Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kedah Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kedah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Penang versus $863 in Kedah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,326 in Kedah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,790 in Kedah.

Monthly costs are close between Penang and Kedah; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Kedah 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.57

$2.98 MYR 12.17

3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$21.22 MYR 86.7

1.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.13 MYR 16.85

0.48%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.83 MYR 11.55

4.95%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.68 MYR 2.77

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.34 MYR 1.38

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$4.44 MYR 18.12

-3.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$4.51 MYR 18.42

-1.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.87 MYR 7.65

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$0.95 MYR 3.90

8.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$1.20 MYR 4.92

71.67%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.12 MYR 8.66

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$15.11 MYR 61.7

12.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$5.18 MYR 21.15

0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$14.66 MYR 59.9

1.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$2.91 MYR 11.90

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.19 MYR 4.88

21.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.69 MYR 11.00

-1.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$2.09 MYR 8.55

0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.13 MYR 4.61

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.18 MYR 4.81

1.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$0.95 MYR 3.88

-6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.45 MYR 1.83

6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.23 MYR 17.26

-0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$21.23 MYR 86.7

-9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$2.64 MYR 10.77

0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$3.41 MYR 13.94

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.81 MYR 48.24

50.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$0.72 MYR 2.95

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$0.50 MYR 2.06

2.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.19

$6.89 MYR 28.15

0.15%

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

$33.7K MYR 137.6K

1.14%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$27.9K MYR 114.0K

-2.07%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$39.27 MYR 160

-0.56%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$10.03 MYR 40.95

1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$11.86 MYR 48.45

165.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$36.69 MYR 150

-11.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$5.81 MYR 23.71

-4.82%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$2.80 MYR 11.44

71.79%

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

$240 MYR 978

$235 MYR 961

1.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$6,259 MYR 25.6K

-1.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$55.4 MYR 226

-0.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$29.00 MYR 118

0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$62.2 MYR 254

-1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$52.2 MYR 213

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$386 MYR 1,575

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$265 MYR 1,084

-15.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$632 MYR 2,580

0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$465 MYR 1,899

12.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,997

$2,134 MYR 8,714

3.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

$1,171 MYR 4,781

-0.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,846

$1,310 MYR 5,350

-28.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kedah: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $386 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 39% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $21.00 in Kedah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $277 per month, with Kedah 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 Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Kedah. 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 $386 in Kedah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kedah runs roughly 50% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Penang. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kedah 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 Kedah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Kedah wins on affordability, Penang on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.