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: $869 in Penang versus $868 in Kedah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,344 in Kedah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,819 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

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$3.02 MYR 12.24

0.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$21.42 MYR 86.9

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.28 MYR 17.34

1.17%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.95 MYR 11.95

-0.34%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.37 MYR 1.48

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$4.40 MYR 17.83

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$4.48 MYR 18.18

-0.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.81 MYR 7.34

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$0.91 MYR 3.67

8.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.21 MYR 4.91

67.77%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$2.11 MYR 8.58

0.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$15.33 MYR 62.2

13.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$5.00 MYR 20.26

4.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$14.66 MYR 59.5

2.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.88 MYR 11.69

-0.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.19 MYR 4.83

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.61 MYR 10.59

-1.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$2.17 MYR 8.81

-2.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.19 MYR 4.83

-0.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$0.97 MYR 3.92

-2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.48 MYR 1.95

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.13 MYR 16.75

5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$19.59 MYR 79.5

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$2.64 MYR 10.69

-0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$3.37 MYR 13.66

0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.68 MYR 2.77

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.77 MYR 47.71

47.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$0.69 MYR 2.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.47 MYR 1.92

14.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$6.98 MYR 28.32

3.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.49 MYR 2.00

-4.08%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$33.5K MYR 135.8K

-1.67%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$27.4K MYR 110.9K

-0.34%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$38.49 MYR 156

0.29%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.99 MYR 40.49

0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$11.96 MYR 48.51

162.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$36.49 MYR 148

-9.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$5.85 MYR 23.74

-7.35%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$2.81 MYR 11.40

74.73%

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

$238 MYR 963

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$6,215 MYR 25.2K

-0.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$55.4 MYR 225

-1.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$28.32 MYR 115

0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$62.0 MYR 251

-2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$52.5 MYR 213

1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$380 MYR 1,540

1.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$270 MYR 1,093

-14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$646 MYR 2,620

-0.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$465 MYR 1,885

13.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$1,964 MYR 7,963

14.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$957 MYR 3,880

23.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$1,322 MYR 5,359

-28.02%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kedah: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $380 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 $287 vs $273 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, Kedah earns 39% less. 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: $387 in Penang versus $380 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 48% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% 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.