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: $869 in Penang versus $703 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,113 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,524 in Miri.

Living in Penang is roughly 24% more expensive than Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Miri 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$3.12 MYR 12.66

-2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$11.82 MYR 47.94

82.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$3.90 MYR 15.82

11.03%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.69 MYR 10.90

9.29%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.70 MYR 2.83

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$2.90 MYR 11.75

51.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$3.84 MYR 15.57

16.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.36 MYR 5.50

33.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.40 MYR 5.68

-29.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$0.85 MYR 3.44

138.82%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$3.41 MYR 13.83

-37.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$10.76 MYR 43.65

61.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$4.64 MYR 18.81

12.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$11.70 MYR 47.45

28.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$3.05 MYR 12.38

-5.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.19 MYR 4.84

23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.28 MYR 9.26

12.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$1.38 MYR 5.60

52.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$0.55 MYR 2.25

114.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$0.90 MYR 3.64

28.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$0.91 MYR 3.69

4.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.36 MYR 1.48

36.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.25 MYR 17.23

2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$20.08 MYR 81.4

-2.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$2.91 MYR 11.79

-9.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$2.33 MYR 9.46

45.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$1.36 MYR 5.51

-66.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$8.64 MYR 35.03

101.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$1.16 MYR 4.72

-40.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.74 MYR 3.01

-27.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$5.98 MYR 24.25

20.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$58.7K MYR 238.1K

-43.94%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$27.8K MYR 112.9K

-2.09%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$30.31 MYR 123

27.35%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.63 MYR 39.06

4.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$32.41 MYR 131

-2.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$28.31 MYR 115

16.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$6.06 MYR 24.57

-10.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$4.19 MYR 16.99

17.18%

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

$238 MYR 963

$97.3 MYR 395

144.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$5,106 MYR 20.7K

21.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$35.16 MYR 143

55.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$19.21 MYR 77.9

47.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$44.81 MYR 182

34.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$32.13 MYR 130

66.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$318 MYR 1,289

21.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$164 MYR 664

40.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$493 MYR 2,000

29.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$378 MYR 1,532

39.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$1,243 MYR 5,042

80.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$692 MYR 2,807

71.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$751 MYR 3,045

26.70%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Miri: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $318 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 27% 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 $287 vs $245 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 27% 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: $387 in Penang versus $318 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 $869 per month in Penang versus $703 in Miri – a 24% 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 24% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.