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: $939 in Ulu Tiram versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,789 in Ulu Tiram versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Ulu Tiram is roughly 12% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulu Tiram 31% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 MYR 15.32

$3.72 MYR 15.24

0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.6

$19.77 MYR 80.9

8.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.06

$4.57 MYR 18.72

7.22%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.17

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-0.34%

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

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.74 MYR 3.01

5.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.37 MYR 1.50

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 MYR 18.62

$4.30 MYR 17.60

5.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 MYR 25.75

$4.53 MYR 18.53

38.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MYR 6.97

$1.80 MYR 7.37

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.06 MYR 4.32

-2.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.72 MYR 7.05

-16.28%

Eggs

$1.75 MYR 7.16

$2.14 MYR 8.76

-18.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 MYR 39.69

$13.06 MYR 53.5

-25.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$4.32 MYR 17.68

-2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.40

$8.52 MYR 34.87

13.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 MYR 13.67

$2.93 MYR 11.99

13.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.66 MYR 6.78

5.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.57 MYR 10.51

3.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.62

$1.46 MYR 5.99

10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.98

$1.11 MYR 4.55

31.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.89

$1.16 MYR 4.76

44.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$1.14 MYR 4.67

21.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.26

$0.54 MYR 2.21

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.81

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 MYR 69.4

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-10.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 12.15

$3.01 MYR 12.34

-1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 MYR 12.73

$3.98 MYR 16.29

-21.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.50 MYR 2.05

38.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.25 MYR 50.2

$12.18 MYR 49.85

0.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 MYR 5.10

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-27.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.46

$0.38 MYR 1.56

-5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.32 MYR 38.15

$7.46 MYR 30.55

24.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-10.34%

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

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

-1.80%

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

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

0.49%

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

$53.0 MYR 217

$36.65 MYR 150

44.50%

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

$8.22 MYR 33.65

$9.91 MYR 40.57

-17.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 MYR 119

$29.71 MYR 122

-2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.66 MYR 166

$39.12 MYR 160

3.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 MYR 24.10

$4.82 MYR 19.71

22.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.03

$5.22 MYR 21.37

-6.32%

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

$166 MYR 680

$432 MYR 1,768

-61.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

-57.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.6 MYR 273

$59.3 MYR 243

12.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.16 MYR 70.2

$35.89 MYR 147

-52.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 MYR 317

$83.0 MYR 340

-6.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.28 MYR 198

$71.4 MYR 292

-32.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,617

$409 MYR 1,675

-3.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 MYR 1,224

$228 MYR 934

31.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 MYR 2,808

$583 MYR 2,387

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 MYR 1,995

$414 MYR 1,694

17.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 MYR 8,244

$2,244 MYR 9,187

-10.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 MYR 4,678

$1,058 MYR 4,331

8.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 MYR 3,491

$914 MYR 3,740

-6.67%

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 Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Ulu Tiram and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Ulu Tiram vs $20.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $250, with Ulu Tiram cheaper for home cooking.

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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Penang. 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: $395 in Ulu Tiram 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 $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $939 per month in Ulu Tiram versus $837 in Penang – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $837 in Penang versus $939 in Ulu Tiram, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Ulu Tiram. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Penang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ulu Tiram, 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Ulu Tiram. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.