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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Johor Bahru versus $862 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,378 in Johor Bahru versus $1,379 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,791 in Johor Bahru versus $1,895 in Penang.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 12% more expensive than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 28% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 13.93

$3.10 MYR 12.24

13.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 MYR 73.8

$21.13 MYR 83.5

-11.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 MYR 18.82

$4.12 MYR 16.27

15.53%

Cappuccino

$3.01 MYR 11.90

$2.88 MYR 11.36

4.51%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.35

$0.70 MYR 2.75

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.33 MYR 1.32

48.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 13.85

$4.30 MYR 16.98

-18.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.76 MYR 26.71

$4.43 MYR 17.51

52.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.11

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 3.89

$1.03 MYR 4.05

-4.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.89

$1.99 MYR 7.86

-37.69%

Eggs

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$2.04 MYR 8.07

-9.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.67 MYR 42.16

$17.30 MYR 68.4

-38.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 MYR 14.01

$4.95 MYR 19.54

-28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.25 MYR 32.60

$15.01 MYR 59.3

-45.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.51

$2.88 MYR 11.38

-7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.76

$1.51 MYR 5.96

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.16

$2.63 MYR 10.38

-2.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.93

$2.09 MYR 8.24

-40.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.51

$1.18 MYR 4.64

-3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.30

$1.17 MYR 4.63

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.71

$0.91 MYR 3.59

3.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.48 MYR 1.91

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.47

$4.29 MYR 16.94

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 57.3

$19.41 MYR 76.7

-25.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.59

$2.74 MYR 10.82

-2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MYR 11.53

$3.39 MYR 13.39

-13.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.46 MYR 1.80

56.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 46.65

$17.53 MYR 69.3

-32.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.84

$0.74 MYR 2.94

31.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$0.53 MYR 2.10

92.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.09 MYR 35.92

$6.95 MYR 27.46

30.79%

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)

$34.8K MYR 137.4K

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

3.87%

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

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

0.66%

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

$40.87 MYR 161

$39.31 MYR 155

3.97%

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

$9.23 MYR 36.44

$10.23 MYR 40.40

-9.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 MYR 121

$31.17 MYR 123

-1.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.09 MYR 139

$33.28 MYR 131

5.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 22.99

$5.39 MYR 21.30

7.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.35

$4.81 MYR 19.01

1.87%

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

$191 MYR 755

$240 MYR 947

-20.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,900 MYR 27.3K

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

11.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.07 MYR 194

$54.4 MYR 215

-9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 MYR 75.6

$29.08 MYR 115

-34.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 MYR 214

$60.4 MYR 239

-10.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.65 MYR 157

$52.6 MYR 208

-24.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,848

$381 MYR 1,503

22.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 MYR 1,565

$227 MYR 895

74.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 MYR 3,331

$639 MYR 2,524

31.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,366

$526 MYR 2,077

13.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MYR 8,254

$2,317 MYR 9,153

-9.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,190 MYR 4,700

$1,197 MYR 4,729

-0.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,155 MYR 4,562

$968 MYR 3,824

19.29%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Johor Bahru and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Johor Bahru vs $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $286 per month, with Johor Bahru cheaper across the board.

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

Johor Bahru vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru and Penang differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $862 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Johor Bahru pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $468 in Johor Bahru versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $19.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Johor Bahru versus $862 in Penang – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Penang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Johor Bahru and Penang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.