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: $837 in Penang versus $973 in Setia Alam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,443 in Setia Alam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,913 in Setia Alam.

Living in Penang costs roughly 14% less than in Setia Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Setia Alam 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$5.06 MYR 20.64

-26.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$24.14 MYR 98.5

-18.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$5.01 MYR 20.46

-8.78%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$3.08 MYR 12.59

-3.25%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.81 MYR 3.32

-8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.44 MYR 1.79

-15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$4.46 MYR 18.21

-3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$6.07 MYR 24.77

-25.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.87 MYR 7.61

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$0.70 MYR 2.87

51.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.06 MYR 4.32

62.26%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$1.81 MYR 7.39

18.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$4.94 MYR 20.16

164.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.23 MYR 17.28

2.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$9.66 MYR 39.42

-11.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$1.34 MYR 5.46

118.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.94 MYR 7.90

-14.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$1.37 MYR 5.60

87.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$1.50 MYR 6.11

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.30 MYR 5.32

-14.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.32 MYR 5.40

-12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$0.64 MYR 2.59

78.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.56 MYR 2.29

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.45 MYR 18.18

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$18.82 MYR 76.8

0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$3.45 MYR 14.08

-12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$4.94 MYR 20.17

-19.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.77 MYR 3.15

-35.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$12.46 MYR 50.9

-2.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.25 MYR 5.11

38.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$5.04 MYR 20.57

48.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.64 MYR 2.63

35.94%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$42.5K MYR 173.4K

-1.26%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$35.3K MYR 144.2K

-1.30%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$61.6 MYR 251

-40.45%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$9.48 MYR 38.70

4.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$26.31 MYR 107

12.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$58.3 MYR 238

-32.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$6.42 MYR 26.19

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$5.34 MYR 21.80

-2.25%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$177 MYR 722

144.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$11.0K MYR 44.9K

-3.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$70.7 MYR 289

-16.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$25.51 MYR 104

40.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$89.2 MYR 364

-6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$54.4 MYR 222

31.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$515 MYR 2,104

-20.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$322 MYR 1,314

-29.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$860 MYR 3,513

-32.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$545 MYR 2,223

-23.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$2,025 MYR 8,266

10.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$1,122 MYR 4,581

-5.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$1,132 MYR 4,621

-19.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.12

2.91%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Setia Alam: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $515 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: $20.00 in Penang vs $24.00 in Setia Alam. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $214, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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: $409 in Penang versus $515 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 $20.00 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 $837 per month in Penang versus $973 in Setia Alam – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $973 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 16% less than in Setia Alam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.