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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Penang vs $919 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Penang vs $1,372 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Penang vs $1,825 in Butterworth, rent included.

Penang is about 9% cheaper than Butterworth, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Penang and Butterworth are more affordable than the global median – Penang 39% lower, Butterworth 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.24

$3.59 MYR 14.70

3.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.9

$20.01 MYR 81.9

-1.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.59 MYR 18.79

-0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.97 MYR 12.16

0.34%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.78 MYR 3.21

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.26 MYR 17.43

0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$4.30 MYR 17.59

5.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.37

$2.20 MYR 9.01

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$1.05 MYR 4.31

0.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.05

$1.69 MYR 6.91

1.78%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$2.22 MYR 9.09

-3.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.5

$13.33 MYR 54.6

-2.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.68

$4.44 MYR 18.16

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.87

$8.72 MYR 35.69

-2.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$2.80 MYR 11.45

4.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.66 MYR 6.80

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$2.36 MYR 9.65

8.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.42 MYR 5.79

2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$1.11 MYR 4.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.14 MYR 4.68

1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.11 MYR 4.53

2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.38

$4.44 MYR 18.16

6.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$19.28 MYR 78.9

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.34

$2.89 MYR 11.84

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.29

$4.03 MYR 16.49

-1.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.66 MYR 2.70

-24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

$13.82 MYR 56.6

-11.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$1.21 MYR 4.95

42.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.38 MYR 1.55

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.55

$4.78 MYR 19.58

56.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$0.77 MYR 3.16

12.99%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

$41.6K MYR 170.4K

0.79%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

$35.2K MYR 144.2K

-1.07%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$37.38 MYR 153

-1.95%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.57

$9.18 MYR 37.59

7.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 122

$25.57 MYR 105

16.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$35.34 MYR 145

10.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

$6.77 MYR 27.70

-28.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.37

$5.29 MYR 21.64

-1.32%

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

$432 MYR 1,768

$299 MYR 1,222

44.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$10.8K MYR 44.2K

-1.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 243

$61.3 MYR 251

-3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$35.44 MYR 145

1.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 340

$82.7 MYR 339

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$69.7 MYR 285

2.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

$418 MYR 1,712

-2.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

$352 MYR 1,440

-35.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

$738 MYR 3,020

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

$494 MYR 2,021

-16.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

$2,040 MYR 8,351

10.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

$1,102 MYR 4,510

-3.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Penang versus $418 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 $20.00 in Penang versus $20.00 in Butterworth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $255 – making Penang 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 Butterworth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $837 in Penang, $919 in Butterworth – roughly 10% apart. Butterworth costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Penang and $1,378 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 $837 in Penang and $919 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 $837, than in Butterworth at $919. 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 $837 in Penang to $919 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.