Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Penang

😐 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 0.3% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 20.8% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 6.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 MYR 15.28

$2.97 MYR 12.54

21.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.97 MYR 80

$20.84 MYR 87.9

-8.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MYR 20

$4.34 MYR 18.32

9.22%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.62

$2.84 MYR 11.97

5.28%

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

$0.8 MYR 3.38

$0.69 MYR 2.89

15.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 2.04

$0.36 MYR 1.52

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MYR 14.64

$4.23 MYR 17.84

-17.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 MYR 28.17

$4.41 MYR 18.6

51.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.86

$1.82 MYR 7.65

2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.91

$0.99 MYR 4.18

-6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.22

$2.04 MYR 8.62

-39.22%

Eggs

$1.81 MYR 7.64

$2.05 MYR 8.63

-11.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 MYR 44.96

$17.11 MYR 72.2

-37.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.4 MYR 14.33

$5.23 MYR 22.05

-34.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.2 MYR 34.57

$14.77 MYR 62.3

-44.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 11.24

$2.91 MYR 12.25

-8.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 6.11

$1.46 MYR 6.18

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.83

$2.59 MYR 10.92

-0.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.14

$2.11 MYR 8.88

-42.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 5.01

$1.18 MYR 4.98

0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.62

$1.21 MYR 5.1

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.9 MYR 3.81

$0.91 MYR 3.82

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.34

$0.45 MYR 1.91

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 17.32

$4.2 MYR 17.73

-2.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 MYR 59.8

$14.1 MYR 59.5

0.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 MYR 11.37

$2.71 MYR 11.44

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.9 MYR 12.22

$3.47 MYR 14.65

-16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.7 MYR 2.95

$0.49 MYR 2.05

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 50.3

$17.98 MYR 75.8

-33.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.28

$0.72 MYR 3.04

41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.34

$0.5 MYR 2.1

106.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.07 MYR 38.25

$7 MYR 29.53

29.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.46 MYR 1.96

8.70%

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

$35.4K MYR 149.3K

$33.6K MYR 141.7K

5.39%

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

$27.4K MYR 115.6K

$27.1K MYR 114.3K

1.13%

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

$40.76 MYR 172

$39.21 MYR 165

3.95%

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

$8.96 MYR 37.77

$10.33 MYR 43.55

-13.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.37 MYR 132

$31.17 MYR 131

0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.46 MYR 150

$32.59 MYR 137

8.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.72 MYR 24.11

$5.59 MYR 23.59

2.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.63

$5.01 MYR 21.15

-2.40%

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

$189 MYR 797

$241 MYR 1,014

-21.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,908 MYR 29.1K

$6,174 MYR 26K

11.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.24 MYR 208

$55.3 MYR 233

-10.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.75 MYR 79.1

$28.42 MYR 120

-34.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.9 MYR 231

$61.2 MYR 258

-10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.31 MYR 170

$53.6 MYR 226

-24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,991

$388 MYR 1,637

21.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 MYR 1,687

$230 MYR 968

74.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 MYR 3,563

$640 MYR 2,700

31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,528

$522 MYR 2,201

14.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,824 MYR 7,692

$2,431 MYR 10.3K

-24.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,292 MYR 5,447

$1,481 MYR 6,247

-12.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,008 MYR 4,252

$1,101 MYR 4,643

-8.43%

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 Johor Bahru: October 28, 2025

Last update for Penang: October 26, 2025

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