Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $850 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,359 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,868 in Penang.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 17% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 47% lower, Penang 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.08

$3.11 MYR 12.34

-26.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 MYR 87.2

$20.86 MYR 82.7

5.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.30

$4.14 MYR 16.42

5.31%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 11.79

$2.83 MYR 11.22

4.95%

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

$0.44 MYR 1.75

$0.74 MYR 2.93

-40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.07

$0.36 MYR 1.43

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.16

$4.39 MYR 17.40

-18.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.27

$4.45 MYR 17.63

9.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 MYR 6.12

$1.90 MYR 7.53

-18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$0.99 MYR 3.92

-3.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.96 MYR 7.78

-36.22%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.14 MYR 8.47

-4.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 59.8

$17.10 MYR 67.8

-11.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 MYR 17.46

$5.07 MYR 20.11

-13.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 38.38

$14.51 MYR 57.5

-33.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.83

$2.77 MYR 11.00

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.76

$1.52 MYR 6.01

-4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.20

$2.60 MYR 10.30

-1.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$2.12 MYR 8.42

-34.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.13 MYR 4.47

9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$1.21 MYR 4.80

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.16

$0.95 MYR 3.78

10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.49 MYR 1.95

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.29

$4.14 MYR 16.41

5.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 MYR 74.5

$19.79 MYR 78.5

-5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.19

$2.60 MYR 10.31

8.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.93

$3.51 MYR 13.94

-14.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.46 MYR 1.81

60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.50

$18.00 MYR 71.4

-33.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$0.68 MYR 2.69

76.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$0.54 MYR 2.16

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 23.99

$6.98 MYR 27.68

-13.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$0.50 MYR 1.99

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

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

$34.0K MYR 134.8K

4.10%

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

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

$27.0K MYR 106.9K

18.73%

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

$43.46 MYR 172

$39.05 MYR 155

11.29%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.07

$10.11 MYR 40.09

-7.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MYR 118

$30.91 MYR 123

-4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 MYR 144

$32.17 MYR 128

13.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.96

$5.41 MYR 21.44

7.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 19.74

$4.92 MYR 19.49

1.22%

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

$184 MYR 730

$240 MYR 950

-23.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

$6,110 MYR 24.2K

15.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 242

$55.5 MYR 220

9.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.86 MYR 106

$28.97 MYR 115

-7.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MYR 294

$60.7 MYR 241

22.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 202

$52.0 MYR 206

-1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MYR 787

$388 MYR 1,539

-48.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 MYR 476

$229 MYR 909

-47.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,571

$638 MYR 2,530

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,084

$513 MYR 2,034

-46.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 MYR 7,823

$2,318 MYR 9,190

-14.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 MYR 3,879

$1,180 MYR 4,678

-17.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 MYR 2,001

$949 MYR 3,762

-46.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.16

-2.16%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Kuala Terengganu and $388 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 88% 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: $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $21.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $285, with Kuala Terengganu cheaper for home cooking.

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

Kuala Terengganu vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Terengganu and Penang differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $850 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Penang earns 88% 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: $199 in Kuala Terengganu versus $388 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $850 in Penang – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 50% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $850 in Penang, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Penang. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.