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: $867 in Penang versus $955 in Johor Bahru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,366 in Johor Bahru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,776 in Johor Bahru.

Living in Penang costs roughly 9% less than in Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Johor Bahru 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.56

$3.51 MYR 14.32

-12.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$18.98 MYR 77.5

13.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.82 MYR 19.67

-13.90%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.92 MYR 11.93

1.71%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.83 MYR 3.39

-10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.49 MYR 1.98

-32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$3.52 MYR 14.37

21.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.18

$6.47 MYR 26.43

-31.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.82 MYR 7.45

3.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$0.93 MYR 3.80

10.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$1.26 MYR 5.14

63.49%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$1.88 MYR 7.67

12.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$10.76 MYR 43.94

57.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$3.40 MYR 13.89

52.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$8.14 MYR 33.24

83.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$2.75 MYR 11.25

5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.50 MYR 6.14

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.57 MYR 10.51

3.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$1.22 MYR 4.98

72.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.40 MYR 5.71

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$0.96 MYR 3.93

-7.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.16 MYR 16.99

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$14.34 MYR 58.5

34.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$2.80 MYR 11.42

-5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$2.88 MYR 11.77

18.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.72 MYR 2.95

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.92 MYR 48.66

48.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$1.03 MYR 4.19

-28.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$1.02 MYR 4.17

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.18

$9.48 MYR 38.71

-27.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$34.8K MYR 142.0K

-2.05%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$27.4K MYR 111.9K

-0.19%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$40.42 MYR 165

-3.39%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$8.82 MYR 36.01

15.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$30.58 MYR 125

3.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$35.12 MYR 143

-7.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$5.78 MYR 23.59

-4.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$4.89 MYR 19.96

-1.64%

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

$240 MYR 978

$184 MYR 752

30.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$7,005 MYR 28.6K

-11.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$49.22 MYR 201

12.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$18.59 MYR 75.9

57.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$54.9 MYR 224

11.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$39.53 MYR 161

33.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$468 MYR 1,910

-18.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$400 MYR 1,633

-43.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$814 MYR 3,325

-21.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$609 MYR 2,488

-14.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

$2,036 MYR 8,313

8.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

$1,158 MYR 4,728

0.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,845

$1,063 MYR 4,342

-11.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.07

2.21%

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

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 13% 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: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Johor Bahru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $218 per month, with Johor Bahru 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 10% in total monthly costs ($867 vs $955 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 13% 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: $382 in Penang versus $468 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 $22.00 versus $19.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Penang versus $955 in Johor Bahru – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Penang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 10% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.