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: $837 in Penang versus $820 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,253 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,686 in Miri.

Living in Penang is roughly 2% more expensive than in Miri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Miri 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$3.59 MYR 14.66

3.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$12.47 MYR 50.9

58.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$4.65 MYR 18.99

-1.72%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$2.38 MYR 9.73

25.21%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.85 MYR 3.46

-12.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.28 MYR 1.13

32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$2.98 MYR 12.16

44.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$3.86 MYR 15.75

17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.43 MYR 5.83

25.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$1.89 MYR 7.73

-43.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.01 MYR 4.14

70.30%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$3.55 MYR 14.48

-39.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.82 MYR 19.69

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$14.88 MYR 60.7

-42.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.96 MYR 7.99

-15.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.36 MYR 1.45

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.47 MYR 18.26

6.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$19.69 MYR 80.4

-3.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$3.04 MYR 12.40

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$2.32 MYR 9.49

71.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.50 MYR 2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$14.52 MYR 59.3

-16.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.19 MYR 4.87

45.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.60 MYR 2.44

-36.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$6.17 MYR 25.18

20.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.60 MYR 2.44

45.00%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$50.2K MYR 204.8K

-16.39%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$33.6K MYR 137.0K

3.87%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$50.2 MYR 205

-27.02%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$9.62 MYR 39.26

3.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$32.89 MYR 134

-9.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$29.83 MYR 122

31.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$6.09 MYR 24.87

-20.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$4.53 MYR 18.50

15.23%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$102 MYR 415

324.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$6,506 MYR 26.6K

63.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$44.24 MYR 181

34.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$22.85 MYR 93.3

57.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$56.7 MYR 231

46.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$42.85 MYR 175

66.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$340 MYR 1,388

20.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$286 MYR 1,168

-20.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$596 MYR 2,431

-2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$581 MYR 2,370

-28.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$1,224 MYR 4,999

83.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$672 MYR 2,744

57.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$689 MYR 2,811

32.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.12

2.91%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Miri: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $340 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 33% 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: $20.00 in Penang vs $12.00 in Miri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $195 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. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $409 in Penang versus $340 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 $20.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $820 in Miri – a 2% 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 2% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.