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Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Ipoh Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Ipoh

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 28.2% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Penang is 18.1% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 5.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11 MYR 12.61
$2.57 MYR 10.43
21.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.15 MYR 85.9
$19.04 MYR 77.3
11.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.33 MYR 17.57
$3.73 MYR 15.15
16.09%
Cappuccino
$2.86 MYR 11.63
$2.31 MYR 9.40
23.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MYR 2.96
$0.72 MYR 2.91
1.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.48
$0.34 MYR 1.37
5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.29 MYR 17.41
$3.56 MYR 14.46
20.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MYR 17.73
$4.39 MYR 17.82
-0.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MYR 7.63
$1.88 MYR 7.64
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 MYR 4.06
$0.99 MYR 4.04
1.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 MYR 8.07
$1.31 MYR 5.30
51.91%
Eggs
$2.05 MYR 8.33
$1.92 MYR 7.78
6.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.99 MYR 69.0
$13.12 MYR 53.3
29.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 MYR 21.02
$5.13 MYR 20.83
0.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.97 MYR 60.8
$7.44 MYR 30.21
101.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 MYR 11.26
$2.97 MYR 12.04
-6.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MYR 5.87
$1.74 MYR 7.06
-17.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 MYR 10.96
$3.05 MYR 12.39
-11.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MYR 8.47
$2.10 MYR 8.54
-0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.60
$1.46 MYR 5.91
-22.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 4.97
$1.41 MYR 5.73
-13.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.84
$1.59 MYR 6.44
-40.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.82
$0.46 MYR 1.87
-2.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MYR 17.12
$4.21 MYR 17.08
0.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.31 MYR 78.4
$17.15 MYR 69.6
12.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MYR 10.63
$3.41 MYR 13.85
-23.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 MYR 14.21
$4.36 MYR 17.70
-19.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MYR 1.85
$0.75 MYR 3.03
-38.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.42 MYR 70.7
$11.74 MYR 47.68
48.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 MYR 2.83
$1.20 MYR 4.89
-41.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 2.03
$1.15 MYR 4.65
-56.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 MYR 29.33
$4.17 MYR 16.94
73.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.88
$0.50 MYR 2.02
-8.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K MYR 137.6K
$43.6K MYR 177.2K
-22.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K MYR 112.3K
$31.4K MYR 127.3K
-11.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.60 MYR 157
$64.6 MYR 262
-40.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 MYR 40.71
$9.46 MYR 38.41
6.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.91 MYR 125
$27.88 MYR 113
10.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.64 MYR 133
$23.47 MYR 95.3
39.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.52 MYR 22.40
$6.04 MYR 24.51
-8.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.90 MYR 19.88
$3.04 MYR 12.35
61.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 MYR 968
$118 MYR 479
102.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,150 MYR 25.0K
$2,317 MYR 9,405
165.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 MYR 226
$59.3 MYR 241
-6.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.29 MYR 119
$27.12 MYR 110
8.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.4 MYR 245
$73.9 MYR 300
-18.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.8 MYR 214
$53.4 MYR 217
-1.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$380 MYR 1,543
$392 MYR 1,591
-2.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 MYR 920
$271 MYR 1,099
-16.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$649 MYR 2,636
$637 MYR 2,586
1.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 MYR 2,113
$470 MYR 1,909
10.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,235 MYR 9,072
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,156 MYR 4,693
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$988 MYR 4,012
$979 MYR 3,973
0.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
3.96
5.05%

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

Last update for Penang: January 13, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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