Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Selangor Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Selangor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $837 in Penang versus $1,027 in Selangor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,483 in Selangor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,938 in Selangor.

Living in Penang costs roughly 19% less than in Selangor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-11.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$19.63 MYR 80.2

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$4.00 MYR 16.34

14.25%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$2.19 MYR 8.96

36.07%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.87 MYR 3.55

-14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.46 MYR 1.89

-19.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$4.50 MYR 18.39

-4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$5.10 MYR 20.80

-11.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.91 MYR 7.81

-5.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$1.10 MYR 4.50

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.51 MYR 6.15

13.91%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$1.91 MYR 7.78

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$15.50 MYR 63.3

-15.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.82 MYR 19.70

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$9.82 MYR 40.10

-13.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$3.35 MYR 13.67

-12.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.84 MYR 7.51

-9.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$2.44 MYR 9.96

5.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$1.58 MYR 6.47

-7.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.36 MYR 5.57

-18.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.09 MYR 4.44

6.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.14 MYR 4.65

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.54 MYR 2.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.34 MYR 17.72

9.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$19.04 MYR 77.7

-0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$3.38 MYR 13.80

-10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$4.99 MYR 20.37

-20.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$12.26 MYR 50.1

-0.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.25 MYR 5.10

38.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$1.26 MYR 5.14

-69.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$4.51 MYR 18.39

65.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.66 MYR 2.70

31.82%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$42.4K MYR 173.1K

-1.09%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$35.0K MYR 142.9K

-0.43%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$65.2 MYR 266

-43.77%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$9.10 MYR 37.15

8.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$25.81 MYR 105

15.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$40.42 MYR 165

-3.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$7.22 MYR 29.49

-33.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$5.30 MYR 21.64

-1.51%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$124 MYR 505

249.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$7,373 MYR 30.1K

43.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$73.2 MYR 299

-18.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$42.30 MYR 173

-15.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$77.8 MYR 317

6.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$81.6 MYR 333

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$504 MYR 2,059

-18.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$346 MYR 1,414

-34.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$881 MYR 3,597

-33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$485 MYR 1,979

-14.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$1,559 MYR 6,364

43.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$712 MYR 2,906

48.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$1,045 MYR 4,266

-12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

3.96

7.07%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Selangor: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $504 in Selangor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Selangor pays 14% 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 $20.00 in Selangor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $272 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 Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Selangor. 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: $409 in Penang versus $504 in Selangor. 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 $20.00 versus $20.00 in Selangor. 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 $1,027 in Selangor – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $1,027 in Selangor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Selangor. 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 Selangor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Selangor 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 23% less than in Selangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.