Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Penang
😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 7.7% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 9.3% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 12% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.8 MYR 20.26
$3.04 MYR 12.8
57.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.84 MYR 122
$21.45 MYR 90.5
34.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 MYR 20.17
$4.12 MYR 17.36
16.02%
Cappuccino
$3.14 MYR 13.23
$2.97 MYR 12.53
5.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MYR 3.56
$0.68 MYR 2.86
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 2.06
$0.34 MYR 1.41
44.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.12 MYR 17.36
$4.25 MYR 17.92
-3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86 MYR 24.71
$4.38 MYR 18.48
33.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 MYR 8.51
$1.82 MYR 7.66
10.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 MYR 4.26
$1.03 MYR 4.34
-1.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 MYR 7.03
$1.94 MYR 8.19
-13.92%
Eggs
$2.18 MYR 9.2
$2.07 MYR 8.73
5.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.31 MYR 60.3
$17.5 MYR 73.8
-18.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.76 MYR 20.08
$5.04 MYR 21.27
-5.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 MYR 41.05
$14.94 MYR 63
-34.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3 MYR 12.63
$2.83 MYR 11.92
6.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 MYR 6.57
$1.44 MYR 6.07
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 MYR 11
$2.73 MYR 11.51
-4.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 MYR 6.15
$2.11 MYR 8.9
-30.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 MYR 5.37
$1.13 MYR 4.77
12.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 MYR 5.65
$1.2 MYR 5.07
11.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 MYR 4.95
$0.95 MYR 4
23.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MYR 2.67
$0.49 MYR 2.07
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 MYR 17.74
$4.11 MYR 17.35
2.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.41 MYR 73.4
$13.97 MYR 58.9
24.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 MYR 14.15
$2.61 MYR 11.02
28.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.3 MYR 18.14
$3.37 MYR 14.19
27.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MYR 2.9
$0.45 MYR 1.91
53.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.65 MYR 49.11
$17.37 MYR 73.2
-32.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.2 MYR 5.04
$0.69 MYR 2.91
73.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 MYR 4.84
$0.51 MYR 2.14
125.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.78 MYR 20.17
$7.12 MYR 30.02
-32.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 MYR 1.97
$0.5 MYR 2.11
-6.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K MYR 165.8K
$33.4K MYR 140.7K
17.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K MYR 138.1K
$27.5K MYR 116.1K
18.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.3 MYR 267
$39.39 MYR 166
60.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.42 MYR 48.14
$10.11 MYR 42.63
12.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.15 MYR 106
$31.02 MYR 131
-18.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.38 MYR 196
$32.81 MYR 138
41.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 MYR 32.75
$5.48 MYR 23.11
41.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.26 MYR 22.17
$4.83 MYR 20.37
8.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 MYR 1,138
$238 MYR 1,005
13.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,493 MYR 40K
$6,199 MYR 26.1K
53.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60 MYR 253
$54.2 MYR 229
10.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.73 MYR 155
$28.37 MYR 120
29.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 MYR 368
$60.1 MYR 253
45.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2 MYR 334
$52.2 MYR 220
51.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$563 MYR 2,376
$382 MYR 1,610
47.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 MYR 1,584
$228 MYR 963
64.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 MYR 4,572
$636 MYR 2,683
70.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 MYR 2,630
$532 MYR 2,243
17.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,000 MYR 12.7K
$2,609 MYR 11K
15.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,471 MYR 6,204
$1,878 MYR 7,919
-21.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,342 MYR 5,659
$1,098 MYR 4,632
22.17%
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.
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