Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Penang vs $829 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Penang vs $1,293 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,901 per month in Penang vs $1,757 in Cheras, rent included.

Penang costs about 5% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Penang 35% lower, Cheras 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$3.48 MYR 14.13

-12.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$18.77 MYR 76.1

15.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.59 MYR 18.63

-5.66%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$3.03 MYR 12.27

-2.97%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.79 MYR 3.19

-13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$4.78 MYR 19.38

-7.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$6.64 MYR 26.94

-32.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.79 MYR 7.28

1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$0.93 MYR 3.77

6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.26 MYR 5.10

61.11%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$2.06 MYR 8.37

3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$15.44 MYR 62.6

12.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$3.58 MYR 14.50

45.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$7.46 MYR 30.26

102.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.76 MYR 11.18

3.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.76 MYR 7.14

-16.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.45 MYR 9.92

4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$1.26 MYR 5.09

67.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.52 MYR 6.16

-22.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.34 MYR 5.43

-13.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$0.93 MYR 3.79

2.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.56 MYR 2.28

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.26 MYR 17.26

2.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$14.50 MYR 58.8

35.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$2.83 MYR 11.48

-7.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$3.78 MYR 15.33

-10.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.95 MYR 48.44

45.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$0.98 MYR 3.95

-29.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$1.02 MYR 4.14

-47.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$9.49 MYR 38.47

-24.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.49 MYR 1.99

-4.08%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$49.4K MYR 200.2K

-33.31%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

-14.05%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$41.77 MYR 169

-7.59%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.30 MYR 37.72

8.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$30.42 MYR 123

3.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$40.98 MYR 166

-19.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$5.73 MYR 23.23

-5.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$5.09 MYR 20.62

-3.54%

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

$238 MYR 963

$190 MYR 769

25.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$6,818 MYR 27.6K

-9.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$64.7 MYR 262

-15.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$34.30 MYR 139

-17.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$73.9 MYR 300

-18.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$48.61 MYR 197

10.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$372 MYR 1,507

4.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$237 MYR 961

-2.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$656 MYR 2,661

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$420 MYR 1,703

25.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$1,175 MYR 4,765

-19.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.07

2.21%

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

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cheras: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Penang versus $372 in Cheras. 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 24% higher in Cheras, 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 $19.00 in Cheras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $236 – making Cheras 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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Penang is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,304 per month in Penang and $1,244 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% more in Penang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Penang and $19.00 in Cheras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Penang at $869. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penang it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cheras. 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.