Cost of Living Comparison Between Labuan and PenangCost of Living Comparison Between Labuan and Penang
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $893 in Labuan versus $862 in Penang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,380 in Labuan versus $1,379 in Penang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,868 in Labuan versus $1,895 in Penang.
😐Living in Labuan is roughly 4% more expensive than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Labuan33% lower, Penang36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.18MYR 20.48
$3.10MYR 12.24
67.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.52MYR 92.9
$21.13MYR 83.5
11.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35MYR 25.08
$4.12MYR 16.27
54.13%
Cappuccino
$3.65MYR 14.42
$2.88MYR 11.36
26.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MYR 4.09
$0.70MYR 2.75
48.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MYR 1.55
$0.33MYR 1.32
18.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45MYR 13.62
$4.30MYR 16.98
-19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89MYR 19.32
$4.43MYR 17.51
10.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61MYR 6.37
$1.89MYR 7.48
-14.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96MYR 3.78
$1.03MYR 4.05
-6.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MYR 4.95
$1.99MYR 7.86
-37.19%
Eggs
$2.03MYR 8.03
$2.04MYR 8.07
-0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.01MYR 59.3
$17.30MYR 68.4
-13.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.30MYR 16.99
$4.95MYR 19.54
-13.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.28MYR 36.67
$15.01MYR 59.3
-38.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85MYR 11.27
$2.88MYR 11.38
-1.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52MYR 6.01
$1.51MYR 5.96
0.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54MYR 10.03
$2.63MYR 10.38
-3.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42MYR 5.61
$2.09MYR 8.24
-32.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23MYR 4.84
$1.18MYR 4.64
4.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31MYR 5.18
$1.17MYR 4.63
11.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MYR 4.10
$0.91MYR 3.59
14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MYR 2.19
$0.48MYR 1.91
14.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32MYR 17.05
$4.29MYR 16.94
0.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41MYR 76.7
$19.41MYR 76.7
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87MYR 11.35
$2.74MYR 10.82
4.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87MYR 11.33
$3.39MYR 13.39
-15.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Labuan
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MYR 2.89
$0.46MYR 1.80
58.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.97MYR 47.29
$17.53MYR 69.3
-31.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MYR 4.59
$0.74MYR 2.94
56.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03MYR 4.05
$0.53MYR 2.10
94.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MYR 22.80
$6.95MYR 27.46
-16.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.83
$0.46MYR 1.82
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KMYR 141.7K
$33.5KMYR 132.3K
7.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KMYR 125.2K
$27.9KMYR 110.3K
13.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.85MYR 173
$39.31MYR 155
11.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89MYR 35.12
$10.23MYR 40.40
-13.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.14MYR 115
$31.17MYR 123
-6.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.62MYR 145
$33.28MYR 131
10.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.80MYR 22.90
$5.39MYR 21.30
7.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94MYR 19.50
$4.81MYR 19.01
2.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188MYR 743
$240MYR 947
-21.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,026MYR 27.8K
$6,163MYR 24.3K
14.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9MYR 237
$54.4MYR 215
10.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.76MYR 110
$29.08MYR 115
-4.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2MYR 289
$60.4MYR 239
21.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.4MYR 203
$52.6MYR 208
-2.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Labuan
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385MYR 1,522
$381MYR 1,503
1.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266MYR 1,051
$227MYR 895
17.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$639MYR 2,524
$639MYR 2,524
0.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MYR 1,871
$526MYR 2,077
-9.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,551MYR 6,126
$2,317MYR 9,153
-33.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$776MYR 3,065
$1,197MYR 4,729
-35.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Labuan
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$376MYR 1,484
$968MYR 3,824
-61.18%
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 Labuan: April 27, 2026
Last update for Penang: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Labuan and $381 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Penang pays 158% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Labuan vs $21.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $286, with Labuan 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
Labuan vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penang cheaper than Labuan?
Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Labuan or Penang?
On paper, Penang earns 158% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Labuan and Penang?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Labuan versus $381 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $188 in Labuan versus $240 in Penang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Labuan and Penang?
Shoppers in Labuan pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 enough for either Labuan or Penang?
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.
Is Labuan or Penang more family-friendly?
For families, Penang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Labuan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Labuan or Penang?
Safety-wise, Labuan 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Labuan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.