Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $843 in George Town versus $862 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in George Town versus $1,379 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,769 in George Town versus $1,895 in Penang.

Living in George Town costs roughly 2% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 37% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 11.93

$3.10 MYR 12.24

-2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.35 MYR 84.3

$21.13 MYR 83.5

1.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.27 MYR 16.86

$4.12 MYR 16.27

3.64%

Cappuccino

$2.62 MYR 10.35

$2.88 MYR 11.36

-9.03%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.03

$0.70 MYR 2.75

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.44

$0.33 MYR 1.32

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.20

$4.30 MYR 16.98

1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MYR 18.49

$4.43 MYR 17.51

5.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.21

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.43

$1.03 MYR 4.05

8.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.60

$1.99 MYR 7.86

-16.08%

Eggs

$2.10 MYR 8.31

$2.04 MYR 8.07

2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.50 MYR 69.1

$17.30 MYR 68.4

1.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 MYR 19.65

$4.95 MYR 19.54

0.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.47 MYR 41.35

$15.01 MYR 59.3

-30.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.30

$2.88 MYR 11.38

-0.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.53

$1.51 MYR 5.96

-7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 MYR 8.90

$2.63 MYR 10.38

-14.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.04

$2.09 MYR 8.24

-38.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.44

$1.18 MYR 4.64

-26.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.57

$1.17 MYR 4.63

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 MYR 2.76

$0.91 MYR 3.59

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.04

$0.48 MYR 1.91

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$4.29 MYR 16.94

-2.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 MYR 50.2

$19.41 MYR 76.7

-34.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.45

$2.74 MYR 10.82

-3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.29

$3.39 MYR 13.39

-0.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$0.46 MYR 1.80

6.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 46.62

$17.53 MYR 69.3

-32.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$0.74 MYR 2.94

56.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 MYR 1.73

$0.53 MYR 2.10

-16.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 MYR 25.26

$6.95 MYR 27.46

-8.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.46 MYR 1.82

6.52%

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

$34.1K MYR 134.6K

$33.5K MYR 132.3K

1.70%

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

$25.0K MYR 98.7K

$27.9K MYR 110.3K

-10.52%

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

$38.18 MYR 151

$39.31 MYR 155

-2.87%

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

$9.68 MYR 38.23

$10.23 MYR 40.40

-5.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.98 MYR 114

$31.17 MYR 123

-7.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.37 MYR 152

$33.28 MYR 131

15.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 MYR 14.94

$5.39 MYR 21.30

-29.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 MYR 16.30

$4.81 MYR 19.01

-14.14%

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

$146 MYR 578

$240 MYR 947

-38.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,643 MYR 18.3K

$6,163 MYR 24.3K

-24.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 MYR 207

$54.4 MYR 215

-3.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 MYR 113

$29.08 MYR 115

-1.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 MYR 247

$60.4 MYR 239

3.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 MYR 206

$52.6 MYR 208

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,465

$381 MYR 1,503

-2.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 MYR 999

$227 MYR 895

11.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 MYR 2,799

$639 MYR 2,524

10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 1,969

$526 MYR 2,077

-5.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 MYR 9,153

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,197 MYR 4,729

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,112 MYR 4,393

$968 MYR 3,824

14.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for George Town: April 25, 2026

Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in George Town and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 15% 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 George Town vs $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $286 per month, with George Town 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

George Town vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

George Town is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

George Town pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $371 in George Town versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in George Town runs roughly 49% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $146 in George Town versus $240 in Penang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though George Town gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, George Town is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, George Town 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 George Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.