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: $955 in Johor Bahru versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Johor Bahru versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Johor Bahru versus $1,870 in Penang.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 10% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 28% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 MYR 14.32

$3.08 MYR 12.56

13.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$21.63 MYR 88.3

-12.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.82 MYR 19.67

$4.15 MYR 16.95

16.14%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.93

$2.97 MYR 12.12

-1.68%

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

$0.83 MYR 3.39

$0.74 MYR 3.02

12.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.33 MYR 1.37

48.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 MYR 14.37

$4.29 MYR 17.51

-17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 MYR 26.43

$4.45 MYR 18.18

45.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.45

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-3.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.80

$1.03 MYR 4.22

-9.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.14

$2.06 MYR 8.40

-38.83%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.67

$2.12 MYR 8.66

-11.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.94

$17.00 MYR 69.4

-36.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$5.19 MYR 21.18

-34.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 MYR 33.24

$14.91 MYR 60.9

-45.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MYR 11.25

$2.91 MYR 11.88

-5.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.14

$1.45 MYR 5.92

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$2.10 MYR 8.59

-41.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.13 MYR 4.62

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.71

$1.20 MYR 4.91

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

$0.89 MYR 3.62

7.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.48 MYR 1.96

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.99

$4.19 MYR 17.11

-0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 MYR 58.5

$19.28 MYR 78.7

-25.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.42

$2.65 MYR 10.83

5.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$3.40 MYR 13.88

-15.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.45 MYR 1.83

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.66

$17.76 MYR 72.5

-32.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$0.74 MYR 3.03

39.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$0.51 MYR 2.06

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 38.71

$6.90 MYR 28.18

37.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$34.8K MYR 142.0K

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

2.09%

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

$27.4K MYR 111.9K

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

0.19%

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

$40.42 MYR 165

$39.05 MYR 159

3.51%

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

$8.82 MYR 36.01

$10.17 MYR 41.54

-13.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 MYR 125

$31.51 MYR 129

-2.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.12 MYR 143

$32.40 MYR 132

8.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.78 MYR 23.59

$5.53 MYR 22.59

4.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 19.96

$4.81 MYR 19.62

1.66%

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

$184 MYR 752

$240 MYR 978

-23.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,005 MYR 28.6K

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

13.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.22 MYR 201

$55.3 MYR 226

-11.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.59 MYR 75.9

$29.23 MYR 119

-36.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.9 MYR 224

$61.1 MYR 249

-10.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.53 MYR 161

$52.7 MYR 215

-24.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,910

$382 MYR 1,558

22.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 MYR 1,633

$225 MYR 920

77.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 MYR 3,325

$636 MYR 2,596

28.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 MYR 2,488

$522 MYR 2,131

16.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,036 MYR 8,313

$2,203 MYR 8,996

-7.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,158 MYR 4,728

$1,160 MYR 4,735

-0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 MYR 4,342

$942 MYR 3,845

12.92%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Johor Bahru and $382 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 13% 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 $22.00 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 10% in total monthly costs ($955 vs $867 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 13% 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: $468 in Johor Bahru versus $382 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 $22.00 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 $955 per month in Johor Bahru versus $867 in Penang – a 10% 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 10% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.