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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $862 per month in Penang vs $850 in Butterworth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Penang vs $1,299 in Butterworth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Penang vs $1,747 in Butterworth, rent included.

Penang costs about 1% more than Butterworth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Butterworth are more affordable than the global median – Penang 36% lower, Butterworth 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.24

$2.97 MYR 11.75

4.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.13 MYR 83.5

$21.48 MYR 84.8

-1.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.27

$4.72 MYR 18.65

-12.71%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.36

$2.83 MYR 11.18

1.77%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$0.68 MYR 2.68

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 16.98

$4.13 MYR 16.31

4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.51

$4.45 MYR 17.56

-0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.88 MYR 7.42

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.05

$0.99 MYR 3.89

4.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 7.86

$1.72 MYR 6.80

15.70%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.07

$2.14 MYR 8.44

-4.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 MYR 68.4

$14.48 MYR 57.2

19.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 19.54

$4.60 MYR 18.16

7.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 MYR 59.3

$9.41 MYR 37.18

59.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$2.90 MYR 11.47

-0.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.96

$1.45 MYR 5.73

4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.38

$2.68 MYR 10.60

-1.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.24

$1.47 MYR 5.80

42.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.64

$1.15 MYR 4.53

2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.63

$1.21 MYR 4.80

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$0.92 MYR 3.62

-1.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 16.94

$4.33 MYR 17.09

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 76.7

$18.95 MYR 74.9

2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 10.82

$2.61 MYR 10.30

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.39

$3.35 MYR 13.23

1.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$0.69 MYR 2.74

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.53 MYR 69.3

$11.96 MYR 47.24

46.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$0.73 MYR 2.89

1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 MYR 27.46

$4.80 MYR 18.94

44.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.47 MYR 1.84

-2.13%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

$33.3K MYR 131.7K

0.50%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$27.7K MYR 109.4K

0.83%

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

$39.31 MYR 155

$39.29 MYR 155

0.05%

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

$10.23 MYR 40.40

$9.99 MYR 39.46

2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.17 MYR 123

$25.55 MYR 101

22.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.28 MYR 131

$36.46 MYR 144

-8.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 MYR 21.30

$6.06 MYR 23.92

-11.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.01

$5.06 MYR 19.99

-4.94%

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

$240 MYR 947

$240 MYR 950

-0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

$6,261 MYR 24.7K

-1.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$54.2 MYR 214

0.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.08 MYR 115

$29.44 MYR 116

-1.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 239

$60.7 MYR 240

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 208

$53.3 MYR 211

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$392 MYR 1,549

-2.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 895

$266 MYR 1,052

-14.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,524

$644 MYR 2,542

-0.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,077

$465 MYR 1,835

13.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 MYR 9,153

$1,268 MYR 5,010

82.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,197 MYR 4,729

$1,031 MYR 4,073

16.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 MYR 3,824

$991 MYR 3,915

-2.32%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Butterworth: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Penang versus $392 in Butterworth. 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 2% higher in Butterworth, 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 $21.00 in Penang versus $21.00 in Butterworth. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Penang vs $253 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: $862 in Penang, $850 in Butterworth – roughly 1% apart. Penang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,294 per month in Penang and $1,275 in Butterworth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Butterworth, 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 $862 in Penang and $850 in Butterworth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 47% less in Butterworth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $862 in Penang and $850 in Butterworth, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $850 in Butterworth to $862 in Penang. 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 Butterworth. 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.