😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,873 in Amstetten versus $869 in Penang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,727 in Amstetten versus $1,385 in Penang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,582 in Amstetten versus $1,901 in Penang.
😐Living in Amstetten is roughly 115% more expensive than Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amstetten is 39% above, Penang is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.27€14.10
$3.04MYR 12.35
435.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8€47.47
$21.59MYR 87.6
153.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.01€7.81
$4.33MYR 17.59
108.08%
Cappuccino
$3.66€3.17
$2.94MYR 11.91
24.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.48
$0.68MYR 2.78
320.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.25
$0.36MYR 1.48
622.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.57€3.96
$4.40MYR 17.86
3.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.99
$4.46MYR 18.11
-22.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67€1.45
$1.81MYR 7.33
-7.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.78
$0.99MYR 4.00
107.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87€2.49
$2.03MYR 8.22
41.38%
Eggs
$5.13€4.45
$2.13MYR 8.66
140.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.99€15.59
$17.36MYR 70.4
3.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.71€11.88
$5.21MYR 21.14
163.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.40€18.55
$15.08MYR 61.2
41.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.45
$2.87MYR 11.66
-1.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.54€2.20
$1.47MYR 5.96
72.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.94€2.55
$2.57MYR 10.43
14.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91€3.39
$2.11MYR 8.58
85.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.73
$1.18MYR 4.80
69.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.16MYR 4.71
78.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81€1.57
$0.95MYR 3.87
90.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.89
$0.49MYR 1.98
110.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.18
$4.36MYR 17.69
63.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.14€7.92
$19.63MYR 79.7
-53.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.35
$2.62MYR 10.62
-40.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.71
$3.40MYR 13.81
-42.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.46
$0.45MYR 1.82
528.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.9€52.7
$17.40MYR 70.6
249.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.06
$0.69MYR 2.81
744.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02€1.75
$0.54MYR 2.21
274.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.68€30.06
$7.20MYR 29.21
381.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.58
$0.47MYR 1.90
289.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K€24.6K
$32.9KMYR 133.6K
-13.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K€25.6K
$27.3KMYR 110.6K
8.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$371€322
$38.60MYR 157
862.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.88€17.23
$10.06MYR 40.82
97.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.93€31.14
$31.44MYR 128
14.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.90€41.52
$33.04MYR 134
44.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.37€22.86
$5.42MYR 21.99
386.53%
Cinema Ticket
$13.93€12.07
$4.91MYR 19.91
183.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$399€346
$238MYR 964
67.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,258€6,291
$6,198MYR 25.2K
17.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.3€83.4
$54.6MYR 222
76.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01€34.68
$28.39MYR 115
40.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100€87.0
$60.5MYR 245
65.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€127
$53.5MYR 217
174.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533€462
$387MYR 1,570
37.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459€398
$230MYR 934
99.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$862€747
$640MYR 2,599
34.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794€688
$525MYR 2,132
51.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,175€2,752
$2,250MYR 9,130
41.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,855€2,475
$1,186MYR 4,811
140.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amstetten
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,998€2,598
$951MYR 3,860
215.10%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $533 in Amstetten and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 215% 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 $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $287 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 115% in total monthly costs ($1,873 vs $869 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 215% 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: $533 in Amstetten versus $387 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 $399 in Amstetten versus $238 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 $869 in Penang versus $1,873 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 115% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.