Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Malacca Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Malacca

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 14.1% more expensive than Malacca without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Penang is 1.5% cheaper than Malacca without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 12.54

$3.57 MYR 15.07

-16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.84 MYR 87.9

$18.57 MYR 78.3

12.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.34 MYR 18.32

$4.6 MYR 19.41

-5.65%

Cappuccino

$2.84 MYR 11.97

$2.92 MYR 12.33

-2.74%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.89

$0.84 MYR 3.56

-17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.52

$0.48 MYR 2.04

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.84

$2.11 MYR 8.88

100.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MYR 18.6

$3.11 MYR 13.1

41.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.65

$1.5 MYR 6.34

21.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.18

$1 MYR 4.2

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 MYR 8.62

$1.23 MYR 5.2

65.85%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.63

$1.87 MYR 7.86

9.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.11 MYR 72.2

$15.63 MYR 65.9

9.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 22.05

$5.19 MYR 21.87

0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 MYR 62.3

$11.43 MYR 48.2

29.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 12.25

$3.65 MYR 15.38

-20.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 6.18

$1.47 MYR 6.19

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.92

$4.3 MYR 18.11

-39.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.88

$1.95 MYR 8.22

8.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.98

$1.47 MYR 6.22

-19.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 5.1

$1.79 MYR 7.53

-32.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.82

$1.27 MYR 5.34

-28.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.91

$0.56 MYR 2.35

-19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.2 MYR 17.73

$4.25 MYR 17.93

-1.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.1 MYR 59.5

$14.47 MYR 61

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 MYR 11.44

$2.03 MYR 8.55

33.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 MYR 14.65

$2.99 MYR 12.59

16.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 MYR 2.05

$0.48 MYR 2.04

2.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.98 MYR 75.8

$11.8 MYR 49.75

52.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 MYR 3.04

$1.39 MYR 5.88

-48.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.5 MYR 2.1

$1.02 MYR 4.31

-50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7 MYR 29.53

$11.64 MYR 49.07

-39.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.96

$0.46 MYR 1.95

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

$33.6K MYR 141.7K

$35.3K MYR 149K

-4.92%

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

$27.1K MYR 114.3K

$38K MYR 160.2K

-28.66%

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

$39.21 MYR 165

$45.57 MYR 192

-13.96%

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

$10.33 MYR 43.55

$9.15 MYR 38.6

12.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.17 MYR 131

$31.21 MYR 132

-0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.59 MYR 137

$16.39 MYR 69.1

98.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.59 MYR 23.59

$11.81 MYR 49.81

-52.67%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 21.15

$4.99 MYR 21.05

0.40%

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

$241 MYR 1,014

$189 MYR 797

27.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,174 MYR 26K

$6,986 MYR 29.5K

-11.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 233

$65.7 MYR 277

-15.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.42 MYR 120

$18.79 MYR 79.3

51.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.2 MYR 258

$72 MYR 304

-15.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.6 MYR 226

$39.37 MYR 166

36.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,637

$325 MYR 1,368

19.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 968

$185 MYR 781

23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,700

$711 MYR 2,997

-9.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,201

$287 MYR 1,212

81.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,431 MYR 10.3K

$1,163 MYR 4,903

109.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 MYR 6,247

$784 MYR 3,308

88.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,101 MYR 4,643

$867 MYR 3,655

27.04%

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: October 26, 2025

Last update for Malacca: October 29, 2025

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