Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Bintulu versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Bintulu versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Bintulu versus $1,901 in Penang.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 8% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 40% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.83 MYR 15.52

$3.04 MYR 12.34

25.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.48 MYR 70.9

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-19.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.73 MYR 23.24

$4.33 MYR 17.57

32.33%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.27

$2.94 MYR 11.90

-5.44%

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

$0.67 MYR 2.71

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.36 MYR 1.48

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 MYR 11.33

$4.40 MYR 17.85

-36.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.65

$4.46 MYR 18.10

8.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MYR 6.97

$1.81 MYR 7.32

-4.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 MYR 5.35

$0.99 MYR 4.00

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.30

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-35.47%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.84

$2.13 MYR 8.65

2.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.62 MYR 67.4

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-4.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 MYR 14.26

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-32.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.80 MYR 23.52

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-61.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.60

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-43.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.74

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-37.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.60

$2.57 MYR 10.43

-36.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.32

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-49.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 MYR 2.13

$1.18 MYR 4.79

-55.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.16 MYR 4.71

-0.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 MYR 2.73

$0.95 MYR 3.87

-29.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 MYR 1.73

$0.49 MYR 1.97

-12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 MYR 15.83

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-10.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.51 MYR 79.1

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.40

$2.62 MYR 10.61

7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 MYR 7.53

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-45.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 MYR 4.86

$0.45 MYR 1.82

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.64 MYR 63.4

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-10.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$0.69 MYR 2.80

31.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 MYR 3.55

$0.54 MYR 2.21

62.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.33 MYR 9.43

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-67.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.05

$0.47 MYR 1.89

8.51%

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

$42.4K MYR 171.9K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

28.76%

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

$38.0K MYR 154.1K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

39.38%

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

$59.1 MYR 240

$38.60 MYR 157

53.13%

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

$8.97 MYR 36.37

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-10.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.31 MYR 119

$31.44 MYR 127

-6.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.4 MYR 269

$33.04 MYR 134

101.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.88 MYR 23.83

$5.42 MYR 21.97

8.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 MYR 16.79

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-15.68%

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

$121 MYR 491

$238 MYR 963

-49.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,172 MYR 29.1K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

15.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 MYR 253

$54.6 MYR 221

14.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.27 MYR 139

$28.39 MYR 115

20.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MYR 306

$60.5 MYR 245

24.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.8 MYR 356

$53.5 MYR 217

64.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 MYR 859

$387 MYR 1,569

-45.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 MYR 611

$230 MYR 933

-34.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 MYR 1,870

$640 MYR 2,597

-27.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 MYR 1,291

$525 MYR 2,131

-39.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,756 MYR 7,122

$2,250 MYR 9,123

-21.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,159 MYR 4,701

$1,186 MYR 4,807

-2.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 MYR 2,478

$951 MYR 3,858

-35.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.16

8.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bintulu: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Bintulu and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 56% 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: $17.00 in Bintulu vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $287 per month, with Bintulu 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

Bintulu vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Penang. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Penang earns 56% 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: $212 in Bintulu versus $387 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Bintulu versus $869 in Penang – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 11% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $802 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bintulu 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 Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.