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: $828 in George Town versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,304 in George Town versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,781 in George Town versus $1,901 in Penang.

Living in George Town costs roughly 5% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 38% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 MYR 12.71

$3.04 MYR 12.34

2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.31 MYR 86.4

$21.59 MYR 87.5

-1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.80

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-4.39%

Cappuccino

$2.58 MYR 10.46

$2.94 MYR 11.90

-12.24%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$0.68 MYR 2.78

13.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.36 MYR 1.48

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.26 MYR 17.26

$4.40 MYR 17.85

-3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 MYR 19.42

$4.46 MYR 18.10

7.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.50

$1.81 MYR 7.32

2.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.54

$0.99 MYR 4.00

13.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.85

$2.03 MYR 8.21

-16.75%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.32

$2.13 MYR 8.65

-3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.52 MYR 71.0

$17.36 MYR 70.4

0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 20.07

$5.21 MYR 21.12

-4.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MYR 43.24

$15.08 MYR 61.1

-29.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 MYR 11.44

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.82

$1.47 MYR 5.96

-2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MYR 8.87

$2.57 MYR 10.43

-14.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-40.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MYR 3.59

$1.18 MYR 4.79

-24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$1.16 MYR 4.71

4.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 MYR 2.78

$0.95 MYR 3.87

-27.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.49 MYR 1.97

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 MYR 16.28

$4.36 MYR 17.68

-7.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 MYR 50.9

$19.63 MYR 79.6

-36.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.68

$2.62 MYR 10.61

0.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 13.72

$3.40 MYR 13.80

-0.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.45 MYR 1.82

8.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 46.89

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-33.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$0.69 MYR 2.80

68.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 MYR 1.78

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 MYR 26.80

$7.20 MYR 29.19

-8.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

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

$33.2K MYR 134.6K

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

0.79%

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

$24.7K MYR 100.2K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

-9.35%

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

$38.53 MYR 156

$38.60 MYR 157

-0.18%

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

$9.93 MYR 40.25

$10.06 MYR 40.79

-1.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 MYR 120

$31.44 MYR 127

-6.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.84 MYR 157

$33.04 MYR 134

17.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.66 MYR 14.85

$5.42 MYR 21.97

-32.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 MYR 16.45

$4.91 MYR 19.90

-17.31%

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

$150 MYR 607

$238 MYR 963

-37.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,580 MYR 18.6K

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

-26.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 MYR 206

$54.6 MYR 221

-7.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.05 MYR 118

$28.39 MYR 115

2.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 MYR 213

$53.5 MYR 217

-1.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 MYR 1,501

$387 MYR 1,569

-4.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 MYR 1,051

$230 MYR 933

12.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 MYR 2,887

$640 MYR 2,597

11.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 2,018

$525 MYR 2,131

-5.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,085 MYR 4,400

$951 MYR 3,858

14.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in George Town and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 14% 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 $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $287 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

George Town pays 14% 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: $370 in George Town versus $387 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 51% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $150 in George Town versus $238 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 5% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.