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: $843 in Penang versus $863 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,365 in Penang versus $1,294 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,888 in Penang versus $1,726 in Ulu Tiram.

Living in Penang costs roughly 2% less than in Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 37% lower, Ulu Tiram 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 MYR 12.30

$3.45 MYR 14.20

-13.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 MYR 85.9

$19.01 MYR 78.2

9.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.22 MYR 17.36

$4.80 MYR 19.75

-12.08%

Cappuccino

$2.82 MYR 11.61

$2.68 MYR 11.04

5.22%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$0.73 MYR 3.00

1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.39

$0.37 MYR 1.51

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 MYR 17.77

$4.14 MYR 17.04

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.53

$6.50 MYR 26.73

-30.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.39

$1.80 MYR 7.40

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.24

$0.95 MYR 3.91

8.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.14

$1.24 MYR 5.09

59.68%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.84

$1.83 MYR 7.54

17.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.23 MYR 70.9

$10.65 MYR 43.81

61.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.36

$4.12 MYR 16.95

25.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.00 MYR 61.7

$8.37 MYR 34.43

79.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.82

$2.70 MYR 11.11

6.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 6.03

$1.50 MYR 6.18

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 11.09

$2.52 MYR 10.38

6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MYR 8.73

$1.20 MYR 4.95

76.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.67

$1.19 MYR 4.91

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.96

$1.38 MYR 5.68

-12.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.96

$0.88 MYR 3.62

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.59 MYR 2.44

-23.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.73

$4.12 MYR 16.95

4.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.46 MYR 80.1

$17.57 MYR 72.3

10.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 MYR 11.18

$2.78 MYR 11.45

-2.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 MYR 14.12

$2.87 MYR 11.81

19.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.74 MYR 3.06

-39.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 MYR 72.3

$11.73 MYR 48.27

49.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 3.01

$0.99 MYR 4.06

-26.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$1.04 MYR 4.27

-51.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 MYR 28.51

$9.10 MYR 37.44

-23.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-2.00%

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

$33.0K MYR 135.8K

$35.3K MYR 145.4K

-6.61%

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

$28.0K MYR 115.1K

$32.7K MYR 134.7K

-14.54%

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

$38.47 MYR 158

$45.46 MYR 187

-15.38%

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

$10.26 MYR 42.22

$9.08 MYR 37.36

13.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.49 MYR 130

$30.52 MYR 126

3.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.02 MYR 136

$37.06 MYR 153

-10.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.54 MYR 22.79

$5.74 MYR 23.64

-3.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 MYR 19.90

$5.01 MYR 20.62

-3.39%

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

$239 MYR 985

$189 MYR 777

26.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,099 MYR 25.1K

$6,838 MYR 28.1K

-10.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 228

$64.5 MYR 265

-14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.14 MYR 120

$19.03 MYR 78.3

53.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 MYR 253

$71.2 MYR 293

-13.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 MYR 219

$46.76 MYR 192

13.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 MYR 1,604

$385 MYR 1,585

1.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 912

$270 MYR 1,113

-18.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$654 MYR 2,692

$637 MYR 2,621

2.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$526 MYR 2,164

$474 MYR 1,949

11.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,238 MYR 9,209

$1,902 MYR 7,826

17.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,178 MYR 4,846

$937 MYR 3,855

25.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$938 MYR 3,858

$864 MYR 3,557

8.46%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in Penang and $385 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 $228 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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Penang, 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: $390 in Penang versus $385 in Ulu Tiram. 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 $21.00 versus $19.00 in Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $843 per month in Penang versus $863 in Ulu Tiram – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $843 in Penang versus $863 in Ulu Tiram, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Ulu Tiram. 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 Ulu Tiram, 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.