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: $837 in Penang versus $939 in Ulu Tiram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,364 in Ulu Tiram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,789 in Ulu Tiram.

Living in Penang costs roughly 11% less than in Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Ulu Tiram 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.24

$3.74 MYR 15.32

-0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.9

$21.40 MYR 87.6

-7.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.90 MYR 20.06

-6.73%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.97 MYR 12.17

0.34%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.78 MYR 3.18

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$4.55 MYR 18.62

-5.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$6.29 MYR 25.75

-27.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.37

$1.70 MYR 6.97

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$1.03 MYR 4.22

2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.05

$1.44 MYR 5.88

19.44%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$1.75 MYR 7.16

22.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.5

$9.70 MYR 39.69

34.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.68

$4.22 MYR 17.25

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.87

$9.63 MYR 39.40

-11.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$3.34 MYR 13.67

-12.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.75 MYR 7.15

-5.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.62 MYR 6.62

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-23.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.68 MYR 6.89

-30.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$1.38 MYR 5.65

-17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.38

$4.35 MYR 17.81

8.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$16.96 MYR 69.4

11.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.34

$2.97 MYR 12.15

1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.29

$3.11 MYR 12.73

27.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

$12.25 MYR 50.2

-0.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$1.25 MYR 5.10

38.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.36 MYR 1.46

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.55

$9.32 MYR 38.15

-19.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$0.78 MYR 3.18

11.54%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

1.84%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

-0.49%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$53.0 MYR 217

-30.80%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.57

$8.22 MYR 33.65

20.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 122

$28.97 MYR 119

2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$40.66 MYR 166

-3.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

$5.89 MYR 24.10

-18.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.37

$4.89 MYR 20.03

6.75%

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

$432 MYR 1,768

$166 MYR 680

160.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

135.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 243

$66.6 MYR 273

-10.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$17.16 MYR 70.2

109.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 340

$77.4 MYR 317

7.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$48.28 MYR 198

47.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

$395 MYR 1,617

3.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

$299 MYR 1,224

-23.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

$686 MYR 2,808

-15.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

$487 MYR 1,995

-15.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

$2,014 MYR 8,244

11.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

$1,143 MYR 4,678

-7.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

$853 MYR 3,491

7.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.06

4.43%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $395 in Ulu Tiram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $240, with Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% 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: $409 in Penang versus $395 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 $20.00 versus $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. 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 $939 in Ulu Tiram – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $939 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 12% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.