Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Johor Bahru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $837 in Penang versus $1,048 in Johor Bahru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,549 in Johor Bahru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $2,050 in Johor Bahru.

Living in Penang costs roughly 20% less than in Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Johor Bahru 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.24

$3.68 MYR 15.05

1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.9

$21.22 MYR 86.9

-6.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.89 MYR 20.01

-6.54%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.93 MYR 12.01

1.71%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.84 MYR 3.44

-11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.52 MYR 2.11

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.39 MYR 17.97

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$6.32 MYR 25.88

-28.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.37

$1.67 MYR 6.83

7.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$1.11 MYR 4.53

-4.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.05

$1.43 MYR 5.86

20.28%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$1.68 MYR 6.89

27.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.5

$18.49 MYR 75.7

-29.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.68

$4.67 MYR 19.13

-7.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.87

$10.73 MYR 43.91

-20.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$3.29 MYR 13.48

-10.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.76 MYR 7.21

-5.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$3.75 MYR 15.34

-31.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.68 MYR 6.86

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$1.41 MYR 5.79

-21.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.67 MYR 6.82

-30.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.38 MYR 5.64

-17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.54 MYR 2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.38

$4.23 MYR 17.32

12.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$14.40 MYR 58.9

31.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.34

$2.96 MYR 12.11

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.29

$3.08 MYR 12.63

29.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-30.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

$12.16 MYR 49.79

0.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$1.43 MYR 5.84

20.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.75 MYR 3.09

-49.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.55

$9.99 MYR 40.88

-25.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$0.82 MYR 3.36

6.10%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

$42.6K MYR 174.3K

-1.47%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

$35.7K MYR 146.2K

-2.40%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$53.6 MYR 219

-31.57%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.57

$11.39 MYR 46.60

-12.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 122

$28.27 MYR 116

5.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$40.40 MYR 165

-3.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

$5.79 MYR 23.72

-16.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.37

$4.79 MYR 19.61

8.98%

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

$432 MYR 1,768

$161 MYR 658

168.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$4,523 MYR 18.5K

134.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 243

$53.7 MYR 220

10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$16.30 MYR 66.7

120.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 340

$83.2 MYR 340

-0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$98.1 MYR 401

-27.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

$515 MYR 2,108

-20.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

$397 MYR 1,625

-42.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

$905 MYR 3,702

-35.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

$639 MYR 2,615

-35.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

$2,058 MYR 8,423

9.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

$1,177 MYR 4,818

-10.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

$1,090 MYR 4,460

-16.14%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $515 in Johor Bahru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $21.00 in Johor Bahru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $271 per month, with Penang cheaper across the board.

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 Johor Bahru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang and Johor Bahru differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($837 vs $1,048 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Johor Bahru. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $409 in Penang versus $515 in Johor Bahru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $21.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $1,048 in Johor Bahru – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $1,048 in Johor Bahru, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Johor Bahru. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Penang and Johor Bahru are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.