Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Alor Setar Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Alor Setar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $849 per month in Penang vs $680 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Penang vs $1,040 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,863 per month in Penang vs $1,401 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Penang costs about 25% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Penang 36% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$2.39 MYR 9.76

31.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$11.99 MYR 49.05

79.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.00 MYR 16.37

4.50%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$1.62 MYR 6.62

82.10%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.55 MYR 2.26

25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.29 MYR 1.19

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$3.58 MYR 14.63

22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$2.32 MYR 9.47

95.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.61 MYR 6.57

16.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.87 MYR 3.57

14.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$1.17 MYR 4.77

67.52%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$1.47 MYR 6.00

38.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$12.08 MYR 49.43

43.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$3.02 MYR 12.37

73.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$8.46 MYR 34.59

74.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$2.78 MYR 11.37

0.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.04 MYR 4.25

40.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$1.39 MYR 5.67

87.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$2.08 MYR 8.49

1.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$0.89 MYR 3.62

32.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$0.54 MYR 2.19

114.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.69 MYR 2.84

31.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.48 MYR 1.98

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$2.77 MYR 11.34

55.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$18.93 MYR 77.4

2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$1.19 MYR 4.88

126.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$2.09 MYR 8.54

63.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.74 MYR 3.03

-37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.93 MYR 48.79

45.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.69 MYR 2.82

-1.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.51 MYR 2.08

3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.19

$7.00 MYR 28.63

-1.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.47 MYR 1.92

-2.13%

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

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

-2.99%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$28.0K MYR 114.3K

-2.42%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$39.42 MYR 161

-2.28%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$7.26 MYR 29.69

39.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$26.83 MYR 110

18.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$36.19 MYR 148

-10.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$9.65 MYR 39.49

-42.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$2.91 MYR 11.90

68.04%

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

$238 MYR 973

$82.5 MYR 338

188.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$5,299 MYR 21.7K

19.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$47.53 MYR 194

14.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$29.19 MYR 119

0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$62.1 MYR 254

-0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$53.6 MYR 219

-1.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$298 MYR 1,219

27.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$174 MYR 713

27.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$454 MYR 1,857

41.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$342 MYR 1,400

50.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$2,225 MYR 9,100

0.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$1,040 MYR 4,253

12.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$1,620 MYR 6,625

-43.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Penang versus $298 in Alor Setar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Alor Setar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Penang versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $208 – making Alor Setar the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Penang vs Alor Setar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang costs about 25% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,273 per month in Penang and $1,020 in Alor Setar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alor Setar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Penang and $82.5 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Penang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $849 in Penang and $680 in Alor Setar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $680 versus $849 in Penang. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Alor Setar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Penang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.