Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Putra Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Putra Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Penang versus $888 in Putra Heights.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Penang versus $1,341 in Putra Heights.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,868 in Penang versus $1,794 in Putra Heights.

Living in Penang costs roughly 4% less than in Putra Heights, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 37% lower, Putra Heights 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 MYR 12.34

$3.64 MYR 14.42

-14.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.86 MYR 82.7

$19.10 MYR 75.7

9.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.42

$4.60 MYR 18.25

-10.00%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.22

$3.01 MYR 11.94

-5.98%

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

$0.74 MYR 2.93

$0.83 MYR 3.30

-10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.45 MYR 1.80

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 MYR 17.40

$4.20 MYR 16.64

4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.63

$5.81 MYR 23.03

-23.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.53

$1.80 MYR 7.15

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.92

$0.98 MYR 3.89

1.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.78

$1.23 MYR 4.89

59.35%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.47

$1.82 MYR 7.22

17.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.10 MYR 67.8

$14.43 MYR 57.2

18.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 MYR 20.11

$4.75 MYR 18.82

6.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 MYR 57.5

$9.40 MYR 37.29

54.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.00

$2.95 MYR 11.69

-6.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.01

$1.53 MYR 6.08

-0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 MYR 10.30

$2.64 MYR 10.47

-1.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MYR 8.42

$1.48 MYR 5.85

43.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.47

$1.23 MYR 4.89

-8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.80

$1.34 MYR 5.33

-9.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.78

$1.16 MYR 4.59

-18.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.53 MYR 2.08

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.41

$4.12 MYR 16.35

0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 MYR 78.5

$14.41 MYR 57.2

37.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 MYR 10.31

$2.88 MYR 11.43

-9.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.94

$2.89 MYR 11.46

21.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$0.73 MYR 2.91

-36.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.00 MYR 71.4

$11.83 MYR 46.90

52.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$1.15 MYR 4.58

-40.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.16

$0.98 MYR 3.90

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 MYR 27.68

$4.84 MYR 19.18

44.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.49 MYR 1.94

2.04%

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

$34.0K MYR 134.8K

$35.6K MYR 141.1K

-4.48%

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

$27.0K MYR 106.9K

$32.4K MYR 128.6K

-16.84%

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

$39.05 MYR 155

$63.4 MYR 251

-38.41%

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

$10.11 MYR 40.09

$9.10 MYR 36.08

11.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.91 MYR 123

$25.15 MYR 99.7

22.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.17 MYR 128

$36.34 MYR 144

-11.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 MYR 21.44

$5.75 MYR 22.80

-5.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 19.49

$5.26 MYR 20.85

-6.46%

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

$240 MYR 950

$191 MYR 758

25.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,110 MYR 24.2K

$6,843 MYR 27.1K

-10.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 MYR 220

$60.2 MYR 239

-7.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 MYR 115

$19.06 MYR 75.6

51.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 MYR 241

$74.0 MYR 293

-17.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 MYR 206

$40.20 MYR 159

29.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,539

$382 MYR 1,516

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 MYR 909

$266 MYR 1,054

-13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,530

$638 MYR 2,531

-0.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$513 MYR 2,034

$467 MYR 1,851

9.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,318 MYR 9,190

$1,696 MYR 6,724

36.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 MYR 4,678

$880 MYR 3,491

34.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 MYR 3,762

$1,141 MYR 4,524

-16.84%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Penang and $382 in Putra Heights. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 20% 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 $19.00 in Putra Heights for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $244 per month, with Putra Heights 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 Putra Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Putra Heights earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Penang versus $382 in Putra Heights. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $19.00 in Putra Heights. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Penang versus $888 in Putra Heights – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $850 in Penang versus $888 in Putra Heights, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Putra Heights. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Penang and Putra Heights 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.