Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $705 in Miri versus $862 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,097 in Miri versus $1,379 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Miri versus $1,895 in Penang.

Living in Miri costs roughly 18% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 47% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 MYR 12.69

$3.10 MYR 12.24

3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.00 MYR 47.40

$21.13 MYR 83.5

-43.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 MYR 16.12

$4.12 MYR 16.27

-0.97%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MYR 10.43

$2.88 MYR 11.36

-8.33%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.95

$0.70 MYR 2.75

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.32

$0.33 MYR 1.32

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.40

$4.30 MYR 16.98

-32.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.28

$4.43 MYR 17.51

-12.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.36

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-28.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.71

$1.03 MYR 4.05

40.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.15

$1.99 MYR 7.86

-59.80%

Eggs

$3.35 MYR 13.23

$2.04 MYR 8.07

64.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 MYR 43.68

$17.30 MYR 68.4

-36.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 MYR 18.82

$4.95 MYR 19.54

-3.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MYR 46.69

$15.01 MYR 59.3

-21.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MYR 12.26

$2.88 MYR 11.38

7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.49

$1.51 MYR 5.96

-24.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 MYR 8.96

$2.63 MYR 10.38

-13.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.69

$2.09 MYR 8.24

-31.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.35

$1.18 MYR 4.64

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MYR 3.67

$1.17 MYR 4.63

-20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.80

$0.91 MYR 3.59

5.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.48 MYR 1.91

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MYR 16.20

$4.29 MYR 16.94

-4.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.84 MYR 78.4

$19.41 MYR 76.7

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.46

$2.74 MYR 10.82

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 MYR 9.27

$3.39 MYR 13.39

-30.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.38

$0.46 MYR 1.80

195.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.73 MYR 34.49

$17.53 MYR 69.3

-50.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$0.74 MYR 2.94

56.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$0.53 MYR 2.10

41.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 MYR 23.41

$6.95 MYR 27.46

-14.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.46 MYR 1.82

6.52%

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

$58.9K MYR 232.5K

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

75.71%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.2K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

0.80%

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

$30.80 MYR 122

$39.31 MYR 155

-21.65%

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

$9.60 MYR 37.93

$10.23 MYR 40.40

-6.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.90 MYR 130

$31.17 MYR 123

5.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.07 MYR 111

$33.28 MYR 131

-15.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 MYR 23.06

$5.39 MYR 21.30

8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$4.81 MYR 19.01

-13.10%

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

$100 MYR 396

$240 MYR 947

-58.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,157 MYR 20.4K

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

-16.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MYR 142

$54.4 MYR 215

-33.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.09 MYR 75.4

$29.08 MYR 115

-34.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MYR 180

$60.4 MYR 239

-24.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.69 MYR 125

$52.6 MYR 208

-39.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 MYR 1,224

$381 MYR 1,503

-18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 MYR 658

$227 MYR 895

-26.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 1,950

$639 MYR 2,524

-22.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,499

$526 MYR 2,077

-27.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,284 MYR 5,070

$2,317 MYR 9,153

-44.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$703 MYR 2,775

$1,197 MYR 4,729

-41.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 MYR 2,940

$968 MYR 3,824

-23.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

4.16

-12.74%

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

Last update for Miri: April 26, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in Miri and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Miri vs $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $286 per month, with Miri 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

Miri vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Penang earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $310 in Miri versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Miri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $705 per month in Miri versus $862 in Penang – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Miri gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Miri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Miri 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.

Expats usually find Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.