Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Nilai Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Nilai

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 3.9% more expensive than Nilai without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Penang is 12.8% more expensive than Nilai without rent, and 6.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 MYR 12.13
$3.51 MYR 13.86
-12.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.19 MYR 83.7
$18.59 MYR 73.4
13.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.20 MYR 16.58
$5.75 MYR 22.70
-26.96%
Cappuccino
$2.96 MYR 11.71
$2.88 MYR 11.39
2.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MYR 2.93
$0.78 MYR 3.06
-5.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MYR 1.45
$0.36 MYR 1.43
2.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.49 MYR 17.73
$3.49 MYR 13.77
28.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 MYR 17.40
$5.09 MYR 20.11
-13.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 MYR 7.52
$1.83 MYR 7.22
3.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 MYR 3.92
$1.01 MYR 3.98
-1.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 MYR 8.11
$1.25 MYR 4.95
64.00%
Eggs
$2.15 MYR 8.48
$2.13 MYR 8.42
0.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.37 MYR 68.6
$15.17 MYR 59.9
14.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 MYR 19.74
$4.45 MYR 17.56
12.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.88 MYR 58.8
$9.29 MYR 36.69
60.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MYR 10.96
$2.95 MYR 11.64
-5.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 5.80
$1.52 MYR 6.00
-3.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 MYR 10.21
$2.60 MYR 10.28
-0.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MYR 8.66
$1.45 MYR 5.71
51.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 MYR 4.50
$1.20 MYR 4.73
-5.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.75
$1.32 MYR 5.22
-9.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 MYR 3.53
$1.04 MYR 4.11
-14.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.52 MYR 2.05
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MYR 17.18
$4.36 MYR 17.22
-0.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.52 MYR 77.1
$17.55 MYR 69.3
11.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MYR 10.34
$2.86 MYR 11.30
-8.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 MYR 13.75
$2.88 MYR 11.40
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Nilai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MYR 1.80
$0.74 MYR 2.94
-37.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.36 MYR 68.6
$11.91 MYR 47.06
45.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 MYR 2.68
$1.16 MYR 4.59
-41.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 1.98
$0.99 MYR 3.90
-49.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.19 MYR 28.39
$5.95 MYR 23.52
20.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.96
$0.46 MYR 1.81
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K MYR 134.2K
$35.4K MYR 139.8K
-3.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 110.1K
$30.9K MYR 122.0K
-9.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.37 MYR 156
$43.18 MYR 171
-8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.01 MYR 39.54
$8.94 MYR 35.32
11.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.45 MYR 124
$29.05 MYR 115
8.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.02 MYR 130
$36.95 MYR 146
-10.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.53 MYR 21.84
$5.92 MYR 23.40
-6.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 MYR 19.01
$5.03 MYR 19.88
-4.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 MYR 937
$185 MYR 733
27.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,252 MYR 24.7K
$6,974 MYR 27.5K
-10.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 MYR 214
$61.9 MYR 244
-12.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.00 MYR 115
$27.67 MYR 109
4.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.5 MYR 247
$73.8 MYR 291
-15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4 MYR 207
$51.0 MYR 201
2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Nilai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 MYR 1,556
$392 MYR 1,548
0.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 MYR 910
$270 MYR 1,065
-14.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 MYR 2,531
$635 MYR 2,507
0.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 MYR 2,042
$477 MYR 1,883
8.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,335 MYR 9,224
$1,703 MYR 6,728
37.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,191 MYR 4,703
$983 MYR 3,882
21.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Nilai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$974 MYR 3,849
-
-
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Nilai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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