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: $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $849 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,356 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,863 in Penang.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 18% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 48% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 MYR 9.87

$3.14 MYR 12.85

-23.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.12 MYR 90.5

$21.56 MYR 88.2

2.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.72

$4.18 MYR 17.10

9.57%

Cappuccino

$2.92 MYR 11.96

$2.95 MYR 12.05

-1.02%

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

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.69 MYR 2.81

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.11

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 MYR 14.71

$4.38 MYR 17.91

-17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 MYR 20.45

$4.54 MYR 18.59

10.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MYR 6.33

$1.88 MYR 7.68

-17.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.91

$1.00 MYR 4.07

-4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.35

$1.96 MYR 8.00

-33.16%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.03 MYR 8.30

4.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.02 MYR 61.4

$17.29 MYR 70.7

-13.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 MYR 18.12

$5.23 MYR 21.41

-15.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 MYR 38.80

$14.76 MYR 60.4

-35.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.85

$2.79 MYR 11.40

3.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.15

$1.46 MYR 5.99

2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.31

$2.61 MYR 10.69

-3.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.82

$2.11 MYR 8.64

-32.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.82

$1.18 MYR 4.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.20

$1.16 MYR 4.74

9.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$0.91 MYR 3.72

13.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.15

$0.45 MYR 1.85

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.61

$4.30 MYR 17.58

0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.63 MYR 76.2

$19.38 MYR 79.3

-3.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.59

$2.70 MYR 11.03

4.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.34

$3.41 MYR 13.94

-11.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.46 MYR 1.87

60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.55 MYR 47.23

$17.34 MYR 70.9

-33.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.68 MYR 2.80

69.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$0.53 MYR 2.17

84.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 MYR 24.38

$6.89 MYR 28.19

-13.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.46 MYR 1.89

6.52%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

5.67%

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

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

14.86%

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

$43.18 MYR 177

$38.52 MYR 158

12.10%

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

$8.96 MYR 36.63

$10.16 MYR 41.54

-11.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.00 MYR 119

$31.68 MYR 130

-8.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.41 MYR 153

$32.43 MYR 133

15.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.45

$5.57 MYR 22.80

2.87%

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.82

$4.89 MYR 20.01

-0.82%

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

$187 MYR 763

$238 MYR 973

-21.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

8.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 251

$54.3 MYR 222

12.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 MYR 111

$29.23 MYR 120

-7.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 MYR 301

$61.8 MYR 253

18.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 MYR 208

$52.6 MYR 215

-3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 MYR 820

$380 MYR 1,553

-47.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 MYR 474

$222 MYR 910

-47.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,651

$641 MYR 2,620

1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$516 MYR 2,111

-47.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,050 MYR 8,383

$2,245 MYR 9,183

-8.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,138 MYR 4,653

$1,168 MYR 4,779

-2.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 MYR 2,003

$921 MYR 3,765

-46.81%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Kuala Terengganu and $380 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 $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $285 per month, with Kuala Terengganu 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

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

Kuala Terengganu and Penang differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $849 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 88% lower in Penang. 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: $200 in Kuala Terengganu versus $380 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $849 in Penang – a 22% 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.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 22% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.