Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Penang versus $705 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,379 in Penang versus $1,097 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Penang versus $1,490 in Miri.

Living in Penang is roughly 22% more expensive than Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Miri 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.24

$3.21 MYR 12.69

-3.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.13 MYR 83.5

$12.00 MYR 47.40

76.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.27

$4.08 MYR 16.12

0.98%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.36

$2.64 MYR 10.43

9.09%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$0.75 MYR 2.95

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.34 MYR 1.32

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 16.98

$2.89 MYR 11.40

48.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.51

$3.87 MYR 15.28

14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.36 MYR 5.36

38.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.05

$1.45 MYR 5.71

-28.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 7.86

$0.80 MYR 3.15

148.75%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.07

$3.35 MYR 13.23

-39.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 MYR 68.4

$11.06 MYR 43.68

56.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 19.54

$4.77 MYR 18.82

3.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 MYR 59.3

$11.82 MYR 46.69

26.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$3.10 MYR 12.26

-7.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.96

$1.14 MYR 4.49

32.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.38

$2.27 MYR 8.96

15.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.24

$1.44 MYR 5.69

45.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.64

$0.59 MYR 2.35

100.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.63

$0.93 MYR 3.67

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$0.96 MYR 3.80

-5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.36 MYR 1.43

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 16.94

$4.10 MYR 16.20

4.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 76.7

$19.84 MYR 78.4

-2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 10.82

$2.90 MYR 11.46

-5.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.39

$2.35 MYR 9.27

44.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$1.36 MYR 5.38

-66.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.53 MYR 69.3

$8.73 MYR 34.49

100.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$1.16 MYR 4.59

-36.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$0.75 MYR 2.97

-29.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 MYR 27.46

$5.93 MYR 23.41

17.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.49 MYR 1.94

-6.12%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

$58.9K MYR 232.5K

-43.09%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$28.2K MYR 111.2K

-0.80%

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

$39.31 MYR 155

$30.80 MYR 122

27.63%

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

$10.23 MYR 40.40

$9.60 MYR 37.93

6.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.17 MYR 123

$32.90 MYR 130

-5.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.28 MYR 131

$28.07 MYR 111

18.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 MYR 21.30

$5.84 MYR 23.06

-7.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.01

$4.18 MYR 16.51

15.07%

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

$240 MYR 947

$100 MYR 396

139.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

$5,157 MYR 20.4K

19.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$35.95 MYR 142

51.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.08 MYR 115

$19.09 MYR 75.4

52.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 239

$45.64 MYR 180

32.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 208

$31.69 MYR 125

66.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$310 MYR 1,224

22.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 895

$167 MYR 658

35.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,524

$494 MYR 1,950

29.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,077

$379 MYR 1,499

38.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 MYR 9,153

$1,284 MYR 5,070

80.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,197 MYR 4,729

$703 MYR 2,775

70.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 MYR 3,824

$744 MYR 2,940

30.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

3.63

14.60%

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

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Last update for Miri: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Penang and $310 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Penang vs $12.00 in Miri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $246 per month, with Miri 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Miri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 30% more on average, 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: $381 in Penang versus $310 in Miri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Miri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Penang versus $705 in Miri – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Miri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Miri 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 Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.