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

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 4.7% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 2.4% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Penang is 5.5% more expensive than Shah Alam without rent, and 12.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 MYR 11.95

$3.10 MYR 12.23

-2.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.49 MYR 84.9

$19.22 MYR 75.9

11.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.37

$4.12 MYR 16.27

0.73%

Cappuccino

$2.85 MYR 11.25

$2.69 MYR 10.64

5.95%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.68

$0.73 MYR 2.90

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 MYR 17.48

$3.56 MYR 14.06

24.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 MYR 17.09

$4.30 MYR 16.98

0.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.83 MYR 7.22

3.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.10

$0.97 MYR 3.81

7.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 7.81

$1.49 MYR 5.90

32.89%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.42

$2.15 MYR 8.50

-0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.65 MYR 69.7

$13.93 MYR 55.0

26.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 MYR 19.72

$5.08 MYR 20.05

-1.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 MYR 57.9

$8.30 MYR 32.78

76.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.03

$2.92 MYR 11.52

-4.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 5.90

$1.46 MYR 5.79

2.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 MYR 10.68

$2.56 MYR 10.12

5.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 MYR 8.51

$1.24 MYR 4.91

73.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.72

$1.19 MYR 4.68

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.34 MYR 5.31

-11.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$0.97 MYR 3.84

-6.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.52 MYR 2.05

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MYR 16.39

$4.24 MYR 16.75

-2.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.76 MYR 78.1

$19.00 MYR 75.0

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.62

$2.60 MYR 10.26

3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 MYR 13.78

$3.97 MYR 15.69

-12.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.69 MYR 2.72

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 MYR 69.3

$15.02 MYR 59.3

16.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$0.95 MYR 3.76

-22.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.15

$0.55 MYR 2.16

-1.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.14 MYR 28.21

$6.99 MYR 27.63

2.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.84

$0.50 MYR 1.96

-6.00%

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

$33.0K MYR 130.5K

$34.0K MYR 134.3K

-2.85%

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

$27.3K MYR 108.0K

$27.4K MYR 108.4K

-0.38%

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

$38.95 MYR 154

$41.42 MYR 164

-5.96%

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

$10.22 MYR 40.37

$10.06 MYR 39.73

1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.73 MYR 125

$29.86 MYR 118

6.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.71 MYR 129

$38.36 MYR 152

-14.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.51 MYR 21.78

$5.82 MYR 23.00

-5.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.40

$6.19 MYR 24.43

-20.68%

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

$234 MYR 925

$214 MYR 844

9.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,126 MYR 24.2K

$6,149 MYR 24.3K

-0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 MYR 218

$48.45 MYR 191

13.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.37 MYR 116

$34.94 MYR 138

-15.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.3 MYR 238

$62.3 MYR 246

-3.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.8 MYR 205

$48.82 MYR 193

6.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 MYR 1,537

$358 MYR 1,415

8.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 897

$263 MYR 1,038

-13.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,527

$575 MYR 2,269

11.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,078

$473 MYR 1,870

11.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,321 MYR 9,167

$1,530 MYR 6,044

51.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,188 MYR 4,691

$1,229 MYR 4,856

-3.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 MYR 3,749

$1,254 MYR 4,954

-24.32%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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