Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Cheras vs $869 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,293 per month in Cheras vs $1,385 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,757 per month in Cheras vs $1,901 in Penang, rent included.

Cheras is about 5% cheaper than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cheras and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Cheras 38% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 MYR 14.13

$3.04 MYR 12.34

14.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.1

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-13.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.63

$4.33 MYR 17.57

6.00%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.27

$2.94 MYR 11.90

3.06%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.19

$0.68 MYR 2.78

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.36 MYR 1.48

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.78 MYR 19.38

$4.40 MYR 17.85

8.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 MYR 26.94

$4.46 MYR 18.10

48.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.28

$1.81 MYR 7.32

-1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$0.99 MYR 4.00

-6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-37.93%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.37

$2.13 MYR 8.65

-3.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.44 MYR 62.6

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-11.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 MYR 14.50

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-31.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 MYR 30.26

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-50.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.18

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.14

$1.47 MYR 5.96

19.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.92

$2.57 MYR 10.43

-4.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.09

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-40.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.16

$1.18 MYR 4.79

28.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.43

$1.16 MYR 4.71

15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$0.95 MYR 3.87

-2.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.28

$0.49 MYR 1.97

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.26

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-2.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 58.8

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-26.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.48

$2.62 MYR 10.61

8.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 MYR 15.33

$3.40 MYR 13.80

11.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.45 MYR 1.82

6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 48.44

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-31.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.95

$0.69 MYR 2.80

42.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$0.54 MYR 2.21

88.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 MYR 38.47

$7.20 MYR 29.19

31.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.47 MYR 1.89

4.26%

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

$49.4K MYR 200.2K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

49.94%

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

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

16.35%

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

$41.77 MYR 169

$38.60 MYR 157

8.21%

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

$9.30 MYR 37.72

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-7.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.42 MYR 123

$31.44 MYR 127

-3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.98 MYR 166

$33.04 MYR 134

24.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.23

$5.42 MYR 21.97

5.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MYR 20.62

$4.91 MYR 19.90

3.67%

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

$190 MYR 769

$238 MYR 963

-20.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,818 MYR 27.6K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

10.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 262

$54.6 MYR 221

18.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 MYR 139

$28.39 MYR 115

20.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 MYR 300

$60.5 MYR 245

22.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.61 MYR 197

$53.5 MYR 217

-9.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,507

$387 MYR 1,569

-3.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 MYR 961

$230 MYR 933

3.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,661

$640 MYR 2,597

2.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 MYR 1,703

$525 MYR 2,131

-20.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 MYR 4,765

$951 MYR 3,858

23.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.16

-2.16%

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

Last update for Cheras: June 6, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Cheras versus $387 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 24% higher in Cheras, 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 $19.00 in Cheras versus $22.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $287 – making Cheras 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

Cheras vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Penang is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Cheras and $1,304 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Cheras and $22.00 in Penang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Penang at $869. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penang it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cheras. 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.