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: $867 in Penang versus $684 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,094 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,504 in Miri.

Living in Penang is roughly 27% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Miri 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.56

$3.23 MYR 13.20

-4.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$11.75 MYR 47.99

84.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.02 MYR 16.43

3.23%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.63 MYR 10.72

12.93%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.70 MYR 2.87

5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.36 MYR 1.48

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$2.86 MYR 11.66

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.18

$3.87 MYR 15.78

14.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.36 MYR 5.56

38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-28.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$0.83 MYR 3.40

148.19%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$3.28 MYR 13.41

-35.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$10.99 MYR 44.88

54.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$4.74 MYR 19.35

9.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$12.03 MYR 49.11

23.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$3.06 MYR 12.48

-4.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.14 MYR 4.66

27.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.31 MYR 9.44

15.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$1.44 MYR 5.88

45.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.59 MYR 2.39

91.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.91 MYR 3.71

31.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$0.91 MYR 3.72

-2.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.33 MYR 1.36

45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.28 MYR 17.46

-2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$19.89 MYR 81.2

-3.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$2.99 MYR 12.20

-11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$2.26 MYR 9.25

50.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$1.36 MYR 5.55

-66.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$8.41 MYR 34.35

111.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$1.20 MYR 4.91

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-28.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.18

$5.80 MYR 23.66

18.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.88

8.70%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$59.1K MYR 241.4K

-42.37%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$28.5K MYR 116.5K

-4.15%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$31.15 MYR 127

25.36%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$9.30 MYR 37.98

9.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$33.50 MYR 137

-5.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$27.91 MYR 114

16.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$6.03 MYR 24.62

-8.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$4.34 MYR 17.72

10.83%

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

$240 MYR 978

$97.9 MYR 400

144.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$5,254 MYR 21.5K

17.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$35.74 MYR 146

54.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$18.81 MYR 76.8

55.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$44.44 MYR 181

37.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$31.50 MYR 129

67.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$321 MYR 1,309

19.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$164 MYR 669

37.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$496 MYR 2,027

28.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$379 MYR 1,548

37.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

$1,233 MYR 5,034

78.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

$678 MYR 2,769

70.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,845

$667 MYR 2,722

41.24%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Miri: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $321 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 41% 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: $22.00 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 41% 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 $321 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 $22.00 in Penang. 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 $684 in Miri – a 27% 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 27% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.