Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Butterworth Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Butterworth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $843 per month in Penang vs $877 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Penang vs $1,320 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Penang vs $1,764 in Butterworth, rent included.

Penang is about 4% cheaper than Butterworth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Butterworth are more affordable than the global median – Penang 37% lower, Butterworth 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 MYR 12.15

$3.03 MYR 12.33

-1.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 MYR 84.9

$20.79 MYR 84.5

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.22 MYR 17.14

$4.60 MYR 18.70

-8.26%

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.47

$2.98 MYR 12.13

-5.37%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.69 MYR 2.81

7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 MYR 17.55

$4.21 MYR 17.13

2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.30

$4.38 MYR 17.79

2.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.30

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.19

$1.00 MYR 4.05

3.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.04

$1.72 MYR 6.97

15.12%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.74

$2.05 MYR 8.34

4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 MYR 70.0

$14.49 MYR 58.9

18.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.10

$4.68 MYR 19.03

10.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.00 MYR 61.0

$9.50 MYR 38.63

57.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.67

$2.89 MYR 11.75

-0.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.95

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.95

$2.63 MYR 10.69

2.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MYR 8.62

$1.46 MYR 5.92

45.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$1.13 MYR 4.59

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.90

$1.16 MYR 4.72

4.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.91

$0.96 MYR 3.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.49 MYR 1.97

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.52

$4.25 MYR 17.29

1.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.46 MYR 79.1

$19.41 MYR 78.9

0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 MYR 11.05

$2.66 MYR 10.81

2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 MYR 13.94

$3.50 MYR 14.21

-2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.73 MYR 2.96

-38.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 MYR 71.4

$11.59 MYR 47.12

51.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.74 MYR 3.00

-1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.50 MYR 2.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 MYR 28.17

$4.82 MYR 19.60

43.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$0.49 MYR 2.01

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

$33.0K MYR 134.1K

$34.2K MYR 139.1K

-3.56%

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

$28.0K MYR 113.7K

$26.9K MYR 109.5K

3.79%

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

$38.47 MYR 156

$38.34 MYR 156

0.34%

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

$10.26 MYR 41.71

$10.32 MYR 41.95

-0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.49 MYR 128

$25.63 MYR 104

22.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.02 MYR 134

$37.54 MYR 153

-12.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.54 MYR 22.51

$5.93 MYR 24.09

-6.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MYR 19.66

$4.91 MYR 19.97

-1.43%

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

$239 MYR 973

$235 MYR 956

1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,099 MYR 24.8K

$6,271 MYR 25.5K

-2.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 225

$54.8 MYR 223

1.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.14 MYR 118

$29.41 MYR 120

-0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 MYR 250

$60.1 MYR 244

2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 MYR 216

$52.4 MYR 213

1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,584

$387 MYR 1,574

0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 901

$270 MYR 1,098

-18.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 MYR 2,660

$649 MYR 2,640

0.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,137

$475 MYR 1,931

10.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,238 MYR 9,097

$1,911 MYR 7,769

17.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,178 MYR 4,787

$937 MYR 3,811

25.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$938 MYR 3,811

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $390 in Penang versus $387 in Butterworth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Penang versus $21.00 in Butterworth. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Penang vs $254 in Butterworth – so Butterworth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Butterworth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $843 in Penang, $877 in Butterworth – roughly 4% apart. Butterworth costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,264 per month in Penang and $1,315 in Butterworth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $843 in Penang and $877 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Penang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $843, than in Butterworth at $877. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Butterworth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $843 in Penang to $877 in Butterworth. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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