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: $703 in Miri versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,113 in Miri versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,524 in Miri versus $1,901 in Penang.

Living in Miri costs roughly 19% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 48% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 MYR 12.66

$3.04 MYR 12.34

2.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 MYR 47.94

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-45.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 MYR 15.82

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-9.93%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.90

$2.94 MYR 11.90

-8.50%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$0.68 MYR 2.78

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.75

$4.40 MYR 17.85

-34.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.57

$4.46 MYR 18.10

-13.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.50

$1.81 MYR 7.32

-24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 MYR 5.68

$0.99 MYR 4.00

41.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-58.13%

Eggs

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$2.13 MYR 8.65

60.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.65

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-38.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.81

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-10.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 MYR 47.45

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-22.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MYR 12.38

$2.87 MYR 11.66

6.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.84

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-19.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 MYR 9.26

$2.57 MYR 10.43

-11.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.60

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-34.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$1.18 MYR 4.79

-53.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MYR 3.64

$1.16 MYR 4.71

-22.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$0.95 MYR 3.87

-4.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.49 MYR 1.97

-26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 MYR 17.23

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-2.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.08 MYR 81.4

$19.63 MYR 79.6

2.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.79

$2.62 MYR 10.61

11.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MYR 9.46

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-31.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.51

$0.45 MYR 1.82

202.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.64 MYR 35.03

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-50.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$0.69 MYR 2.80

68.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.54 MYR 2.21

37.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MYR 24.25

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-16.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

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

$58.7K MYR 238.1K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

78.37%

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

$27.8K MYR 112.9K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

2.14%

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

$30.31 MYR 123

$38.60 MYR 157

-21.48%

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

$9.63 MYR 39.06

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-4.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 MYR 131

$31.44 MYR 127

3.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.31 MYR 115

$33.04 MYR 134

-14.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 24.57

$5.42 MYR 21.97

11.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 MYR 16.99

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-14.66%

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

$97.3 MYR 395

$238 MYR 963

-59.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,106 MYR 20.7K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

-17.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.16 MYR 143

$54.6 MYR 221

-35.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.21 MYR 77.9

$28.39 MYR 115

-32.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.81 MYR 182

$60.5 MYR 245

-25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.13 MYR 130

$53.5 MYR 217

-39.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 MYR 1,289

$387 MYR 1,569

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 664

$230 MYR 933

-28.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 MYR 2,000

$640 MYR 2,597

-22.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,532

$525 MYR 2,131

-28.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 MYR 5,042

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-44.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 MYR 2,807

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-41.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 MYR 3,045

$951 MYR 3,858

-21.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $318 in Miri and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 27% 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 $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $287 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Penang earns 27% 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: $318 in Miri versus $387 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $703 per month in Miri versus $869 in Penang – a 24% 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 24% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.