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: $976 in Kuala Terengganu versus $859 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,436 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,322 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,897 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,786 in Penang.

Living in Kuala Terengganu is roughly 14% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 29% lower, Penang 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 MYR 10.12

$3.75 MYR 15.15

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.34 MYR 94.4

$19.54 MYR 79.0

19.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 MYR 20.27

$4.75 MYR 19.22

5.47%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.26

$3.07 MYR 12.41

-9.12%

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

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.73 MYR 2.96

-36.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 MYR 1.13

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.11

$4.17 MYR 16.85

1.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 17.08

$4.41 MYR 17.84

-4.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 MYR 7.04

$1.82 MYR 7.35

-4.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.25

$1.06 MYR 4.27

-0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.26

$1.80 MYR 7.28

-27.78%

Eggs

$1.95 MYR 7.87

$2.21 MYR 8.92

-11.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 MYR 57.6

$13.29 MYR 53.7

7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 MYR 18.52

$4.53 MYR 18.31

1.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.22 MYR 41.32

$8.86 MYR 35.80

15.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MYR 13.38

$2.92 MYR 11.81

13.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.81

$1.69 MYR 6.83

-0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.25

$2.60 MYR 10.49

6.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.10

$1.48 MYR 5.99

18.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.80

$1.07 MYR 4.32

11.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 MYR 4.40

$1.11 MYR 4.48

-1.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 MYR 4.86

$1.11 MYR 4.49

8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.54 MYR 2.17

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.61

$4.54 MYR 18.37

-3.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.75 MYR 83.9

$19.01 MYR 76.9

9.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 MYR 10.18

$3.01 MYR 12.18

-16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 MYR 16.29

$4.13 MYR 16.68

-2.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 MYR 3.35

$0.48 MYR 1.94

72.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.21 MYR 45.31

$12.59 MYR 50.9

-10.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.07

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-28.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MYR 2.26

$0.42 MYR 1.68

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 MYR 28.55

$7.59 MYR 30.67

-6.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 MYR 2.66

$0.87 MYR 3.53

-24.14%

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

$41.9K MYR 169.4K

$43.1K MYR 174.1K

-2.74%

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

$35.7K MYR 144.2K

$34.8K MYR 140.6K

2.55%

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

$50.6 MYR 205

$38.08 MYR 154

32.96%

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

$9.17 MYR 37.07

$10.06 MYR 40.66

-8.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.58 MYR 107

$29.46 MYR 119

-9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.19 MYR 179

$38.74 MYR 157

14.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.54 MYR 26.43

$4.90 MYR 19.80

33.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.94 MYR 19.96

$5.10 MYR 20.62

-3.14%

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

$202 MYR 815

$438 MYR 1,770

-53.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,936 MYR 20.0K

$10.7K MYR 43.2K

-53.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 MYR 247

$61.4 MYR 248

-0.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.93 MYR 157

$35.89 MYR 145

8.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 MYR 379

$85.1 MYR 344

9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.6 MYR 326

$69.6 MYR 281

15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 MYR 1,764

$409 MYR 1,654

6.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MYR 1,184

$237 MYR 959

23.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 MYR 3,083

$573 MYR 2,316

33.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,906

$418 MYR 1,692

12.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 MYR 9,182

$2,246 MYR 9,081

1.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,153 MYR 4,663

$1,081 MYR 4,369

6.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 MYR 2,028

$928 MYR 3,750

-45.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.24

-0.94%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Kuala Terengganu and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $254 per month, with Penang 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 14% in total monthly costs ($976 vs $859 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 85% 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: $436 in Kuala Terengganu versus $409 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $976 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $859 in Penang – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Penang runs roughly 12% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Penang 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.