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 $862 per month in Penang vs $941 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Penang vs $1,420 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Penang vs $1,899 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

Penang is about 8% cheaper than Kajang, Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Penang and Kajang, Selangor are more affordable than the global median – Penang 36% lower, Kajang, Selangor 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.24

$3.58 MYR 14.14

-13.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.13 MYR 83.5

$19.21 MYR 75.9

9.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.27

$4.68 MYR 18.49

-11.97%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.36

$3.13 MYR 12.35

-7.99%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$0.84 MYR 3.32

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.49 MYR 1.93

-32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 16.98

$4.73 MYR 18.68

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.51

$5.96 MYR 23.56

-25.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.80 MYR 7.09

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.05

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-1.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 7.86

$1.68 MYR 6.62

18.45%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.07

$1.83 MYR 7.21

11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 MYR 68.4

$15.70 MYR 62.0

10.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 19.54

$5.05 MYR 19.93

-1.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 MYR 59.3

$9.91 MYR 39.15

51.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$2.95 MYR 11.65

-2.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.96

$1.63 MYR 6.43

-7.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.38

$2.76 MYR 10.92

-4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.24

$1.88 MYR 7.42

11.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.64

$1.52 MYR 6.02

-22.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.63

$1.79 MYR 7.09

-34.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$1.22 MYR 4.82

-25.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.55 MYR 2.19

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 16.94

$4.31 MYR 17.03

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 76.7

$19.24 MYR 76.0

0.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 10.82

$2.73 MYR 10.79

0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.39

$2.91 MYR 11.50

16.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$0.72 MYR 2.85

-36.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.53 MYR 69.3

$11.95 MYR 47.19

46.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$1.20 MYR 4.75

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.99 MYR 3.91

-46.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 MYR 27.46

$4.58 MYR 18.09

51.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-6.12%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

$34.7K MYR 137.2K

-3.58%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$32.6K MYR 128.7K

-14.25%

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

$39.31 MYR 155

$45.66 MYR 180

-13.91%

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

$10.23 MYR 40.40

$9.57 MYR 37.79

6.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.17 MYR 123

$31.09 MYR 123

0.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.28 MYR 131

$37.47 MYR 148

-11.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 MYR 21.30

$5.80 MYR 22.92

-7.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.01

$5.02 MYR 19.82

-4.18%

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

$240 MYR 947

$209 MYR 827

14.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

$6,850 MYR 27.1K

-10.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$61.7 MYR 244

-11.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.08 MYR 115

$37.64 MYR 149

-22.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 239

$86.9 MYR 343

-30.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 208

$71.3 MYR 282

-26.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$388 MYR 1,532

-1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 895

$273 MYR 1,077

-16.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,524

$645 MYR 2,548

-0.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,077

$464 MYR 1,834

13.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 MYR 9,153

$1,716 MYR 6,777

35.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,197 MYR 4,729

$1,022 MYR 4,038

17.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 MYR 3,824

$630 MYR 2,490

53.59%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Penang versus $388 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 54% 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 $21.00 in Penang versus $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $267 – 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: $862 in Penang, $941 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 9% apart. Kajang, Selangor costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,294 per month in Penang and $1,412 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 $21.00 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 $862 in Penang and $941 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 $862 in Penang and $941 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 $862 in Penang to $941 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.