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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $919 per month in Butterworth vs $837 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,372 per month in Butterworth vs $1,307 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,825 per month in Butterworth vs $1,776 in Penang, rent included.

Butterworth costs about 10% more than Penang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Butterworth and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Butterworth 33% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$3.72 MYR 15.24

-3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.01 MYR 81.9

$19.77 MYR 80.9

1.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.79

$4.57 MYR 18.72

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.16

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-0.34%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.21

$0.74 MYR 3.01

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 MYR 17.43

$4.30 MYR 17.60

-0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 17.59

$4.53 MYR 18.53

-5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 MYR 9.01

$1.80 MYR 7.37

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.31

$1.06 MYR 4.32

-0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.91

$1.72 MYR 7.05

-1.74%

Eggs

$2.22 MYR 9.09

$2.14 MYR 8.76

3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 MYR 54.6

$13.06 MYR 53.5

2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.44 MYR 18.16

$4.32 MYR 17.68

2.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.72 MYR 35.69

$8.52 MYR 34.87

2.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 MYR 11.45

$2.93 MYR 11.99

-4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.80

$1.66 MYR 6.78

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 MYR 9.65

$2.57 MYR 10.51

-8.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.79

$1.46 MYR 5.99

-2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.11 MYR 4.55

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.68

$1.16 MYR 4.76

-1.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 MYR 18.16

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-6.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.9

$18.98 MYR 77.7

1.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 MYR 11.84

$3.01 MYR 12.34

-3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 MYR 16.49

$3.98 MYR 16.29

1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 MYR 2.70

$0.50 MYR 2.05

32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.82 MYR 56.6

$12.18 MYR 49.85

13.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-30.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.38 MYR 1.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 MYR 19.58

$7.46 MYR 30.55

-35.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 MYR 3.16

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-11.49%

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

$41.6K MYR 170.4K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

-0.78%

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

$35.2K MYR 144.2K

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

1.09%

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

$37.38 MYR 153

$36.65 MYR 150

1.99%

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

$9.18 MYR 37.59

$9.91 MYR 40.57

-7.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.57 MYR 105

$29.71 MYR 122

-13.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.34 MYR 145

$39.12 MYR 160

-9.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.77 MYR 27.70

$4.82 MYR 19.71

40.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.29 MYR 21.64

$5.22 MYR 21.37

1.34%

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

$299 MYR 1,222

$432 MYR 1,768

-30.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K MYR 44.2K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 251

$59.3 MYR 243

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.44 MYR 145

$35.89 MYR 147

-1.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 MYR 339

$83.0 MYR 340

-0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 MYR 285

$71.4 MYR 292

-2.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$418 MYR 1,712

$409 MYR 1,675

2.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 MYR 1,440

$228 MYR 934

54.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 MYR 3,020

$583 MYR 2,387

26.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 2,021

$414 MYR 1,694

19.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 MYR 8,351

$2,244 MYR 9,187

-9.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,102 MYR 4,510

$1,058 MYR 4,331

4.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.24

-0.94%

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

Last update for Butterworth: September 14, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $418 in Butterworth versus $409 in Penang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Butterworth versus $20.00 in Penang. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Butterworth vs $250 in Penang – so Penang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $919 in Butterworth, $837 in Penang – roughly 10% apart. Butterworth costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,378 per month in Butterworth and $1,256 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Penang, 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 $919 in Butterworth and $837 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Penang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Butterworth at $919. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Butterworth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $837 in Penang to $919 in Butterworth. 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 Penang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Butterworth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.