Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampar and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kampar and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $923 per month in Kampar vs $837 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,372 per month in Kampar vs $1,307 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,821 per month in Kampar vs $1,776 in Penang, rent included.

Kampar costs about 10% more than Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kampar and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Kampar 33% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.23 MYR 9.13

$3.72 MYR 15.24

-40.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.31 MYR 79.0

$19.77 MYR 80.9

-2.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 19.54

$4.57 MYR 18.72

4.38%

Cappuccino

$2.41 MYR 9.88

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-19.13%

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

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.74 MYR 3.01

-31.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.37 MYR 1.50

29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 MYR 8.82

$4.30 MYR 17.60

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.54

$4.53 MYR 18.53

32.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.12

$1.80 MYR 7.37

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 MYR 3.07

$1.06 MYR 4.32

-29.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.16

$1.72 MYR 7.05

15.70%

Eggs

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$2.14 MYR 8.76

-19.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.59 MYR 59.7

$13.06 MYR 53.5

11.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 MYR 19.36

$4.32 MYR 17.68

9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 MYR 31.04

$8.52 MYR 34.87

-11.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 MYR 13.62

$2.93 MYR 11.99

13.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 MYR 7.83

$1.66 MYR 6.78

15.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 MYR 9.70

$2.57 MYR 10.51

-7.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.72

$1.46 MYR 5.99

12.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.44

$1.11 MYR 4.55

19.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.86

$1.16 MYR 4.76

23.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$1.14 MYR 4.67

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.54 MYR 2.21

25.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-4.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.19 MYR 78.6

$18.98 MYR 77.7

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 MYR 14.09

$3.01 MYR 12.34

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MYR 20.33

$3.98 MYR 16.29

24.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 3.00

$0.50 MYR 2.05

46.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.92 MYR 44.68

$12.18 MYR 49.85

-10.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.96

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-30.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.38 MYR 1.56

26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 MYR 20.06

$7.46 MYR 30.55

-34.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 MYR 2.66

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-25.29%

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

$42.3K MYR 173.3K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

0.93%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

0.02%

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

$48.48 MYR 198

$36.65 MYR 150

32.28%

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

$4.88 MYR 19.98

$9.91 MYR 40.57

-50.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.84 MYR 89.4

$29.71 MYR 122

-26.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.76 MYR 167

$39.12 MYR 160

4.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.52 MYR 26.67

$4.82 MYR 19.71

35.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MYR 20.72

$5.22 MYR 21.37

-3.07%

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

$122 MYR 498

$432 MYR 1,768

-71.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,907 MYR 20.1K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

-53.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 MYR 248

$59.3 MYR 243

2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.21 MYR 49.96

$35.89 MYR 147

-65.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 MYR 297

$83.0 MYR 340

-12.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.5 MYR 297

$71.4 MYR 292

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$415 MYR 1,697

$409 MYR 1,675

1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,272

$228 MYR 934

36.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 MYR 2,757

$583 MYR 2,387

15.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$484 MYR 1,980

$414 MYR 1,694

16.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,944 MYR 7,958

$2,244 MYR 9,187

-13.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,141 MYR 4,672

$1,058 MYR 4,331

7.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$374 MYR 1,532

$914 MYR 3,740

-59.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.24

-0.94%

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

Last update for Kampar: September 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $415 in Kampar versus $409 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 144% 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 Kampar versus $20.00 in Penang. Groceries tell a different story – $263 in Kampar vs $250 in Penang – so Penang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kampar vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kampar is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,385 per month in Kampar and $1,256 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $923 in Kampar and $837 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Penang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Kampar at $923. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kampar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Kampar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.