Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Ulu Tiram Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Ulu Tiram

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Penang versus $858 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,379 in Penang versus $1,305 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Penang versus $1,753 in Ulu Tiram.

Living in Penang is roughly 1% more expensive than Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Ulu Tiram 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.24

$3.64 MYR 14.40

-14.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.13 MYR 83.5

$18.66 MYR 73.7

13.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.27

$4.67 MYR 18.43

-11.78%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.36

$2.77 MYR 10.96

3.97%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$0.68 MYR 2.67

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.36 MYR 1.44

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 16.98

$4.14 MYR 16.35

3.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.51

$6.79 MYR 26.83

-34.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.48

$1.82 MYR 7.19

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.05

$0.93 MYR 3.69

10.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 7.86

$1.29 MYR 5.10

54.26%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.07

$1.82 MYR 7.19

12.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 MYR 68.4

$10.47 MYR 41.36

65.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 19.54

$4.02 MYR 15.88

23.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 MYR 59.3

$8.20 MYR 32.38

83.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$2.66 MYR 10.51

8.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 5.96

$1.46 MYR 5.75

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.38

$2.53 MYR 10.00

3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MYR 8.24

$1.21 MYR 4.78

72.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.64

$1.19 MYR 4.69

-0.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.63

$1.33 MYR 5.24

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$0.94 MYR 3.71

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 16.94

$4.32 MYR 17.05

-0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.41 MYR 76.7

$17.69 MYR 69.9

9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 10.82

$2.86 MYR 11.29

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.39

$2.98 MYR 11.77

13.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$0.74 MYR 2.93

-37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.53 MYR 69.3

$11.64 MYR 45.98

50.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 2.94

$0.98 MYR 3.88

-24.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.10

$1.03 MYR 4.06

-48.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 MYR 27.46

$9.10 MYR 35.96

-23.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.50 MYR 1.99

-8.00%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

-3.98%

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

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

$32.5K MYR 128.4K

-14.04%

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

$39.31 MYR 155

$45.15 MYR 178

-12.93%

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

$10.23 MYR 40.40

$9.24 MYR 36.51

10.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.17 MYR 123

$30.92 MYR 122

0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.28 MYR 131

$37.34 MYR 148

-10.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 MYR 21.30

$6.02 MYR 23.77

-10.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.01

$5.03 MYR 19.88

-4.37%

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

$240 MYR 947

$187 MYR 739

28.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

$6,993 MYR 27.6K

-11.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$65.2 MYR 258

-16.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.08 MYR 115

$19.07 MYR 75.3

52.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 MYR 239

$69.5 MYR 275

-13.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 208

$46.25 MYR 183

13.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$390 MYR 1,540

-2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$227 MYR 895

$268 MYR 1,059

-15.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,524

$636 MYR 2,513

0.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,077

$472 MYR 1,866

11.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 MYR 9,153

$1,753 MYR 6,925

32.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,197 MYR 4,729

$904 MYR 3,572

32.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 MYR 3,824

$871 MYR 3,440

11.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.07

2.21%

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

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Penang and $390 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 11% 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 $19.00 in Ulu Tiram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $227 per month, with Ulu Tiram cheaper across the board.

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 Ulu Tiram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulu Tiram is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Penang versus $390 in Ulu Tiram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ulu Tiram – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Penang versus $858 in Ulu Tiram – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ulu Tiram gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Ulu Tiram is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.