Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Kedah versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,326 in Kedah versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Kedah versus $1,870 in Penang.

Monthly costs are close between Kedah and Penang; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kedah 35% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 MYR 12.17

$3.08 MYR 12.57

-3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.22 MYR 86.7

$21.63 MYR 88.3

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.85

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-0.48%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.55

$2.97 MYR 12.12

-4.71%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.38

$0.33 MYR 1.37

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 MYR 18.12

$4.29 MYR 17.51

3.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MYR 18.42

$4.45 MYR 18.19

1.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.65

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.90

$1.03 MYR 4.22

-7.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$2.06 MYR 8.40

-41.75%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$2.12 MYR 8.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.11 MYR 61.7

$17.00 MYR 69.4

-11.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 MYR 21.15

$5.19 MYR 21.18

-0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 MYR 59.9

$14.91 MYR 60.9

-1.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.90

$2.91 MYR 11.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.88

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.00

$2.66 MYR 10.88

1.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.55

$2.10 MYR 8.59

-0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$1.13 MYR 4.62

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.20 MYR 4.91

-1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.88

$0.89 MYR 3.62

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 MYR 17.26

$4.19 MYR 17.12

0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.23 MYR 86.7

$19.28 MYR 78.7

10.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.77

$2.65 MYR 10.84

-0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$3.40 MYR 13.88

0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.45 MYR 1.83

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.81 MYR 48.24

$17.76 MYR 72.5

-33.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.74 MYR 3.04

-2.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$0.51 MYR 2.06

-1.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.15

$6.90 MYR 28.19

-0.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$33.7K MYR 137.6K

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

-1.13%

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

$27.9K MYR 114.0K

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

2.11%

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

$39.27 MYR 160

$39.05 MYR 159

0.56%

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

$10.03 MYR 40.95

$10.17 MYR 41.54

-1.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.86 MYR 48.45

$31.51 MYR 129

-62.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.69 MYR 150

$32.40 MYR 132

13.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 MYR 23.71

$5.53 MYR 22.59

5.06%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 MYR 11.44

$4.81 MYR 19.62

-41.79%

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

$235 MYR 961

$240 MYR 978

-1.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,259 MYR 25.6K

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 226

$55.3 MYR 226

0.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.00 MYR 118

$29.23 MYR 119

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.2 MYR 254

$61.1 MYR 249

1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 MYR 213

$52.7 MYR 215

-0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,575

$382 MYR 1,558

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 MYR 1,084

$225 MYR 920

17.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$632 MYR 2,580

$636 MYR 2,596

-0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,899

$522 MYR 2,131

-10.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,134 MYR 8,714

$2,203 MYR 8,997

-3.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,171 MYR 4,781

$1,160 MYR 4,735

0.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,310 MYR 5,350

$942 MYR 3,846

39.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Kedah: July 25, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Kedah and $382 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 39% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $21.00 in Kedah vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $286 per month, with Kedah 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

Kedah vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 39% higher in Kedah, 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: $386 in Kedah versus $382 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kedah runs roughly 50% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Penang. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kedah 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, Kedah 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.

It comes down to priorities – Kedah wins on affordability, Penang on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.