 MYR 1,503

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,052

$227 MYR 895

17.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,542

$639 MYR 2,524

0.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,835

$526 MYR 2,077

-11.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,268 MYR 5,010

$2,317 MYR 9,153

-45.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,031 MYR 4,073

$1,197 MYR 4,729

-13.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$991 MYR 3,915

$968 MYR 3,824

2.37%

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 Butterworth: April 25, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Butterworth versus $381 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 2% higher in Butterworth, 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 $21.00 in Butterworth versus $21.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $286 – making Butterworth 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

Butterworth vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $850 in Butterworth, $862 in Penang – roughly 1% apart. Penang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,275 per month in Butterworth and $1,294 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $850 in Butterworth and $862 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 47% less in Butterworth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $850 in Butterworth and $862 in Penang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $850 in Butterworth to $862 in Penang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Butterworth. 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.