Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kampar Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kampar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Penang vs $923 in Kampar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Penang vs $1,372 in Kampar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Penang vs $1,821 in Kampar, rent included.

Penang is about 9% cheaper than Kampar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Penang and Kampar are more affordable than the global median – Penang 39% lower, Kampar 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.24

$2.23 MYR 9.13

66.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.9

$19.31 MYR 79.0

2.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.77 MYR 19.54

-4.19%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.41 MYR 9.88

23.65%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.51 MYR 2.08

45.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$2.15 MYR 8.82

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$6.00 MYR 24.54

-24.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.37

$1.98 MYR 8.12

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$0.75 MYR 3.07

41.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.05

$1.99 MYR 8.16

-13.57%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$1.73 MYR 7.09

23.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.5

$14.59 MYR 59.7

-10.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.68

$4.73 MYR 19.36

-8.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.87

$7.58 MYR 31.04

12.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$3.33 MYR 13.62

-12.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.91 MYR 7.83

-13.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$2.37 MYR 9.70

8.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.64 MYR 6.72

-10.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$1.33 MYR 5.44

-16.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.43 MYR 5.86

-18.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.15 MYR 4.70

-0.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.68 MYR 2.80

-20.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.38

$4.53 MYR 18.53

4.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$19.19 MYR 78.6

-1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.34

$3.44 MYR 14.09

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.29

$4.97 MYR 20.33

-19.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.73 MYR 3.00

-31.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

$10.92 MYR 44.68

11.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$1.21 MYR 4.96

42.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.55

$4.90 MYR 20.06

52.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$0.65 MYR 2.66

33.85%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

$42.3K MYR 173.3K

-0.92%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

-0.02%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$48.48 MYR 198

-24.40%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.57

$4.88 MYR 19.98

103.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 122

$21.84 MYR 89.4

36.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$40.76 MYR 167

-4.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

$6.52 MYR 26.67

-26.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.37

$5.06 MYR 20.72

3.16%

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

$432 MYR 1,768

$122 MYR 498

255.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$4,907 MYR 20.1K

116.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 243

$60.5 MYR 248

-1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$12.21 MYR 49.96

193.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 340

$72.6 MYR 297

14.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$72.5 MYR 297

-1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

$415 MYR 1,697

-1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

$311 MYR 1,272

-26.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

$674 MYR 2,757

-13.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

$484 MYR 1,980

-14.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

$1,944 MYR 7,958

15.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

$1,141 MYR 4,672

-7.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

$374 MYR 1,532

144.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kampar: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Penang versus $415 in Kampar. 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 144% 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 $20.00 in Penang versus $19.00 in Kampar. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Penang vs $263 in Kampar – so Penang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kampar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kampar is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Penang and $1,385 in Kampar. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $837 in Penang and $923 in Kampar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Penang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Kampar at $923. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kampar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Kampar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.