Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Rawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Rawang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $846 in Penang versus $737 in Rawang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Penang versus $1,202 in Rawang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Penang versus $1,666 in Rawang.

Living in Penang is roughly 15% more expensive than in Rawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Rawang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.18

$3.66 MYR 14.89

1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.03 MYR 81.5

$19.88 MYR 80.9

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.66

$5.01 MYR 20.36

-3.59%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.95

$2.96 MYR 12.02

-0.68%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.85 MYR 3.44

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.36 MYR 1.48

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.17

$4.16 MYR 16.91

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.32

$4.38 MYR 17.82

2.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.26

$1.84 MYR 7.51

-2.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.11 MYR 4.52

-1.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.71 MYR 6.95

1.17%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.05

$2.13 MYR 8.68

4.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 MYR 54.4

$16.09 MYR 65.5

-16.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.78

$4.99 MYR 20.31

-12.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 MYR 36.60

$9.73 MYR 39.56

-7.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.67

$2.99 MYR 12.16

-4.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.90

$1.93 MYR 7.84

-11.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.64

$2.51 MYR 10.21

3.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.94

$1.53 MYR 6.21

-4.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.58

$1.32 MYR 5.36

-14.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.40 MYR 5.68

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.18 MYR 4.79

-5.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$0.57 MYR 2.33

1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 MYR 18.45

$4.43 MYR 18.04

2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 79.5

$19.09 MYR 77.7

2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.85

$3.02 MYR 12.30

-3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.20

$4.16 MYR 16.93

-4.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.71 MYR 2.89

-32.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.28 MYR 49.95

$12.22 MYR 49.72

0.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 MYR 6.92

$1.72 MYR 7.01

-1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.41 MYR 1.68

2.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MYR 30.97

$6.92 MYR 28.16

9.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.40

$0.81 MYR 3.31

3.70%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.2K

$42.4K MYR 172.3K

-1.78%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

$34.7K MYR 141.1K

0.18%

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

$37.45 MYR 152

$38.27 MYR 156

-2.14%

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

$9.83 MYR 40.01

$9.99 MYR 40.62

-1.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 MYR 121

$30.48 MYR 124

-2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 MYR 157

$40.42 MYR 164

-4.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.81 MYR 19.57

$6.55 MYR 26.64

-26.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.59

$5.54 MYR 22.55

-4.15%

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

$435 MYR 1,769

$308 MYR 1,252

41.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.4K

$10.9K MYR 44.4K

-2.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 245

$61.7 MYR 251

-2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.72 MYR 141

$35.16 MYR 143

-1.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 347

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 288

$70.4 MYR 286

0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,623

$143 MYR 580

180.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 928

$104 MYR 422

120.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MYR 2,406

$594 MYR 2,415

-0.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 MYR 1,694

$239 MYR 974

73.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,094

$2,056 MYR 8,366

8.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,068 MYR 4,346

$1,114 MYR 4,530

-4.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 MYR 3,754

$1,018 MYR 4,143

-9.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

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

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Last update for Rawang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Penang and $143 in Rawang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rawang pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $20.00 in Rawang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $271 per month, with Penang 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 Rawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang and Rawang differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($846 vs $737 including rent). Rawang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Rawang. 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: $399 in Penang versus $143 in Rawang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rawang – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $20.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $846 per month in Penang versus $737 in Rawang – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Rawang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Rawang 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 Rawang 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 Rawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.