Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulu Tiram and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $842 in Ulu Tiram versus $854 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,284 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,396 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,725 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,938 in Penang.

Living in Ulu Tiram costs roughly 1% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulu Tiram 37% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.21

$3.03 MYR 11.97

18.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.82 MYR 74.4

$21.23 MYR 83.9

-11.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.13

$4.12 MYR 16.28

11.41%

Cappuccino

$2.72 MYR 10.73

$2.95 MYR 11.64

-7.80%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$0.72 MYR 2.86

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.34 MYR 1.33

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 MYR 17.24

$4.46 MYR 17.63

-2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 MYR 26.72

$4.52 MYR 17.87

49.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.31

$1.84 MYR 7.26

0.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.94

$1.02 MYR 4.04

-1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.09

$2.02 MYR 7.99

-36.14%

Eggs

$1.82 MYR 7.18

$2.11 MYR 8.32

-13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 MYR 42.66

$16.98 MYR 67.1

-36.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.07 MYR 16.08

$5.17 MYR 20.41

-21.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 MYR 31.19

$14.61 MYR 57.7

-45.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 10.94

$2.93 MYR 11.56

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.81

$1.45 MYR 5.73

1.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.12

$2.68 MYR 10.57

-4.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.78

$2.18 MYR 8.61

-44.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.15 MYR 4.53

2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.49

$1.22 MYR 4.83

13.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 MYR 3.46

$0.97 MYR 3.83

-9.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.50

$0.48 MYR 1.91

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.52

$4.14 MYR 16.35

0.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.47 MYR 69.0

$19.42 MYR 76.7

-10.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.38

$2.63 MYR 10.40

9.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.87

$3.53 MYR 13.94

-14.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.67

$0.48 MYR 1.91

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.08

$17.59 MYR 69.5

-32.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$0.72 MYR 2.86

37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$0.54 MYR 2.13

90.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.48 MYR 37.46

$7.28 MYR 28.74

30.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$0.49 MYR 1.94

2.04%

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

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

$33.7K MYR 133.3K

3.36%

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

$33.4K MYR 132.1K

$27.5K MYR 108.7K

21.47%

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

$45.05 MYR 178

$38.68 MYR 153

16.47%

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

$9.33 MYR 36.84

$10.06 MYR 39.73

-7.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.41 MYR 120

$31.12 MYR 123

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.32 MYR 143

$32.54 MYR 129

11.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 23.95

$5.65 MYR 22.32

7.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.04

$5.04 MYR 19.89

0.60%

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

$189 MYR 745

$236 MYR 931

-19.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,784 MYR 26.8K

$6,202 MYR 24.5K

9.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 256

$54.4 MYR 215

19.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.50 MYR 73.1

$29.20 MYR 115

-36.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 MYR 275

$62.4 MYR 247

11.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.81 MYR 189

$53.1 MYR 210

-9.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 MYR 1,514

$381 MYR 1,503

0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,070

$225 MYR 890

20.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,543

$643 MYR 2,539

0.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,849

$516 MYR 2,036

-9.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,744 MYR 6,888

$2,303 MYR 9,095

-24.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$874 MYR 3,452

$1,192 MYR 4,709

-26.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$870 MYR 3,438

$960 MYR 3,792

-9.32%

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 Ulu Tiram: April 21, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Ulu Tiram and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 10% 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 in Ulu Tiram vs $21 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $285 per month, with Ulu Tiram 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

Ulu Tiram vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulu Tiram is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Penang earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $383 in Ulu Tiram versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ulu Tiram – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $842 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $854 in Penang – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ulu Tiram gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Ulu Tiram is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.