Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Cyberjaya, Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Cyberjaya, Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $840 per month in Penang vs $825 in Cyberjaya, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Penang vs $1,213 in Cyberjaya, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,806 per month in Penang vs $1,601 in Cyberjaya, Selangor, rent included.

Penang costs about 2% more than Cyberjaya, Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Cyberjaya, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Penang 39% lower, Cyberjaya, Selangor 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.52

$2.78 MYR 11.24

29.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 MYR 78.9

$17.09 MYR 69.0

14.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.66 MYR 18.81

$4.80 MYR 19.39

-2.92%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.07

$1.67 MYR 6.75

79.04%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.14

$0.74 MYR 3.01

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.26 MYR 1.05

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 MYR 16.58

$2.03 MYR 8.20

101.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 MYR 17.51

$3.74 MYR 15.11

15.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.57

$1.67 MYR 6.76

11.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.19

$1.03 MYR 4.17

0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.85

$1.45 MYR 5.85

16.55%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.64

$1.34 MYR 5.42

59.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 MYR 54.1

$11.62 MYR 46.93

15.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.45

$3.43 MYR 13.87

25.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 MYR 35.30

$3.63 MYR 14.68

140.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.02

$2.47 MYR 9.98

20.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.71

$1.58 MYR 6.39

5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MYR 10.05

$1.88 MYR 7.62

32.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.67

$1.00 MYR 4.06

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.29

$0.81 MYR 3.28

30.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.51

$0.93 MYR 3.74

20.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 MYR 4.42

$0.97 MYR 3.91

12.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.21

$0.51 MYR 2.04

7.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 MYR 18.44

$4.11 MYR 16.61

11.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 MYR 76.6

$14.13 MYR 57.1

34.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.75

$2.02 MYR 8.16

44.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 MYR 16.89

$1.98 MYR 8.02

111.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.93

$0.96 MYR 3.89

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.37 MYR 49.99

$12.52 MYR 50.6

-1.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 MYR 6.83

$0.75 MYR 3.04

125.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 MYR 1.51

$0.76 MYR 3.06

-51.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.18 MYR 28.99

$9.84 MYR 39.74

-27.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 MYR 3.54

$0.54 MYR 2.20

62.96%

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

$42.7K MYR 172.4K

$40.9K MYR 165.4K

4.26%

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

$34.9K MYR 141.0K

$34.6K MYR 140.0K

0.71%

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

$37.43 MYR 151

$53.2 MYR 215

-29.62%

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

$9.84 MYR 39.75

$8.25 MYR 33.32

19.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.29 MYR 122

$24.65 MYR 99.6

22.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 MYR 156

$54.5 MYR 220

-28.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.89 MYR 19.77

$10.93 MYR 44.14

-55.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 MYR 20.70

$4.92 MYR 19.86

4.07%

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

$431 MYR 1,742

$166 MYR 672

159.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.0K

$2,449 MYR 9,894

335.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 MYR 244

$66.1 MYR 267

-8.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.47 MYR 143

$16.39 MYR 66.2

116.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 341

$82.1 MYR 332

2.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 MYR 282

$40.17 MYR 162

73.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 MYR 1,622

$351 MYR 1,419

14.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 921

$292 MYR 1,178

-21.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 MYR 2,341

$531 MYR 2,144

9.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MYR 1,888

$438 MYR 1,770

6.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 MYR 9,162

$859 MYR 3,470

164.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,173 MYR 4,740

$800 MYR 3,232

46.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$931 MYR 3,763

$1,753 MYR 7,082

-46.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.06

10.59%

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

Last update for Penang: August 18, 2026

Last update for Cyberjaya, Selangor: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Penang versus $351 in Cyberjaya, Selangor. 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 88% higher in Cyberjaya, Selangor, 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 $20.00 in Penang versus $17.00 in Cyberjaya, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $192 – making Cyberjaya, Selangor 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 Cyberjaya, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $840 in Penang, $825 in Cyberjaya, Selangor – roughly 2% apart. Penang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,260 per month in Penang and $1,238 in Cyberjaya, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $431 per month in Penang and $166 in Cyberjaya, Selangor. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Penang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $840 in Penang and $825 in Cyberjaya, Selangor, 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 $825 in Cyberjaya, Selangor to $840 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 Cyberjaya, Selangor. 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.