😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,831 in Amstetten versus $855 in Penang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,716 in Amstetten versus $1,394 in Penang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,602 in Amstetten versus $1,933 in Penang.
🌍Living in Amstetten is roughly 114% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amstetten is 37% above, Penang is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.93€14.01
$2.97MYR 12.14
436.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9€48.24
$21.37MYR 87.4
156.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.67€7.62
$4.31MYR 17.60
101.16%
Cappuccino
$3.73€3.28
$2.88MYR 11.77
29.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.46
$0.72MYR 2.95
288.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.28
$0.37MYR 1.49
602.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.04
$4.45MYR 18.19
3.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.03
$4.30MYR 17.59
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61€1.42
$1.83MYR 7.49
-12.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09€1.84
$1.04MYR 4.25
100.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.58
$1.96MYR 8.02
49.49%
Eggs
$5.03€4.42
$2.14MYR 8.75
135.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.56€15.43
$17.25MYR 70.5
1.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.81€12.14
$5.14MYR 21.03
168.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.74€18.23
$14.66MYR 59.9
41.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.48
$2.93MYR 11.97
-3.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.19
$1.50MYR 6.13
66.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83€2.49
$2.73MYR 11.14
3.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98€3.50
$2.10MYR 8.59
89.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.75
$1.19MYR 4.85
68.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.82
$1.16MYR 4.74
78.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.83€1.61
$0.90MYR 3.69
103.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.90
$0.45MYR 1.83
126.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44€6.54
$4.20MYR 17.18
77.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.72€7.66
$18.73MYR 76.6
-53.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.33
$2.59MYR 10.59
-41.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.80
$3.40MYR 13.89
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.88€2.53
$0.46MYR 1.88
526.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.7€53.4
$17.37MYR 71.0
249.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.72€5.03
$0.73MYR 2.97
683.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92€1.69
$0.53MYR 2.17
262.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.90€30.68
$7.11MYR 29.07
390.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.53
$0.50MYR 2.02
248.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€25.0K
$34.0KMYR 139.1K
-16.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K€26.2K
$27.8KMYR 113.7K
7.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$370€325
$38.69MYR 158
855.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.65€17.27
$10.29MYR 42.05
90.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.38€31.98
$31.44MYR 129
15.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.80€41.15
$32.58MYR 133
43.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.36€23.18
$5.45MYR 22.28
383.67%
Cinema Ticket
$13.76€12.10
$4.89MYR 20.01
181.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407€358
$242MYR 991
68.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,241€6,365
$6,079MYR 24.9K
19.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.3€84.7
$55.4MYR 227
73.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.48€34.71
$28.57MYR 117
38.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6€87.6
$61.6MYR 252
61.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151€133
$53.3MYR 218
183.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$540€475
$384MYR 1,572
40.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$463€407
$230MYR 941
100.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$877€771
$640MYR 2,614
37.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$778€684
$522MYR 2,134
49.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,087€2,714
$2,227MYR 9,104
38.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,891€2,542
$1,148MYR 4,691
151.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,030€2,664
$924MYR 3,776
228.05%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Penang: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $540 in Amstetten and $384 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 228% 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: $55.0 in Amstetten vs $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $284 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 in Penang?
Amstetten and Penang differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($1,831 vs $855 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?
Average pay runs 228% higher in Amstetten, 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 in Penang?
Rent for a central apartment: $540 in Amstetten versus $384 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 $407 in Amstetten versus $242 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 $855 in Penang versus $1,831 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 114% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.