Cost of Living Comparison Between Luang Prabang and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Luang Prabang and Penang

😐 Solo nomad: Luang Prabang is 13.2% more expensive than Penang without rent, and 83.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Luang Prabang is 1.4% cheaper than Penang without rent, and 72% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 LAK 39.9K
$3.07 MYR 12.07
-39.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59 LAK 380.2K
$21.19 MYR 83.3
-16.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 LAK 118.3K
$4.20 MYR 16.49
30.24%
Cappuccino
$1.63 LAK 35.3K
$2.96 MYR 11.65
-44.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 LAK 20.2K
$0.74 MYR 2.91
25.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 LAK 12.0K
$0.37 MYR 1.44
51.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 LAK 29.2K
$4.49 MYR 17.64
-69.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 LAK 25.8K
$4.40 MYR 17.31
-72.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 LAK 37.0K
$1.90 MYR 7.48
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 LAK 24.1K
$0.99 MYR 3.90
13.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 LAK 46.4K
$2.05 MYR 8.07
4.88%
Eggs
$2.39 LAK 51.6K
$2.15 MYR 8.44
11.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.97 LAK 539.6K
$17.37 MYR 68.3
43.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 LAK 55.7K
$5.00 MYR 19.64
-48.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.40 LAK 95.1K
$14.88 MYR 58.5
-70.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 LAK 30.5K
$2.78 MYR 10.91
-49.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 LAK 48.1K
$1.47 MYR 5.77
51.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 LAK 46.9K
$2.58 MYR 10.15
-15.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.44 LAK 95.9K
$2.19 MYR 8.62
102.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 LAK 32.4K
$1.14 MYR 4.48
31.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 LAK 21.8K
$1.20 MYR 4.72
-15.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 LAK 22.9K
$0.89 MYR 3.51
19.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 LAK 15.4K
$0.49 MYR 1.92
44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 LAK 42.6K
$4.35 MYR 17.09
-54.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$29.53 LAK 638.1K
$19.52 MYR 76.7
51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 LAK 27.1K
$2.62 MYR 10.29
-52.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 LAK 18.7K
$3.48 MYR 13.68
-75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 LAK 13.2K
$0.46 MYR 1.79
32.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.2 LAK 1.3M
$17.36 MYR 68.2
252.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 LAK 20.4K
$0.68 MYR 2.67
38.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 LAK 24.2K
$0.50 MYR 1.97
124.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.71 LAK 101.8K
$7.19 MYR 28.24
-34.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 LAK 23.8K
$0.49 MYR 1.95
124.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K LAK 612.6M
$34.0K MYR 133.5K
-16.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K LAK 640.9M
$27.9K MYR 109.5K
6.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.7 LAK 1.9M
$39.37 MYR 155
117.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.40 LAK 116.7K
$10.01 MYR 39.34
-46.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.08 LAK 153.1K
$31.45 MYR 124
-77.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.1 LAK 1.8M
$33.02 MYR 130
154.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 LAK 168.0K
$5.53 MYR 21.73
40.51%
Cinema Ticket
$2.56 LAK 55.3K
$4.81 MYR 18.91
-46.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$255 LAK 5.5M
$237 MYR 932
7.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,236 LAK 199.6M
$6,252 MYR 24.6K
47.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 LAK 1.6M
$54.3 MYR 213
32.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 LAK 1.3M
$29.00 MYR 114
113.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 LAK 1.6M
$62.5 MYR 246
18.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1 LAK 1.1M
$52.4 MYR 206
1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 LAK 24.6M
$394 MYR 1,548
188.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$865 LAK 18.7M
$230 MYR 905
275.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,893 LAK 40.9M
$641 MYR 2,518
195.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,701 LAK 36.8M
$517 MYR 2,032
229.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,645 LAK 57.2M
$2,335 MYR 9,178
13.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$137 LAK 3.0M
$1,191 MYR 4,679
-88.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Penang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$198 LAK 4.3M
$974 MYR 3,830
-79.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
4.16
143.27%

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

Last update for Luang Prabang: March 2, 2026

Last update for Penang: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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