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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $840 per month in Penang vs $967 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Penang vs $1,438 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,806 per month in Penang vs $1,908 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Penang is about 13% cheaper than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Penang and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Penang 39% lower, Kajang, Selangor 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.52

$3.65 MYR 14.73

-1.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.52 MYR 78.9

$22.03 MYR 89.0

-11.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.66 MYR 18.81

$4.86 MYR 19.63

-4.12%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.07

$3.00 MYR 12.11

-0.33%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.14

$0.78 MYR 3.17

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.49 MYR 1.97

-24.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 MYR 16.58

$4.37 MYR 17.66

-6.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 MYR 17.51

$6.21 MYR 25.10

-30.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.57

$1.75 MYR 7.07

6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.19

$1.11 MYR 4.48

-6.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.85

$1.46 MYR 5.89

15.75%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.64

$1.74 MYR 7.03

22.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 MYR 54.1

$18.60 MYR 75.2

-28.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.45

$4.85 MYR 19.59

-10.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 MYR 35.30

$9.54 MYR 38.54

-8.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.02

$3.37 MYR 13.63

-11.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.71

$1.73 MYR 6.99

-4.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MYR 10.05

$2.44 MYR 9.87

2.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.67

$1.60 MYR 6.45

-12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.29

$1.31 MYR 5.28

-19.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.51

$1.72 MYR 6.96

-34.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 MYR 4.42

$1.15 MYR 4.65

-5.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.21

$0.54 MYR 2.20

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 MYR 18.44

$4.17 MYR 16.85

9.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 MYR 76.6

$14.20 MYR 57.4

33.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.75

$2.91 MYR 11.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.18 MYR 16.89

$3.16 MYR 12.77

32.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.93

$0.76 MYR 3.06

-36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.37 MYR 49.99

$12.24 MYR 49.44

1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 MYR 6.83

$1.21 MYR 4.88

39.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 MYR 1.51

$0.77 MYR 3.11

-51.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.18 MYR 28.99

$4.84 MYR 19.55

48.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 MYR 3.54

$0.76 MYR 3.07

15.79%

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

$42.7K MYR 172.4K

$42.4K MYR 171.4K

0.62%

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

$34.9K MYR 141.0K

$35.3K MYR 142.8K

-1.26%

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

$37.43 MYR 151

$52.0 MYR 210

-27.99%

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

$9.84 MYR 39.75

$9.76 MYR 39.43

0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.29 MYR 122

$25.65 MYR 104

18.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 MYR 156

$36.83 MYR 149

5.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.89 MYR 19.77

$6.44 MYR 26.03

-24.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 MYR 20.70

$5.06 MYR 20.44

1.19%

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

$431 MYR 1,742

$221 MYR 891

95.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.0K

$4,531 MYR 18.3K

135.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 MYR 244

$65.4 MYR 264

-7.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.47 MYR 143

$16.69 MYR 67.4

112.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 MYR 341

$81.2 MYR 328

3.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 MYR 282

$41.54 MYR 168

67.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 MYR 1,622

$404 MYR 1,631

-0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 921

$378 MYR 1,528

-39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$580 MYR 2,341

$809 MYR 3,267

-28.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MYR 1,888

$488 MYR 1,972

-4.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 MYR 9,162

$2,049 MYR 8,278

10.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,173 MYR 4,740

$1,054 MYR 4,259

11.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$931 MYR 3,763

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 Kajang, Selangor: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Penang versus $404 in Kajang, Selangor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Penang versus $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $263 – making Penang 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 Kajang, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $840 in Penang, $967 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 15% apart. Kajang, Selangor costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,260 per month in Penang and $1,451 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Penang and $22.00 in Kajang, Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $840 in Penang and $967 in Kajang, Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $840, than in Kajang, Selangor at $967. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kajang, Selangor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $840 in Penang to $967 in Kajang, Selangor. 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 Penang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kajang, Selangor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.