Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shah Alam and Penang

😐 Solo nomad: Shah Alam is 2.2% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Shah Alam is 19% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 8.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 MYR 12.61

$2.97 MYR 12.54

0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.48 MYR 77.9

$20.84 MYR 87.9

-11.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 MYR 18.33

$4.34 MYR 18.32

0.23%

Cappuccino

$2.7 MYR 11.41

$2.84 MYR 11.97

-4.93%

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

$0.71 MYR 3

$0.69 MYR 2.89

2.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.65

$0.36 MYR 1.52

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 MYR 15.15

$4.23 MYR 17.84

-15.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 18.45

$4.41 MYR 18.6

-0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.87

$1.82 MYR 7.65

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 4.02

$0.99 MYR 4.18

-4.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.27

$2.04 MYR 8.62

-26.96%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.99

$2.05 MYR 8.63

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.22 MYR 60

$17.11 MYR 72.2

-16.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 MYR 21.29

$5.23 MYR 22.05

-3.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.11 MYR 34.21

$14.77 MYR 62.3

-45.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.77

$2.91 MYR 12.25

-4.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.35

$1.46 MYR 6.18

3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 10.35

$2.59 MYR 10.92

-5.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.24

$2.11 MYR 8.88

-41.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.83

$1.18 MYR 4.98

-2.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.85

$1.21 MYR 5.1

14.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.84

$0.91 MYR 3.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.19

$0.45 MYR 1.91

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 17.61

$4.2 MYR 17.73

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.09 MYR 76.3

$14.1 MYR 59.5

28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 MYR 11.38

$2.71 MYR 11.44

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MYR 16.53

$3.47 MYR 14.65

12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 3.08

$0.49 MYR 2.05

48.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.15 MYR 63.9

$17.98 MYR 75.8

-15.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 4.07

$0.72 MYR 3.04

34.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.29

$0.5 MYR 2.1

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 29.07

$7 MYR 29.53

-1.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.5 MYR 2.1

$0.46 MYR 1.96

8.70%

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

$33.9K MYR 142.8K

$33.6K MYR 141.7K

0.79%

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

$27.9K MYR 117.6K

$27.1K MYR 114.3K

2.95%

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

$41.07 MYR 173

$39.21 MYR 165

4.74%

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

$10.23 MYR 43.14

$10.33 MYR 43.55

-0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.49 MYR 129

$31.17 MYR 131

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.06 MYR 165

$32.59 MYR 137

19.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 25.24

$5.59 MYR 23.59

6.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 MYR 26.02

$5.01 MYR 21.15

23.15%

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

$209 MYR 882

$241 MYR 1,014

-13.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,113 MYR 25.8K

$6,174 MYR 26K

-0.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.07 MYR 207

$55.3 MYR 233

-11.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 MYR 146

$28.42 MYR 120

21.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MYR 260

$61.2 MYR 258

0.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.64 MYR 205

$53.6 MYR 226

-9.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 MYR 1,536

$388 MYR 1,637

-6.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 MYR 1,105

$230 MYR 968

14.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,425

$640 MYR 2,700

-10.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 2,010

$522 MYR 2,201

-8.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,457 MYR 6,145

$2,431 MYR 10.3K

-40.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,158 MYR 4,883

$1,481 MYR 6,247

-21.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,199 MYR 5,057

$1,101 MYR 4,643

8.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Shah Alam: October 27, 2025

Last update for Penang: October 26, 2025

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