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: $969 in George Town versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in George Town versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,259 in George Town versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in George Town is roughly 16% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 29% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.36 MYR 13.72

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-9.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 MYR 61.3

$19.77 MYR 80.7

-24.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 MYR 19.39

$4.57 MYR 18.67

3.94%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.35

$2.98 MYR 12.15

-6.71%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.14

$0.74 MYR 3.01

4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 MYR 9.96

$4.30 MYR 17.55

-43.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 MYR 17.78

$4.53 MYR 18.49

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.36

$1.80 MYR 7.35

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.06 MYR 4.31

2.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.89

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-1.74%

Eggs

$2.22 MYR 9.06

$2.14 MYR 8.74

3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.99 MYR 53.0

$13.06 MYR 53.3

-0.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$4.32 MYR 17.64

-0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 MYR 35.22

$8.52 MYR 34.79

1.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 MYR 9.93

$2.93 MYR 11.96

-17.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.05

$1.66 MYR 6.76

-10.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 MYR 9.13

$2.57 MYR 10.48

-12.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.96

$1.46 MYR 5.97

-16.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$1.11 MYR 4.54

-17.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.49

$1.16 MYR 4.75

-26.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 MYR 3.15

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-32.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.62 MYR 18.84

$4.74 MYR 19.33

-2.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.06 MYR 77.8

$18.98 MYR 77.5

0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 MYR 10.26

$3.01 MYR 12.31

-16.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 MYR 14.65

$3.98 MYR 16.25

-9.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-6.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.93 MYR 44.63

$12.18 MYR 49.73

-10.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.92

$1.73 MYR 7.07

-30.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 MYR 1.94

$0.38 MYR 1.55

23.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.71 MYR 27.41

$7.46 MYR 30.47

-10.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 MYR 3.10

$0.87 MYR 3.56

-12.64%

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

$42.6K MYR 173.7K

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

1.45%

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

$28.7K MYR 117.1K

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

-17.73%

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

$36.69 MYR 150

$36.65 MYR 150

0.11%

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

$8.25 MYR 33.68

$9.91 MYR 40.47

-16.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.93 MYR 122

$29.71 MYR 121

0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.24 MYR 168

$39.12 MYR 160

5.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.77 MYR 19.49

$4.82 MYR 19.66

-1.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 MYR 19.23

$5.22 MYR 21.31

-9.77%

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

$175 MYR 715

$432 MYR 1,763

-59.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,966 MYR 20.3K

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

-53.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 MYR 225

$59.3 MYR 242

-7.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.40 MYR 140

$35.89 MYR 147

-4.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 MYR 298

$83.0 MYR 339

-12.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 291

$71.4 MYR 292

-0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 2,034

$409 MYR 1,670

21.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,524

$228 MYR 932

63.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 MYR 3,750

$583 MYR 2,381

57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$980 MYR 4,001

$414 MYR 1,690

136.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,081 MYR 4,414

$914 MYR 3,730

18.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

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

Last update for George Town: September 15, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in George Town and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 18% 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: $15.00 in George Town vs $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $250 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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 18% higher in George Town, 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: $498 in George Town versus $409 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

Childcare runs $175 in George Town versus $432 in Penang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $837 in Penang versus $969 in George Town, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in George Town. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Penang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in George Town, 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.