Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Setia Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Setia Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Penang versus $927 in Setia Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Penang versus $1,385 in Setia Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,868 in Penang versus $1,842 in Setia Alam.

Living in Penang costs roughly 8% less than in Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 37% lower, Setia Alam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 MYR 12.42

$4.59 MYR 18.31

-32.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.86 MYR 83.2

$23.15 MYR 92.4

-9.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.53

$4.84 MYR 19.32

-14.46%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.29

$3.13 MYR 12.50

-9.58%

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

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.89 MYR 3.56

-16.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.37 MYR 1.47

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 MYR 17.51

$4.26 MYR 16.99

3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.75

$5.74 MYR 22.91

-22.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.57

$1.80 MYR 7.16

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.94

$0.68 MYR 2.72

45.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.83

$0.98 MYR 3.91

100.00%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.52

$1.73 MYR 6.91

23.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.10 MYR 68.2

$4.62 MYR 18.44

270.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 MYR 20.24

$3.92 MYR 15.63

29.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 MYR 57.9

$9.45 MYR 37.69

53.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.06

$1.32 MYR 5.29

109.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.05

$1.59 MYR 6.34

-4.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 MYR 10.36

$1.29 MYR 5.14

101.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MYR 8.47

$1.43 MYR 5.71

48.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.50

$1.23 MYR 4.93

-8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.83

$1.27 MYR 5.07

-4.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.80

$0.61 MYR 2.42

55.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.96

$0.56 MYR 2.24

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.52

$4.06 MYR 16.20

1.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 MYR 79.0

$19.94 MYR 79.6

-0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 MYR 10.37

$3.23 MYR 12.90

-19.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 14.02

$4.27 MYR 17.05

-17.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.73 MYR 2.89

-36.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.00 MYR 71.8

$11.93 MYR 47.61

50.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.71

$1.16 MYR 4.64

-41.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.17

$1.14 MYR 4.54

-52.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 MYR 27.86

$4.62 MYR 18.42

51.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.01

$0.48 MYR 1.90

4.17%

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

$34.0K MYR 135.6K

$39.3K MYR 156.9K

-13.52%

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

$27.0K MYR 107.6K

$32.2K MYR 128.6K

-16.30%

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

$39.05 MYR 156

$58.1 MYR 232

-32.73%

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

$10.11 MYR 40.34

$10.59 MYR 42.26

-4.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.91 MYR 123

$25.89 MYR 103

19.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.17 MYR 128

$55.8 MYR 223

-42.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 MYR 21.57

$2.35 MYR 9.37

130.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 19.62

$5.11 MYR 20.39

-3.72%

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

$240 MYR 956

$193 MYR 769

24.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,110 MYR 24.4K

$9,575 MYR 38.2K

-36.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 MYR 221

$61.3 MYR 245

-9.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 MYR 116

$24.70 MYR 98.6

17.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 MYR 242

$84.5 MYR 337

-28.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 MYR 208

-0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,549

$496 MYR 1,979

-21.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 MYR 915

$309 MYR 1,233

-25.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,546

$815 MYR 3,252

-21.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$513 MYR 2,047

$524 MYR 2,091

-2.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,318 MYR 9,248

$1,965 MYR 7,840

17.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 MYR 4,708

$991 MYR 3,955

19.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 MYR 3,786

$1,180 MYR 4,708

-19.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.12

0.97%

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

Last update for Penang: June 1, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Penang and $496 in Setia Alam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Setia Alam pays 24% 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 $23.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $206, with Setia Alam 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 Setia Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Setia Alam earns 24% 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 $496 in Setia Alam. 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 $23.00 in Setia Alam. 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 $927 in Setia Alam – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $850 in Penang versus $927 in Setia Alam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Setia Alam. 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 Setia Alam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Setia Alam 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 9% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.