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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shah Alam is 4.2% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 1.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Shah Alam is 8.3% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.58

$3.11 MYR 12.61

-0.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.76 MYR 76.2

$21.15 MYR 85.9

-11.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.69

$4.33 MYR 17.57

0.69%

Cappuccino

$2.81 MYR 11.43

$2.86 MYR 11.63

-1.75%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.73 MYR 2.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.36 MYR 1.48

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 MYR 14.54

$4.29 MYR 17.41

-16.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 MYR 17.62

$4.37 MYR 17.73

-0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.47

$1.88 MYR 7.63

-2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.00 MYR 4.06

-6.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.83

$1.99 MYR 8.07

-27.64%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.38

$2.05 MYR 8.33

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 MYR 58.5

$16.99 MYR 69.0

-15.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 MYR 20.54

$5.18 MYR 21.02

-2.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 MYR 33.21

$14.97 MYR 60.8

-45.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.33

$2.77 MYR 11.26

0.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.14

$1.44 MYR 5.87

4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 MYR 10.11

$2.70 MYR 10.96

-7.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.94

$2.09 MYR 8.47

-41.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.64

$1.13 MYR 4.60

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.22 MYR 4.97

9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.61

$0.95 MYR 3.84

-6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.09

$0.45 MYR 1.82

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.48

$4.22 MYR 17.12

2.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.92 MYR 76.8

$19.31 MYR 78.4

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.89

$2.62 MYR 10.63

2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.58

$3.50 MYR 14.21

9.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.95

$0.46 MYR 1.85

58.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.39 MYR 62.5

$17.42 MYR 70.7

-11.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.96

$0.70 MYR 2.83

40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.19

$0.50 MYR 2.03

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.21 MYR 29.29

$7.23 MYR 29.33

-0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$0.46 MYR 1.88

6.52%

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

$33.9K MYR 137.7K

$33.9K MYR 137.6K

0.12%

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

$28.0K MYR 113.5K

$27.7K MYR 112.3K

1.08%

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

$40.32 MYR 164

$38.60 MYR 157

4.46%

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

$10.23 MYR 41.55

$10.03 MYR 40.71

1.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MYR 124

$30.91 MYR 125

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.86 MYR 158

$32.64 MYR 133

19.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 MYR 24.16

$5.52 MYR 22.40

7.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 MYR 26.02

$4.90 MYR 19.88

30.82%

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

$216 MYR 876

$238 MYR 968

-9.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,197 MYR 25.2K

$6,150 MYR 25.0K

0.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.64 MYR 197

$55.6 MYR 226

-12.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.85 MYR 137

$29.29 MYR 119

15.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 MYR 250

$60.4 MYR 245

1.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.44 MYR 197

$52.8 MYR 214

-8.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,508

$380 MYR 1,543

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 MYR 1,103

$227 MYR 920

19.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 MYR 2,339

$649 MYR 2,636

-11.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 MYR 1,968

$520 MYR 2,113

-6.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,478 MYR 6,001

$2,235 MYR 9,072

-33.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,209 MYR 4,910

$1,156 MYR 4,693

4.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,241 MYR 5,037

$988 MYR 4,012

25.55%

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: January 10, 2026

Last update for Penang: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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