😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,872 in Amstetten versus $854 in Penang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,724 in Amstetten versus $1,396 in Penang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,575 in Amstetten versus $1,938 in Penang.
😐Living in Amstetten is roughly 119% more expensive than Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amstetten is 40% above, Penang is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.29€13.89
$3.03MYR 11.97
437.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7€46.67
$21.23MYR 83.9
157.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04€7.71
$4.12MYR 16.28
119.42%
Cappuccino
$3.69€3.15
$2.95MYR 11.64
25.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.39
$0.72MYR 2.86
288.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.14
$0.34MYR 1.33
638.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36€3.72
$4.46MYR 17.63
-2.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31€2.82
$4.52MYR 17.87
-26.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61€1.37
$1.84MYR 7.26
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97€1.68
$1.02MYR 4.04
93.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83€2.42
$2.02MYR 7.99
40.10%
Eggs
$5.06€4.31
$2.11MYR 8.32
139.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.16€15.49
$16.98MYR 67.1
6.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.70€11.68
$5.17MYR 20.41
164.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.31€18.17
$14.61MYR 57.7
45.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.34
$2.93MYR 11.56
-6.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.47€2.11
$1.45MYR 5.73
70.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95€2.52
$2.68MYR 10.57
10.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.86€3.29
$2.18MYR 8.61
77.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06€1.75
$1.15MYR 4.53
79.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.73
$1.22MYR 4.83
66.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.59
$0.97MYR 3.83
92.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.84
$0.48MYR 1.91
106.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.32€6.24
$4.14MYR 16.35
76.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.81€7.51
$19.42MYR 76.7
-54.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$2.63MYR 10.40
-42.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.77
$3.53MYR 13.94
-41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87€2.45
$0.48MYR 1.91
497.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.3€50.6
$17.59MYR 69.5
237.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.91€5.04
$0.72MYR 2.86
720.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96€1.67
$0.54MYR 2.13
262.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.12€29.11
$7.28MYR 28.74
368.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.56
$0.49MYR 1.94
273.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.2K
$33.7KMYR 133.3K
-15.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K€25.5K
$27.5KMYR 108.7K
8.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$375€320
$38.68MYR 153
870.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.15€16.33
$10.06MYR 39.73
90.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.63€31.24
$31.12MYR 123
17.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.52€39.68
$32.54MYR 129
42.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.99€22.17
$5.65MYR 22.32
360.00%
Cinema Ticket
$14.02€11.96
$5.04MYR 19.89
178.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402€343
$236MYR 931
70.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,087€6,046
$6,202MYR 24.5K
14.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.6€82.4
$54.4MYR 215
77.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82€33.97
$29.20MYR 115
36.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7€83.3
$62.4MYR 247
56.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152€130
$53.1MYR 210
186.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538€459
$381MYR 1,503
41.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465€397
$225MYR 890
106.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$868€741
$643MYR 2,539
35.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776€662
$516MYR 2,036
50.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,168€2,702
$2,303MYR 9,095
37.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,901€2,474
$1,192MYR 4,709
143.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,470€2,960
$960MYR 3,792
261.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.91
4.16
-6.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amstetten: April 22, 2026
Last update for Penang: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Amstetten and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 262% 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: $55 in Amstetten vs $21 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $285 per month, with Penang 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
Amstetten vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amstetten and Penang?
Amstetten and Penang differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,872 vs $854 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amstetten or Penang?
Amstetten pays 262% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Amstetten and Penang?
Rent for a central apartment: $538 in Amstetten versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Amstetten and Penang?
Childcare runs $402 in Amstetten versus $236 in Penang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Amstetten. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $854 in Penang versus $1,872 in Amstetten, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Amstetten. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amstetten and Penang?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Amstetten or Penang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Amstetten 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.
Where should expats move: Amstetten or Penang?
Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.