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

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 4.4% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 1.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Penang is 9% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 4.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 MYR 12.61

$3.10 MYR 12.58

0.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 MYR 85.9

$18.76 MYR 76.2

12.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.36 MYR 17.69

-0.69%

Cappuccino

$2.86 MYR 11.63

$2.81 MYR 11.43

1.78%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.96

$0.73 MYR 2.97

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.36 MYR 1.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.41

$3.58 MYR 14.54

19.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MYR 17.73

$4.34 MYR 17.62

0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.63

$1.84 MYR 7.47

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.06

$0.94 MYR 3.83

6.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.07

$1.44 MYR 5.83

38.19%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.33

$2.06 MYR 8.38

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.99 MYR 69.0

$14.42 MYR 58.5

17.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 MYR 21.02

$5.06 MYR 20.54

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 MYR 60.8

$8.18 MYR 33.21

83.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.26

$2.79 MYR 11.33

-0.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.87

$1.51 MYR 6.14

-4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 MYR 10.96

$2.49 MYR 10.11

8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.47

$1.22 MYR 4.94

71.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.60

$1.14 MYR 4.64

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.97

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-8.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.84

$0.89 MYR 3.61

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.51 MYR 2.09

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 17.12

$4.31 MYR 17.48

-2.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.31 MYR 78.4

$18.92 MYR 76.8

2.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.63

$2.68 MYR 10.89

-2.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MYR 14.21

$3.84 MYR 15.58

-8.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.85

$0.73 MYR 2.95

-36.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.42 MYR 70.7

$15.39 MYR 62.5

13.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$0.98 MYR 3.96

-28.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.54 MYR 2.19

-7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 MYR 29.33

$7.21 MYR 29.29

0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.49 MYR 2.00

-6.12%

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

$33.9K MYR 137.6K

$33.9K MYR 137.7K

-0.12%

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

$27.7K MYR 112.3K

$28.0K MYR 113.5K

-1.07%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$40.32 MYR 164

-4.27%

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

$10.03 MYR 40.71

$10.23 MYR 41.55

-1.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.91 MYR 125

$30.61 MYR 124

0.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.64 MYR 133

$38.86 MYR 158

-16.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.52 MYR 22.40

$5.95 MYR 24.16

-7.23%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 MYR 19.88

$6.41 MYR 26.02

-23.56%

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

$238 MYR 968

$216 MYR 876

10.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,150 MYR 25.0K

$6,197 MYR 25.2K

-0.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 MYR 226

$48.64 MYR 197

14.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.29 MYR 119

$33.85 MYR 137

-13.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 245

$61.5 MYR 250

-1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.8 MYR 214

$48.44 MYR 197

9.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,543

$372 MYR 1,508

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 920

$272 MYR 1,103

-16.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 MYR 2,636

$576 MYR 2,339

12.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 MYR 2,113

$485 MYR 1,968

7.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,072

$1,478 MYR 6,001

51.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 MYR 4,693

$1,209 MYR 4,910

-4.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$988 MYR 4,012

$1,241 MYR 5,037

-20.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Penang: January 13, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: January 10, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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