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 $869 per month in Penang vs $926 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Penang vs $1,412 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,901 per month in Penang vs $1,899 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Penang is about 6% cheaper than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Penang 35% lower, Kajang, Selangor 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$3.45 MYR 13.98

-11.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$18.76 MYR 76.1

15.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.73 MYR 19.16

-8.46%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.99 MYR 12.13

-1.67%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$4.75 MYR 19.28

-7.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$6.06 MYR 24.59

-26.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.89 MYR 7.68

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.05 MYR 4.24

-5.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.66 MYR 6.73

22.29%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$1.80 MYR 7.31

18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$15.67 MYR 63.6

10.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$5.13 MYR 20.79

1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$9.51 MYR 38.55

58.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.86 MYR 11.59

0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.56 MYR 6.34

-5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.91 MYR 11.80

-11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$1.86 MYR 7.52

13.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.51 MYR 6.14

-21.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.81 MYR 7.35

-35.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.22 MYR 4.95

-22.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.55 MYR 2.23

-10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.36 MYR 17.69

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$14.31 MYR 58.0

37.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$2.75 MYR 11.14

-4.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$2.98 MYR 12.07

14.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.87 MYR 48.13

46.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$1.20 MYR 4.88

-42.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.98 MYR 3.98

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$4.76 MYR 19.29

51.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$35.3K MYR 143.3K

-6.82%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$32.6K MYR 132.3K

-16.44%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$45.07 MYR 183

-14.36%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.53 MYR 38.66

5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$31.14 MYR 126

0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$37.58 MYR 152

-12.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$6.05 MYR 24.55

-10.41%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$4.97 MYR 20.14

-1.21%

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

$238 MYR 963

$209 MYR 846

13.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$6,995 MYR 28.4K

-11.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$61.5 MYR 249

-11.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$37.02 MYR 150

-23.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$84.8 MYR 344

-28.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$71.8 MYR 291

-25.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$392 MYR 1,589

-1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$272 MYR 1,104

-15.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$638 MYR 2,588

0.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$480 MYR 1,948

9.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$2,170 MYR 8,800

3.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$1,029 MYR 4,174

15.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$613 MYR 2,487

55.10%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Penang versus $392 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.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Penang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Penang versus $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $257 – making Kajang, Selangor 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: $869 in Penang, $926 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 6% apart. Kajang, Selangor costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,304 per month in Penang and $1,388 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 $22.00 in Penang and $19.00 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 $869 in Penang and $926 in Kajang, Selangor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Penang and $926 in Kajang, Selangor, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Penang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $869 in Penang to $926 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.