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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in Penang vs $1,143 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,313 per month in Penang vs $1,558 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,779 per month in Penang vs $1,973 in Cheras, rent included.

Penang is about 26% cheaper than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Penang 39% lower, Cheras 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.18

$3.67 MYR 14.94

1.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.03 MYR 81.5

$24.62 MYR 100

-18.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.66

$4.81 MYR 19.58

0.42%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.95

$3.11 MYR 12.66

-5.47%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.86 MYR 3.50

-17.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.51 MYR 2.08

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.17

$4.43 MYR 18.02

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.32

$6.35 MYR 25.83

-29.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.26

$1.91 MYR 7.75

-6.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.04 MYR 4.22

4.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.44 MYR 5.85

20.14%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.05

$1.85 MYR 7.52

20.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 MYR 54.4

$18.02 MYR 73.3

-25.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.78

$4.52 MYR 18.40

-3.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 MYR 36.60

$10.99 MYR 44.69

-18.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.67

$3.56 MYR 14.47

-19.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.90

$1.87 MYR 7.61

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.64

$2.66 MYR 10.82

-1.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.94

$1.68 MYR 6.81

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.58

$2.11 MYR 8.60

-46.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.70 MYR 6.91

-31.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-17.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$0.51 MYR 2.08

13.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 MYR 18.45

$4.33 MYR 17.60

4.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 79.5

$14.05 MYR 57.1

39.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.85

$2.80 MYR 11.38

3.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.20

$3.12 MYR 12.69

27.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.73 MYR 2.96

-34.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.28 MYR 49.95

$12.42 MYR 50.5

-1.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 MYR 6.92

$1.27 MYR 5.17

33.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.35 MYR 1.44

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MYR 30.97

$9.50 MYR 38.63

-19.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.40

$0.79 MYR 3.21

6.33%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.2K

$42.9K MYR 174.7K

-3.13%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

$34.8K MYR 141.7K

-0.25%

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

$37.45 MYR 152

$49.55 MYR 202

-24.42%

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

$9.83 MYR 40.01

$11.27 MYR 45.83

-12.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 MYR 121

$27.69 MYR 113

7.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 MYR 157

$51.2 MYR 208

-24.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.81 MYR 19.57

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.59

$4.89 MYR 19.88

8.59%

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

$435 MYR 1,769

$163 MYR 662

167.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.4K

$4,548 MYR 18.5K

134.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 245

$65.2 MYR 265

-7.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.72 MYR 141

$30.08 MYR 122

15.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 347

$81.5 MYR 331

4.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 288

$85.1 MYR 346

-16.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,623

$956 MYR 3,888

-58.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 928

$473 MYR 1,925

-51.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MYR 2,406

$747 MYR 3,040

-20.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 MYR 1,694

$487 MYR 1,980

-14.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,094

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,068 MYR 4,346

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 MYR 3,754

$1,174 MYR 4,776

-21.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.06

4.43%

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

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Last update for Cheras: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $399 in Penang versus $956 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 27% higher in Cheras, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Penang versus $25.00 in Cheras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $270 – 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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cheras is pricier by about 35%, 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 $1,270 per month in Penang and $1,715 in Cheras. 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.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Cheras, 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 $20.00 in Penang and $25.00 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 Penang, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Cheras at $1,143. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penang – 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 Penang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cheras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.