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: $950 in Putra Heights versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,391 in Putra Heights versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,832 in Putra Heights versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Putra Heights is roughly 13% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putra Heights 31% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 MYR 14.95

$3.72 MYR 15.24

-1.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.70 MYR 88.8

$19.77 MYR 80.9

9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 MYR 20.19

$4.57 MYR 18.72

7.88%

Cappuccino

$2.86 MYR 11.70

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-4.03%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.46

$0.74 MYR 3.01

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MYR 1.81

$0.37 MYR 1.50

18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 MYR 18.21

$4.30 MYR 17.60

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 MYR 25.02

$4.53 MYR 18.53

34.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 MYR 7.22

$1.80 MYR 7.37

-2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.38

$1.06 MYR 4.32

0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.90

$1.72 MYR 7.05

-16.28%

Eggs

$1.74 MYR 7.12

$2.14 MYR 8.76

-18.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.73 MYR 64.4

$13.06 MYR 53.5

20.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 MYR 18.56

$4.32 MYR 17.68

4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.58 MYR 39.20

$8.52 MYR 34.87

12.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 MYR 14.13

$2.93 MYR 11.99

17.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.83

$1.66 MYR 6.78

0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 MYR 9.87

$2.57 MYR 10.51

-6.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.46 MYR 5.99

9.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.59

$1.11 MYR 4.55

22.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.89

$1.16 MYR 4.76

24.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.14 MYR 4.67

2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.11

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.66

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-9.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 MYR 57.3

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-26.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 MYR 12.21

$3.01 MYR 12.34

-1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.25

$3.98 MYR 16.29

-24.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.50 MYR 2.05

44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.09 MYR 49.49

$12.18 MYR 49.85

-0.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.16

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-27.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 MYR 3.17

$0.38 MYR 1.56

105.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 MYR 20.30

$7.46 MYR 30.55

-33.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.35

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-5.75%

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

$42.4K MYR 173.4K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

1.02%

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

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

0.54%

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

$65.1 MYR 266

$36.65 MYR 150

77.54%

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

$9.41 MYR 38.52

$9.91 MYR 40.57

-5.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.20 MYR 107

$29.71 MYR 122

-11.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.09 MYR 168

$39.12 MYR 160

5.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.58 MYR 31.02

$4.82 MYR 19.71

57.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 MYR 22.08

$5.22 MYR 21.37

3.26%

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

$165 MYR 676

$432 MYR 1,768

-61.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,404 MYR 22.1K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

-49.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.5 MYR 268

$59.3 MYR 243

10.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.47 MYR 67.4

$35.89 MYR 147

-54.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 MYR 336

$83.0 MYR 340

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.65 MYR 166

$71.4 MYR 292

-43.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 MYR 1,669

$409 MYR 1,675

-0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 MYR 1,307

$228 MYR 934

39.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 MYR 2,753

$583 MYR 2,387

15.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 MYR 1,975

$414 MYR 1,694

16.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,986 MYR 8,129

$2,244 MYR 9,187

-11.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,234 MYR 5,051

$1,058 MYR 4,331

16.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,103 MYR 4,514

$914 MYR 3,740

20.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.24

-4.25%

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

Last update for Putra Heights: September 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Putra Heights and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 21% 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: $22.00 in Putra Heights vs $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $250 per month, with Penang 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% 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: $408 in Putra Heights versus $409 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 $20.00 versus $22.00 in Putra Heights. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Putra Heights versus $837 in Penang – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Penang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 13% less than in Putra Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.