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

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 7.6% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Penang is 27.8% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 12.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 MYR 11.95

$2.65 MYR 10.48

14.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.49 MYR 84.9

$19.14 MYR 75.6

12.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.37

$3.85 MYR 15.19

7.79%

Cappuccino

$2.85 MYR 11.25

$2.27 MYR 8.95

25.55%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.68

$0.73 MYR 2.88

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.37 MYR 1.45

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 MYR 17.48

$3.49 MYR 13.78

26.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 MYR 17.09

$4.35 MYR 17.18

-0.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.82 MYR 7.20

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.10

$0.99 MYR 3.90

5.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 7.81

$1.36 MYR 5.37

45.59%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.42

$1.85 MYR 7.29

15.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.65 MYR 69.7

$12.83 MYR 50.7

37.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 MYR 19.72

$5.34 MYR 21.10

-6.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 MYR 57.9

$7.66 MYR 30.24

91.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.03

$2.90 MYR 11.45

-3.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 5.90

$1.81 MYR 7.14

-17.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 MYR 10.68

$3.06 MYR 12.09

-11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MYR 8.51

$2.03 MYR 8.04

5.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.72

$1.45 MYR 5.71

-17.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.36 MYR 5.35

-13.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$1.64 MYR 6.50

-44.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.46 MYR 1.80

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MYR 16.39

$4.31 MYR 17.02

-3.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.76 MYR 78.1

$17.84 MYR 70.5

10.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.62

$3.40 MYR 13.45

-20.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.78

$4.33 MYR 17.10

-19.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.73 MYR 2.90

-34.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 MYR 69.3

$11.55 MYR 45.61

51.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$1.21 MYR 4.79

-38.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.15

$1.14 MYR 4.51

-52.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.14 MYR 28.21

$4.29 MYR 16.93

66.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.97

-6.00%

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

$33.0K MYR 130.5K

$43.5K MYR 171.8K

-24.04%

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

$27.3K MYR 108.0K

$31.6K MYR 124.6K

-13.36%

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

$38.95 MYR 154

$64.7 MYR 256

-39.84%

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

$10.22 MYR 40.37

$9.68 MYR 38.24

5.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.73 MYR 125

$28.50 MYR 113

11.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.71 MYR 129

$23.92 MYR 94.5

36.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.51 MYR 21.78

$6.04 MYR 23.86

-8.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.40

$3.03 MYR 11.97

62.05%

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

$234 MYR 925

$117 MYR 461

100.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,126 MYR 24.2K

$2,380 MYR 9,400

157.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 MYR 218

$59.8 MYR 236

-7.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.37 MYR 116

$27.29 MYR 108

7.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.3 MYR 238

$75.1 MYR 297

-19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.8 MYR 205

$53.7 MYR 212

-3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 MYR 1,537

$380 MYR 1,503

2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 897

$267 MYR 1,056

-14.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,527

$647 MYR 2,556

-1.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,078

$478 MYR 1,887

10.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,321 MYR 9,167

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MYR 4,691

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 MYR 3,749

$972 MYR 3,840

-2.37%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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