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: $849 in Penang versus $867 in Putra Heights.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in Penang versus $1,321 in Putra Heights.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Penang versus $1,775 in Putra Heights.

Living in Penang costs roughly 2% less than in Putra Heights, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Putra Heights 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$3.56 MYR 14.58

-11.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$19.18 MYR 78.4

12.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.65 MYR 19.01

-10.11%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$2.98 MYR 12.19

-1.01%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.85 MYR 3.47

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.48 MYR 1.98

-29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$4.31 MYR 17.64

1.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$5.81 MYR 23.77

-21.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.93 MYR 3.81

7.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$1.23 MYR 5.04

59.35%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$1.80 MYR 7.36

12.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$14.77 MYR 60.4

17.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$4.59 MYR 18.79

13.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$9.54 MYR 39.02

54.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$2.90 MYR 11.88

-3.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.45 MYR 5.91

0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$2.62 MYR 10.73

-0.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$1.47 MYR 6.02

43.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.29 MYR 5.26

-8.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.35 MYR 5.51

-14.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$1.22 MYR 4.97

-25.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.52 MYR 2.13

-13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$4.15 MYR 16.99

3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$13.95 MYR 57.1

38.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$2.77 MYR 11.31

-2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$3.03 MYR 12.40

12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.92 MYR 48.74

45.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-43.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$1.04 MYR 4.24

-49.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.19

$4.74 MYR 19.39

45.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-8.00%

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

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

$35.8K MYR 146.6K

-7.96%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$32.3K MYR 132.2K

-15.61%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$64.7 MYR 264

-40.43%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$9.17 MYR 37.51

10.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$25.17 MYR 103

25.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$37.24 MYR 152

-12.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$6.06 MYR 24.79

-8.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$5.33 MYR 21.81

-8.26%

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

$238 MYR 973

$185 MYR 756

28.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$7,020 MYR 28.7K

-10.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$61.6 MYR 252

-11.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$19.22 MYR 78.6

52.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$74.0 MYR 303

-16.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$39.48 MYR 161

33.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$387 MYR 1,582

-1.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$274 MYR 1,121

-18.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$656 MYR 2,682

-2.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$473 MYR 1,933

9.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$2,251 MYR 9,207

-0.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$1,256 MYR 5,137

-6.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$1,109 MYR 4,536

-16.99%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Penang and $387 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: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Putra Heights for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $243 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Putra Heights. 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: $380 in Penang versus $387 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 $22.00 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 $849 per month in Penang versus $867 in Putra Heights – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $849 in Penang versus $867 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 2% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.