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: $1,048 in Johor Bahru versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,549 in Johor Bahru versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in Johor Bahru versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 25% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 23% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 MYR 15.05

$3.72 MYR 15.24

-1.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.22 MYR 86.9

$19.77 MYR 80.9

7.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$4.57 MYR 18.72

7.00%

Cappuccino

$2.93 MYR 12.01

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-1.68%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.44

$0.74 MYR 3.01

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.37 MYR 1.50

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 MYR 17.97

$4.30 MYR 17.60

2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 MYR 25.88

$4.53 MYR 18.53

39.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$1.80 MYR 7.37

-7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.53

$1.06 MYR 4.32

4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.86

$1.72 MYR 7.05

-16.86%

Eggs

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$2.14 MYR 8.76

-21.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.49 MYR 75.7

$13.06 MYR 53.5

41.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.13

$4.32 MYR 17.68

8.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MYR 43.91

$8.52 MYR 34.87

25.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MYR 13.48

$2.93 MYR 11.99

12.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.21

$1.66 MYR 6.78

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 MYR 15.34

$2.57 MYR 10.51

45.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.46 MYR 5.99

15.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 MYR 5.79

$1.11 MYR 4.55

27.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.82

$1.16 MYR 4.76

43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.64

$1.14 MYR 4.67

21.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.22

$0.54 MYR 2.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 17.32

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-10.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.40 MYR 58.9

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-24.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 MYR 12.11

$3.01 MYR 12.34

-1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 MYR 12.63

$3.98 MYR 16.29

-22.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.50 MYR 2.05

44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.16 MYR 49.79

$12.18 MYR 49.85

-0.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 MYR 5.84

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-17.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 3.09

$0.38 MYR 1.56

97.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$7.46 MYR 30.55

33.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-5.75%

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

$42.6K MYR 174.3K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

1.50%

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

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

2.46%

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

$53.6 MYR 219

$36.65 MYR 150

46.14%

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

$11.39 MYR 46.60

$9.91 MYR 40.57

14.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.27 MYR 116

$29.71 MYR 122

-4.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.40 MYR 165

$39.12 MYR 160

3.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 23.72

$4.82 MYR 19.71

20.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.61

$5.22 MYR 21.37

-8.24%

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

$161 MYR 658

$432 MYR 1,768

-62.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,523 MYR 18.5K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

-57.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MYR 220

$59.3 MYR 243

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.30 MYR 66.7

$35.89 MYR 147

-54.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 MYR 340

$83.0 MYR 340

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 MYR 401

$71.4 MYR 292

37.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 MYR 2,108

$409 MYR 1,675

25.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 MYR 1,625

$228 MYR 934

73.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 MYR 3,702

$583 MYR 2,387

55.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,615

$414 MYR 1,694

54.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,058 MYR 8,423

$2,244 MYR 9,187

-8.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,177 MYR 4,818

$1,058 MYR 4,331

11.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,460

$914 MYR 3,740

19.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.24

-4.25%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 14, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Johor Bahru and $409 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: $21.00 in Johor Bahru vs $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $250 per month, with Penang 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 25% in total monthly costs ($1,048 vs $837 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Johor Bahru, 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: $515 in Johor Bahru versus $409 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 $20.00 versus $21.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,048 per month in Johor Bahru versus $837 in Penang – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $1,048 in Johor Bahru, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Johor Bahru. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 25% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.