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: $849 in Penang versus $918 in Setia Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in Penang versus $1,395 in Setia Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Penang versus $1,872 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 36% lower, Setia Alam 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$4.58 MYR 18.74

-31.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$23.80 MYR 97.4

-9.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.68 MYR 19.15

-10.68%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$2.98 MYR 12.20

-1.01%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.84 MYR 3.42

-17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$4.33 MYR 17.70

1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$6.02 MYR 24.63

-24.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.75 MYR 7.15

7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.70 MYR 2.86

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$0.98 MYR 4.02

100.00%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$1.65 MYR 6.75

23.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$4.78 MYR 19.56

261.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$3.99 MYR 16.33

31.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$9.52 MYR 38.95

55.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$1.33 MYR 5.44

109.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.57 MYR 6.42

-7.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$1.34 MYR 5.46

94.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$1.39 MYR 5.68

51.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.22 MYR 5.00

-3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.33 MYR 5.42

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.57 MYR 2.34

59.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.53 MYR 2.17

-15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$4.21 MYR 17.23

2.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$19.11 MYR 78.2

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$3.21 MYR 13.14

-15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$4.21 MYR 17.24

-19.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-36.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.72 MYR 47.92

47.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$1.17 MYR 4.78

-41.88%

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

$4.62 MYR 18.89

49.13%

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

$40.6K MYR 166.0K

-18.72%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

-15.26%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$59.1 MYR 242

-34.79%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$10.73 MYR 43.87

-5.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$25.60 MYR 105

23.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$54.8 MYR 224

-40.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$2.38 MYR 9.73

134.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$5.04 MYR 20.62

-2.98%

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

$238 MYR 973

$196 MYR 800

21.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

-33.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$59.7 MYR 244

-9.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$24.82 MYR 102

17.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$86.1 MYR 352

-28.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$53.8 MYR 220

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$495 MYR 2,026

-23.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$305 MYR 1,247

-27.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$837 MYR 3,422

-23.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$534 MYR 2,185

-3.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$2,029 MYR 8,300

10.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$1,175 MYR 4,806

-0.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$1,149 MYR 4,698

-19.85%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Penang and $495 in Setia Alam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Setia Alam pays 25% 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 Setia Alam. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $204, 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Setia Alam. 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 $495 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 $22.00 versus $24.00 in Setia Alam. 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 $918 in Setia Alam – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $849 in Penang versus $918 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 8% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.