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: $868 in Kedah versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,344 in Kedah versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,819 in Kedah versus $1,901 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

$3.02 MYR 12.24

$3.04 MYR 12.34

-0.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.42 MYR 86.9

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.28 MYR 17.34

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 11.95

$2.94 MYR 11.90

0.34%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.68 MYR 2.78

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.48

$0.36 MYR 1.48

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.83

$4.40 MYR 17.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 MYR 18.18

$4.46 MYR 18.10

0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.34

$1.81 MYR 7.32

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 MYR 3.67

$0.99 MYR 4.00

-8.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-40.39%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.58

$2.13 MYR 8.65

-0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.33 MYR 62.2

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-11.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 MYR 20.26

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-4.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 MYR 59.5

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.69

$2.87 MYR 11.66

0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.83

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.59

$2.57 MYR 10.43

1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MYR 8.81

$2.11 MYR 8.57

2.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.83

$1.18 MYR 4.79

0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.92

$0.95 MYR 3.87

2.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$0.49 MYR 1.97

-2.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.75

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-5.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.59 MYR 79.5

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.69

$2.62 MYR 10.61

0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 MYR 13.66

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$0.45 MYR 1.82

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.77 MYR 47.71

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-32.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.69 MYR 2.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 MYR 1.92

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-12.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 MYR 28.32

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$0.47 MYR 1.89

4.26%

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

$33.5K MYR 135.8K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

1.70%

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

$27.4K MYR 110.9K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

0.34%

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

$38.49 MYR 156

$38.60 MYR 157

-0.28%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.49

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.96 MYR 48.51

$31.44 MYR 127

-61.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.49 MYR 148

$33.04 MYR 134

10.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 MYR 23.74

$5.42 MYR 21.97

7.93%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 MYR 11.40

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-42.77%

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

$238 MYR 963

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,215 MYR 25.2K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

0.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 225

$54.6 MYR 221

1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.32 MYR 115

$28.39 MYR 115

-0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.0 MYR 251

$60.5 MYR 245

2.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.5 MYR 213

$53.5 MYR 217

-1.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,540

$387 MYR 1,569

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,093

$230 MYR 933

17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,620

$640 MYR 2,597

0.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,885

$525 MYR 2,131

-11.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,964 MYR 7,963

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-12.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$957 MYR 3,880

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-19.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,322 MYR 5,359

$951 MYR 3,858

38.93%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Kedah and $387 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 $273 vs $287 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

Kedah pays 39% more on average, 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: $380 in Kedah versus $387 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 48% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% 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.