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: $684 in Miri versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,094 in Miri versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,504 in Miri versus $1,870 in Penang.

Living in Miri costs roughly 21% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miri 49% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 MYR 13.20

$3.08 MYR 12.56

4.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.75 MYR 47.99

$21.63 MYR 88.3

-45.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 MYR 16.43

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-3.13%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MYR 10.72

$2.97 MYR 12.12

-11.45%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.87

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.33 MYR 1.37

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 MYR 11.66

$4.29 MYR 17.51

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.78

$4.45 MYR 18.18

-13.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-27.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.03 MYR 4.22

40.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 MYR 3.40

$2.06 MYR 8.40

-59.71%

Eggs

$3.28 MYR 13.41

$2.12 MYR 8.66

54.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 MYR 44.88

$17.00 MYR 69.4

-35.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MYR 19.35

$5.19 MYR 21.18

-8.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 MYR 49.11

$14.91 MYR 60.9

-19.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 MYR 12.48

$2.91 MYR 11.88

5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-21.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 MYR 9.44

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-13.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$2.10 MYR 8.59

-31.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.39

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-47.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.20 MYR 4.91

-24.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.89 MYR 3.62

2.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.46

$4.19 MYR 17.11

2.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.89 MYR 81.2

$19.28 MYR 78.7

3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.20

$2.65 MYR 10.83

12.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 MYR 9.25

$3.40 MYR 13.88

-33.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.55

$0.45 MYR 1.83

202.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.41 MYR 34.35

$17.76 MYR 72.5

-52.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.74 MYR 3.03

62.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.51 MYR 2.06

39.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.66

$6.90 MYR 28.18

-15.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-8.00%

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

$59.1K MYR 241.4K

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

73.53%

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

$28.5K MYR 116.5K

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

4.33%

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

$31.15 MYR 127

$39.05 MYR 159

-20.23%

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

$9.30 MYR 37.98

$10.17 MYR 41.54

-8.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 MYR 137

$31.51 MYR 129

6.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.91 MYR 114

$32.40 MYR 132

-13.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 24.62

$5.53 MYR 22.59

9.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 MYR 17.72

$4.81 MYR 19.62

-9.77%

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

$97.9 MYR 400

$240 MYR 978

-59.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,254 MYR 21.5K

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

-15.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.74 MYR 146

$55.3 MYR 226

-35.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.81 MYR 76.8

$29.23 MYR 119

-35.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.44 MYR 181

$61.1 MYR 249

-27.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.50 MYR 129

$52.7 MYR 215

-40.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MYR 1,309

$382 MYR 1,558

-16.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 669

$225 MYR 920

-27.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MYR 2,027

$636 MYR 2,596

-21.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,548

$522 MYR 2,131

-27.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 MYR 5,034

$2,203 MYR 8,996

-44.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$678 MYR 2,769

$1,160 MYR 4,735

-41.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MYR 2,722

$942 MYR 3,845

-29.20%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $321 in Miri and $382 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 41% 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 $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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% 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: $321 in Miri versus $382 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 $684 per month in Miri versus $867 in Penang – a 27% 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 27% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.