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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Kampar vs $869 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,273 per month in Kampar vs $1,385 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,694 per month in Kampar vs $1,901 in Penang, rent included.

Kampar is about 2% cheaper than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kampar and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Kampar 37% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.06 MYR 8.34

$3.04 MYR 12.34

-32.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 MYR 75.8

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-13.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.51

$4.33 MYR 17.57

11.09%

Cappuccino

$2.35 MYR 9.52

$2.94 MYR 11.90

-20.07%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$0.36 MYR 1.48

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 MYR 8.77

$4.40 MYR 17.85

-50.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 MYR 24.04

$4.46 MYR 18.10

32.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.54

$1.81 MYR 7.32

2.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 MYR 3.00

$0.99 MYR 4.00

-25.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.96

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-15.27%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.08

$2.13 MYR 8.65

-17.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.37 MYR 58.3

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-17.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 18.99

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-10.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.17 MYR 29.06

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-52.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.66

$2.87 MYR 11.66

0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MYR 6.40

$1.47 MYR 5.96

7.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 MYR 10.93

$2.57 MYR 10.43

5.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.97

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-30.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.19

$1.18 MYR 4.79

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.41

$1.16 MYR 4.71

14.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.70

$0.95 MYR 3.87

22.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.54

$0.49 MYR 1.97

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MYR 17.33

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.22 MYR 77.9

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.82

$2.62 MYR 10.61

30.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 MYR 17.08

$3.40 MYR 13.80

23.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.45 MYR 1.82

62.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.94 MYR 48.42

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-31.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.66

$0.69 MYR 2.80

66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.21

$0.54 MYR 2.21

92.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MYR 18.81

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-35.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.47 MYR 1.89

8.51%

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

$39.7K MYR 160.9K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

20.52%

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

$32.3K MYR 131.2K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

18.63%

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

$46.87 MYR 190

$38.60 MYR 157

21.42%

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

$4.84 MYR 19.63

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-51.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.00 MYR 85.2

$31.44 MYR 127

-33.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.08 MYR 150

$33.04 MYR 134

12.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.72 MYR 23.18

$5.42 MYR 21.97

5.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.69 MYR 19.01

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-4.48%

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

$116 MYR 470

$238 MYR 963

-51.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,398 MYR 38.1K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

51.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 MYR 238

$54.6 MYR 221

7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.81 MYR 47.88

$28.39 MYR 115

-58.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 MYR 288

$60.5 MYR 245

17.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 MYR 290

$53.5 MYR 217

33.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,567

$387 MYR 1,569

-0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,082

$230 MYR 933

15.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$647 MYR 2,623

$640 MYR 2,597

1.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 MYR 1,883

$525 MYR 2,131

-11.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,956 MYR 7,930

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-13.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$977 MYR 3,962

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-17.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$376 MYR 1,526

$951 MYR 3,858

-60.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.16

7.45%

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

Last update for Kampar: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Kampar 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 153% higher in Penang, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Kampar versus $22.00 in Penang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $287 – making Kampar 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

Kampar vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Penang is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Kampar 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 Kampar, 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 $852 in Kampar and $869 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% less in Kampar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Kampar and $869 in Penang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Kampar – 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 Kampar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Penang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.