Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Lumut, Perak Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Lumut, Perak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Penang versus $932 in Lumut, Perak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,398 in Lumut, Perak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,864 in Lumut, Perak.

Living in Penang costs roughly 7% less than in Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Lumut, Perak 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.56

$3.62 MYR 14.79

-14.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$11.83 MYR 48.30

82.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.66 MYR 19.03

-10.94%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.85 MYR 11.63

4.21%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.80 MYR 3.25

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$3.74 MYR 15.28

14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.18

$5.75 MYR 23.47

-22.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$2.09 MYR 8.53

-10.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.04 MYR 4.26

-0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$1.67 MYR 6.80

23.35%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$2.27 MYR 9.26

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$14.55 MYR 59.4

16.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$4.74 MYR 19.35

9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$9.95 MYR 40.61

49.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$2.93 MYR 11.98

-0.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.58 MYR 6.46

-8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.73 MYR 11.16

-2.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$1.48 MYR 6.03

41.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.28 MYR 5.23

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.16 MYR 4.74

-23.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.63 MYR 2.56

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.16 MYR 16.99

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$18.49 MYR 75.5

4.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$3.24 MYR 13.24

-18.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$4.28 MYR 17.48

-20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-38.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.86 MYR 48.44

49.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$1.15 MYR 4.71

-35.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$1.09 MYR 4.44

-53.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.18

$4.77 MYR 19.48

44.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.51 MYR 2.07

-1.96%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$40.4K MYR 165.1K

-15.75%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$32.3K MYR 131.9K

-15.36%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$63.5 MYR 259

-38.53%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$11.62 MYR 47.43

-12.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$26.09 MYR 107

20.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$37.53 MYR 153

-13.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$5.88 MYR 24.01

-5.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$5.21 MYR 21.27

-7.68%

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

$240 MYR 978

$270 MYR 1,103

-11.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$9,393 MYR 38.4K

-34.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$60.8 MYR 248

-8.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$37.81 MYR 154

-22.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$86.8 MYR 354

-29.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$79.0 MYR 323

-33.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$381 MYR 1,555

0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$272 MYR 1,109

-17.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$633 MYR 2,584

0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$477 MYR 1,947

9.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

$2,067 MYR 8,439

6.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

$1,245 MYR 5,083

-6.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,845

$375 MYR 1,530

151.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.47

-6.94%

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

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lumut, Perak: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $381 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 151% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $12.00 in Lumut, Perak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $267 per month, with Lumut, Perak 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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Lumut, Perak. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Penang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 151% higher in Penang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Penang versus $381 in Lumut, Perak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Penang versus $932 in Lumut, Perak – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Penang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Penang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $867 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Penang hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Penang and Lumut, Perak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Lumut, Perak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.