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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shah Alam is 4.5% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Shah Alam is 5.2% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 11% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.10 MYR 12.23

$3.03 MYR 11.95

2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.22 MYR 75.9

$21.49 MYR 84.9

-10.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.27

$4.15 MYR 16.37

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.64

$2.85 MYR 11.25

-5.61%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.90

$0.68 MYR 2.68

7.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.33 MYR 1.32

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 MYR 14.06

$4.42 MYR 17.48

-19.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 16.98

$4.33 MYR 17.09

-0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.22

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-3.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 MYR 3.81

$1.04 MYR 4.10

-6.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 5.90

$1.98 MYR 7.81

-24.75%

Eggs

$2.15 MYR 8.50

$2.13 MYR 8.42

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.93 MYR 55.0

$17.65 MYR 69.7

-21.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 MYR 20.05

$4.99 MYR 19.72

1.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.30 MYR 32.78

$14.67 MYR 57.9

-43.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.52

$2.79 MYR 11.03

4.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.79

$1.49 MYR 5.90

-2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.12

$2.70 MYR 10.68

-5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$2.15 MYR 8.51

-42.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.68

$1.19 MYR 4.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.31

$1.18 MYR 4.65

13.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.84

$0.91 MYR 3.59

6.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.05

$0.49 MYR 1.95

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 MYR 16.75

$4.15 MYR 16.39

2.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.00 MYR 75.0

$19.76 MYR 78.1

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 MYR 10.26

$2.69 MYR 10.62

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 MYR 15.69

$3.49 MYR 13.78

13.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.72

$0.48 MYR 1.91

43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.02 MYR 59.3

$17.54 MYR 69.3

-14.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MYR 3.76

$0.74 MYR 2.94

28.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 MYR 2.16

$0.54 MYR 2.15

1.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.99 MYR 27.63

$7.14 MYR 28.21

-2.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.47 MYR 1.84

6.38%

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

$34.0K MYR 134.3K

$33.0K MYR 130.5K

2.93%

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

$27.4K MYR 108.4K

$27.3K MYR 108.0K

0.38%

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

$41.42 MYR 164

$38.95 MYR 154

6.34%

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

$10.06 MYR 39.73

$10.22 MYR 40.37

-1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.86 MYR 118

$31.73 MYR 125

-5.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.36 MYR 152

$32.71 MYR 129

17.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 23.00

$5.51 MYR 21.78

5.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MYR 24.43

$4.91 MYR 19.40

26.07%

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

$214 MYR 844

$234 MYR 925

-8.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,149 MYR 24.3K

$6,126 MYR 24.2K

0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.45 MYR 191

$55.2 MYR 218

-12.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.94 MYR 138

$29.37 MYR 116

18.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 MYR 246

$60.3 MYR 238

3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.82 MYR 193

$51.8 MYR 205

-5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 MYR 1,415

$389 MYR 1,537

-7.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 MYR 1,038

$227 MYR 897

15.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,269

$640 MYR 2,527

-10.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,870

$526 MYR 2,078

-9.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,530 MYR 6,044

$2,321 MYR 9,167

-34.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,229 MYR 4,856

$1,188 MYR 4,691

3.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,254 MYR 4,954

$949 MYR 3,749

32.14%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 11, 2026

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

Shah Alam vs other spots: cost of living compared

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