Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Putra Heights and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Putra Heights versus $849 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,321 in Putra Heights versus $1,356 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,775 in Putra Heights versus $1,863 in Penang.

Living in Putra Heights is roughly 2% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 35% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 MYR 14.58

$3.14 MYR 12.86

13.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 MYR 78.5

$21.56 MYR 88.3

-11.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 MYR 19.02

$4.18 MYR 17.11

11.24%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.20

$2.95 MYR 12.05

1.02%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.47

$0.69 MYR 2.81

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.98

$0.34 MYR 1.37

41.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.65

$4.38 MYR 17.92

-1.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MYR 23.78

$4.54 MYR 18.60

27.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.73

$1.88 MYR 7.68

0.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.81

$1.00 MYR 4.08

-7.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.05

$1.96 MYR 8.01

-37.24%

Eggs

$1.80 MYR 7.36

$2.03 MYR 8.31

-11.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 MYR 60.5

$17.29 MYR 70.8

-14.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.80

$5.23 MYR 21.42

-12.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 MYR 39.04

$14.76 MYR 60.4

-35.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.88

$2.79 MYR 11.41

3.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.46 MYR 5.99

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.73

$2.61 MYR 10.69

0.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 6.02

$2.11 MYR 8.64

-30.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.27

$1.18 MYR 4.81

9.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.52

$1.16 MYR 4.74

16.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$0.91 MYR 3.72

34.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.45 MYR 1.85

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MYR 17.00

$4.30 MYR 17.59

-3.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.95 MYR 57.1

$19.38 MYR 79.3

-28.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 MYR 11.32

$2.70 MYR 11.04

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.40

$3.41 MYR 13.95

-11.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.46 MYR 1.87

47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 48.77

$17.34 MYR 71.0

-31.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$0.68 MYR 2.80

76.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 MYR 4.24

$0.53 MYR 2.18

96.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 MYR 19.40

$6.89 MYR 28.20

-31.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.46 MYR 1.89

8.70%

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

$35.8K MYR 146.7K

$33.0K MYR 135.0K

8.65%

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

$32.3K MYR 132.3K

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

18.49%

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

$64.7 MYR 265

$38.52 MYR 158

67.86%

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

$9.17 MYR 37.54

$10.16 MYR 41.57

-9.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.17 MYR 103

$31.68 MYR 130

-20.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 MYR 152

$32.43 MYR 133

14.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 24.81

$5.57 MYR 22.82

8.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 MYR 21.83

$4.89 MYR 20.02

9.00%

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

$185 MYR 756

$238 MYR 974

-22.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,020 MYR 28.7K

$6,317 MYR 25.9K

11.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 MYR 252

$54.3 MYR 222

13.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 MYR 78.7

$29.23 MYR 120

-34.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.0 MYR 303

$61.8 MYR 253

19.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.48 MYR 162

$52.6 MYR 215

-24.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,583

$380 MYR 1,553

1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 MYR 1,122

$222 MYR 910

23.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,684

$641 MYR 2,621

2.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,935

$516 MYR 2,112

-8.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,251 MYR 9,213

$2,245 MYR 9,189

0.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,256 MYR 5,140

$1,168 MYR 4,782

7.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 MYR 4,539

$921 MYR 3,768

20.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.16

-2.16%

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

Last update for Putra Heights: July 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Putra Heights and $380 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 20% 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: $19.00 in Putra Heights vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $285 per month, with Putra Heights 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

Putra Heights vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 20% higher in Putra Heights, 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: $387 in Putra Heights versus $380 in Penang. 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 $22.00 versus $19.00 in Putra Heights. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Putra Heights versus $849 in Penang – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $849 in Penang versus $867 in Putra Heights, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Putra Heights. 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 Putra Heights, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Putra Heights and Penang 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 Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.