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: $820 in Miri versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,253 in Miri versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,686 in Miri versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Miri costs roughly 2% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 40% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.66

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.47 MYR 50.9

$19.77 MYR 80.7

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 MYR 18.99

$4.57 MYR 18.67

1.75%

Cappuccino

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$2.98 MYR 12.15

-20.13%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.46

$0.74 MYR 3.01

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 MYR 1.13

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 MYR 12.16

$4.30 MYR 17.55

-30.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 MYR 15.75

$4.53 MYR 18.49

-14.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MYR 5.83

$1.80 MYR 7.35

-20.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MYR 7.73

$1.06 MYR 4.31

78.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.14

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-41.28%

Eggs

$3.55 MYR 14.48

$2.14 MYR 8.74

65.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 MYR 19.69

$4.32 MYR 17.64

11.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 MYR 60.7

$8.52 MYR 34.79

74.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.99

$1.66 MYR 6.76

18.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 MYR 18.26

$4.74 MYR 19.33

-5.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.69 MYR 80.4

$18.98 MYR 77.5

3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.40

$3.01 MYR 12.31

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MYR 9.49

$3.98 MYR 16.25

-41.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.50 MYR 2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.52 MYR 59.3

$12.18 MYR 49.73

19.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.87

$1.73 MYR 7.07

-31.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 MYR 2.44

$0.38 MYR 1.55

57.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 MYR 25.18

$7.46 MYR 30.47

-17.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 MYR 2.44

$0.87 MYR 3.56

-31.03%

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

$50.2K MYR 204.8K

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

19.60%

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

$33.6K MYR 137.0K

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

-3.72%

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

$50.2 MYR 205

$36.65 MYR 150

37.03%

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

$9.62 MYR 39.26

$9.91 MYR 40.47

-2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.89 MYR 134

$29.71 MYR 121

10.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 MYR 122

$39.12 MYR 160

-23.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 MYR 24.87

$4.82 MYR 19.66

26.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 MYR 18.50

$5.22 MYR 21.31

-13.22%

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

$102 MYR 415

$432 MYR 1,763

-76.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,506 MYR 26.6K

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

-38.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.24 MYR 181

$59.3 MYR 242

-25.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.85 MYR 93.3

$35.89 MYR 147

-36.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.7 MYR 231

$83.0 MYR 339

-31.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.85 MYR 175

$71.4 MYR 292

-39.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 MYR 1,388

$409 MYR 1,670

-16.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 MYR 1,168

$228 MYR 932

25.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 MYR 2,431

$583 MYR 2,381

2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 MYR 2,370

$414 MYR 1,690

40.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,224 MYR 4,999

$2,244 MYR 9,163

-45.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$672 MYR 2,744

$1,058 MYR 4,320

-36.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 MYR 2,811

$914 MYR 3,730

-24.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

4.24

-2.83%

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

Last update for Miri: September 15, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Miri and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 33% 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 $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $250 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. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Penang. 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: $340 in Miri versus $409 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 $20.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $820 per month in Miri versus $837 in Penang – a 2% 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 2% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.