Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kajang, Selangor and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $869 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,412 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,385 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,899 per month in Kajang, Selangor vs $1,901 in Penang, rent included.

Kajang, Selangor costs about 6% more than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kajang, Selangor and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Kajang, Selangor 31% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 MYR 13.98

$3.04 MYR 12.34

13.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.76 MYR 76.1

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-13.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 MYR 19.16

$4.33 MYR 17.57

9.24%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.13

$2.94 MYR 11.90

1.70%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$0.68 MYR 2.78

16.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.36 MYR 1.48

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.75 MYR 19.28

$4.40 MYR 17.85

7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.59

$4.46 MYR 18.10

35.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$1.81 MYR 7.32

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.24

$0.99 MYR 4.00

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.73

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-18.23%

Eggs

$1.80 MYR 7.31

$2.13 MYR 8.65

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.67 MYR 63.6

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-9.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 MYR 20.79

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-1.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.51 MYR 38.55

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-36.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.59

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.34

$1.47 MYR 5.96

6.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.80

$2.57 MYR 10.43

13.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.52

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-11.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.14

$1.18 MYR 4.79

27.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 MYR 7.35

$1.16 MYR 4.71

56.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$0.95 MYR 3.87

28.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.49 MYR 1.97

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.69

$4.36 MYR 17.68

Wine (Bottle)

$14.31 MYR 58.0

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-27.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 MYR 11.14

$2.62 MYR 10.61

4.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.07

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-12.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.45 MYR 1.82

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.87 MYR 48.13

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-31.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.88

$0.69 MYR 2.80

73.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.98

$0.54 MYR 2.21

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 MYR 19.29

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-33.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

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

$35.3K MYR 143.3K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

7.32%

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

$32.6K MYR 132.3K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

19.67%

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

$45.07 MYR 183

$38.60 MYR 157

16.76%

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

$9.53 MYR 38.66

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-5.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.14 MYR 126

$31.44 MYR 127

-0.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.58 MYR 152

$33.04 MYR 134

13.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 MYR 24.55

$5.42 MYR 21.97

11.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MYR 20.14

$4.91 MYR 19.90

1.22%

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

$209 MYR 846

$238 MYR 963

-12.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

12.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 MYR 249

$54.6 MYR 221

12.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.02 MYR 150

$28.39 MYR 115

30.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 MYR 344

$60.5 MYR 245

40.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 MYR 291

$53.5 MYR 217

34.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,589

$387 MYR 1,569

1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,104

$230 MYR 933

18.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,588

$640 MYR 2,597

-0.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,948

$525 MYR 2,131

-8.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,170 MYR 8,800

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-3.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,029 MYR 4,174

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-13.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 MYR 2,487

$951 MYR 3,858

-35.53%

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 Kajang, Selangor: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Kajang, Selangor versus $387 in Penang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Penang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor versus $22.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $287 – making Kajang, Selangor the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Kajang, Selangor vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $926 in Kajang, Selangor, $869 in Penang – roughly 6% apart. Kajang, Selangor costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Kajang, Selangor and $1,304 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Penang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor and $22.00 in Penang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $926 in Kajang, Selangor and $869 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $926 in Kajang, Selangor and $869 in Penang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Penang to $926 in Kajang, Selangor. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Penang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kajang, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.