Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Penang

🙂 Solo nomad: Kota Bharu is 26.5% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 30.7% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 17.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.82 MYR 7.66

$2.97 MYR 12.54

-38.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.31 MYR 89.9

$20.84 MYR 87.9

2.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 MYR 17.76

$4.34 MYR 18.32

-3.00%

Cappuccino

$2.32 MYR 9.79

$2.84 MYR 11.97

-18.31%

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

$0.45 MYR 1.9

$0.69 MYR 2.89

-34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.15

$0.36 MYR 1.52

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.27 MYR 18.02

$4.23 MYR 17.84

0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 MYR 17.58

$4.41 MYR 18.6

-5.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 MYR 6.62

$1.82 MYR 7.65

-13.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 MYR 3.19

$0.99 MYR 4.18

-23.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 MYR 3.51

$2.04 MYR 8.62

-59.31%

Eggs

$1.55 MYR 6.55

$2.05 MYR 8.63

-24.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.17 MYR 64

$17.11 MYR 72.2

-11.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 12.43

$5.23 MYR 22.05

-43.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.19 MYR 26.11

$14.77 MYR 62.3

-58.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.4 MYR 5.88

$2.91 MYR 12.25

-51.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 6.04

$1.46 MYR 6.18

-2.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.8

$2.59 MYR 10.92

-46.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.9 MYR 3.8

$2.11 MYR 8.88

-57.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 MYR 3.5

$1.18 MYR 4.98

-29.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.89

$1.21 MYR 5.1

-4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 MYR 3.86

$0.91 MYR 3.82

1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.4 MYR 1.71

$0.45 MYR 1.91

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 MYR 12.97

$4.2 MYR 17.73

-26.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.59 MYR 61.5

$14.1 MYR 59.5

3.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.4 MYR 5.9

$2.71 MYR 11.44

-48.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 MYR 14.45

$3.47 MYR 14.65

-1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.12

$0.49 MYR 2.05

51.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.63 MYR 49.04

$17.98 MYR 75.8

-35.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.91

$0.72 MYR 3.04

-4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.26

$0.5 MYR 2.1

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 MYR 15.35

$7 MYR 29.53

-48.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.46 MYR 1.96

8.70%

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

$31K MYR 130.6K

$33.6K MYR 141.7K

-7.79%

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

$27.2K MYR 114.8K

$27.1K MYR 114.3K

0.49%

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

$38.1 MYR 161

$39.21 MYR 165

-2.83%

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

$8.15 MYR 34.38

$10.33 MYR 43.55

-21.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.59 MYR 112

$31.17 MYR 131

-14.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.56 MYR 154

$32.59 MYR 137

12.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.77 MYR 24.33

$5.59 MYR 23.59

3.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 MYR 17.98

$5.01 MYR 21.15

-14.97%

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

$116 MYR 489

$241 MYR 1,014

-51.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,301 MYR 26.6K

$6,174 MYR 26K

2.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 MYR 225

$55.3 MYR 233

-3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.9 MYR 79.7

$28.42 MYR 120

-33.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MYR 260

$61.2 MYR 258

0.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.8 MYR 219

$53.6 MYR 226

-3.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 MYR 1,114

$388 MYR 1,637

-31.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$141 MYR 595

$230 MYR 968

-38.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 MYR 3,565

$640 MYR 2,700

32.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 2,015

$522 MYR 2,201

-8.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,767 MYR 7,450

$2,431 MYR 10.3K

-27.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,061 MYR 4,474

$1,481 MYR 6,247

-28.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 MYR 1,371

$1,101 MYR 4,643

-70.48%

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 Kota Bharu: October 28, 2025

Last update for Penang: October 26, 2025

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