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

🙂 Solo nomad: Johor Bahru is 10.8% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 11.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Johor Bahru is 15.9% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 MYR 14.43

$3.11 MYR 12.61

14.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.55 MYR 75.3

$21.15 MYR 85.9

-12.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.55

$4.33 MYR 17.57

5.54%

Cappuccino

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$2.86 MYR 11.63

1.75%

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

$0.86 MYR 3.47

$0.73 MYR 2.96

17.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.36 MYR 1.48

27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MYR 14.10

$4.29 MYR 17.41

-19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.62 MYR 26.86

$4.37 MYR 17.73

51.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$1.88 MYR 7.63

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.02

$1.00 MYR 4.06

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.27

$1.99 MYR 8.07

-34.67%

Eggs

$1.83 MYR 7.43

$2.05 MYR 8.33

-10.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 MYR 42.27

$16.99 MYR 69.0

-38.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 MYR 14.24

$5.18 MYR 21.02

-32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 MYR 33.33

$14.97 MYR 60.8

-45.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.75

$2.77 MYR 11.26

-4.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.12

$1.44 MYR 5.87

4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.37

$2.70 MYR 10.96

-5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$2.09 MYR 8.47

-41.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.81

$1.13 MYR 4.60

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.61

$1.22 MYR 4.97

13.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.81

$0.95 MYR 3.84

-1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.10

$0.45 MYR 1.82

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.56

$4.22 MYR 17.12

2.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.07 MYR 57.1

$19.31 MYR 78.4

-27.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$2.62 MYR 10.63

6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.26

$3.50 MYR 14.21

-13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.46 MYR 1.85

47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 47.99

$17.42 MYR 70.7

-32.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 4.02

$0.70 MYR 2.83

41.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.00

$0.50 MYR 2.03

96.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.30 MYR 37.75

$7.23 MYR 29.33

28.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.46 MYR 1.88

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

$35.5K MYR 144.1K

$33.9K MYR 137.6K

4.77%

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

$27.4K MYR 111.1K

$27.7K MYR 112.3K

-1.06%

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

$40.90 MYR 166

$38.60 MYR 157

5.96%

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

$9.01 MYR 36.58

$10.03 MYR 40.71

-10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 MYR 127

$30.91 MYR 125

1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 MYR 144

$32.64 MYR 133

8.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.96 MYR 24.19

$5.52 MYR 22.40

7.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 MYR 20.62

$4.90 MYR 19.88

3.67%

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

$190 MYR 772

$238 MYR 968

-20.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

$6,150 MYR 25.0K

13.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 MYR 202

$55.6 MYR 226

-10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.54 MYR 75.3

$29.29 MYR 119

-36.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 MYR 224

$60.4 MYR 245

-8.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 MYR 160

$52.8 MYR 214

-25.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 MYR 1,848

$380 MYR 1,543

19.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,629

$227 MYR 920

77.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$833 MYR 3,381

$649 MYR 2,636

28.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 MYR 2,453

$520 MYR 2,113

16.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 MYR 8,215

$2,235 MYR 9,072

-9.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 MYR 4,650

$1,156 MYR 4,693

-0.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,045 MYR 4,241

$988 MYR 4,012

5.70%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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