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: $849 in Penang versus $999 in Selangor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in Penang versus $1,432 in Selangor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Penang versus $1,865 in Selangor.

Living in Penang costs roughly 15% less than in Selangor, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Selangor 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$2.55 MYR 10.42

23.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$23.88 MYR 97.7

-9.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$3.73 MYR 15.26

12.06%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$2.30 MYR 9.40

28.26%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.77 MYR 3.17

-10.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.36 MYR 1.48

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$4.22 MYR 17.27

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$5.38 MYR 22.00

-15.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.81 MYR 7.39

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$1.01 MYR 4.15

-0.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$1.50 MYR 6.12

30.67%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$1.88 MYR 7.70

7.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$14.38 MYR 58.8

20.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$4.68 MYR 19.14

11.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$9.88 MYR 40.41

49.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$3.00 MYR 12.27

-7.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.56 MYR 6.40

-6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-4.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$1.45 MYR 5.94

45.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.28 MYR 5.22

-7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.01 MYR 4.11

14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$1.13 MYR 4.63

-19.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.51 MYR 2.10

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$4.33 MYR 17.71

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$19.24 MYR 78.7

0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$3.35 MYR 13.68

-19.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-19.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.68 MYR 2.80

-32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.85 MYR 48.46

46.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$1.16 MYR 4.75

-41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$1.10 MYR 4.51

-51.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.19

$4.35 MYR 17.77

58.39%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

-18.45%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

-11.39%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$64.9 MYR 265

-40.63%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$9.99 MYR 40.88

1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$25.88 MYR 106

22.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$38.38 MYR 157

-15.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$7.27 MYR 29.74

-23.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$5.17 MYR 21.13

-5.42%

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

$238 MYR 973

$116 MYR 476

104.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

45.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$60.9 MYR 249

-10.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$36.78 MYR 150

-20.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$74.9 MYR 306

-17.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$78.8 MYR 322

-33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$449 MYR 1,838

-15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$351 MYR 1,437

-36.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$834 MYR 3,413

-23.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$472 MYR 1,930

9.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$1,583 MYR 6,473

41.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$707 MYR 2,891

65.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$1,047 MYR 4,284

-12.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

3.96

5.05%

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

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Selangor: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Penang and $449 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: $22.00 in Penang vs $24.00 in Selangor. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $261, with Selangor cheaper for home cooking.

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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% 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: $380 in Penang versus $449 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 $22.00 versus $24.00 in Selangor. 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 $999 in Selangor – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $849 in Penang versus $999 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 18% less than in Selangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.