🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Penang versus $1,872 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,396 in Penang versus $2,724 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,938 in Penang versus $3,575 in Amstetten.
🙂Living in Penang costs roughly 54% less than in Amstetten, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Penang is 36% below, Amstetten is 40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03MYR 11.97
$16.29€13.89
-81.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.23MYR 83.9
$54.7€46.67
-61.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.12MYR 16.28
$9.04€7.71
-54.42%
Cappuccino
$2.95MYR 11.64
$3.69€3.15
-20.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72MYR 2.86
$2.80€2.39
-74.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MYR 1.33
$2.51€2.14
-86.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46MYR 17.63
$4.36€3.72
2.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52MYR 17.87
$3.31€2.82
36.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84MYR 7.26
$1.61€1.37
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02MYR 4.04
$1.97€1.68
-48.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02MYR 7.99
$2.83€2.42
-28.62%
Eggs
$2.11MYR 8.32
$5.06€4.31
-58.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.98MYR 67.1
$18.16€15.49
-6.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.17MYR 20.41
$13.70€11.68
-62.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.61MYR 57.7
$21.31€18.17
-31.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93MYR 11.56
$2.75€2.34
6.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.73
$2.47€2.11
-41.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68MYR 10.57
$2.95€2.52
-9.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18MYR 8.61
$3.86€3.29
-43.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15MYR 4.53
$2.06€1.75
-44.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22MYR 4.83
$2.03€1.73
-39.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97MYR 3.83
$1.87€1.59
-48.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.91
$0.99€0.84
-51.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14MYR 16.35
$7.32€6.24
-43.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.42MYR 76.7
$8.81€7.51
120.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63MYR 10.40
$1.51€1.29
74.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53MYR 13.94
$2.08€1.77
69.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48MYR 1.91
$2.87€2.45
-83.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.59MYR 69.5
$59.3€50.6
-70.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72MYR 2.86
$5.91€5.04
-87.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MYR 2.13
$1.96€1.67
-72.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.28MYR 28.74
$34.12€29.11
-78.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 1.94
$1.83€1.56
-73.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KMYR 133.3K
$28.4K€24.2K
18.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KMYR 108.7K
$29.9K€25.5K
-8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.68MYR 153
$375€320
-89.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.06MYR 39.73
$19.15€16.33
-47.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.12MYR 123
$36.63€31.24
-15.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.54MYR 129
$46.52€39.68
-30.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.65MYR 22.32
$25.99€22.17
-78.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04MYR 19.89
$14.02€11.96
-64.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$236MYR 931
$402€343
-41.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,202MYR 24.5K
$7,087€6,046
-12.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4MYR 215
$96.6€82.4
-43.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.20MYR 115
$39.82€33.97
-26.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.4MYR 247
$97.7€83.3
-36.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1MYR 210
$152€130
-65.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381MYR 1,503
$538€459
-29.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225MYR 890
$465€397
-51.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$643MYR 2,539
$868€741
-25.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$516MYR 2,036
$776€662
-33.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,303MYR 9,095
$3,168€2,702
-27.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,192MYR 4,709
$2,901€2,474
-58.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$960MYR 3,792
$3,470€2,960
-72.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
3.91
6.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Penang: April 21, 2026
Last update for Amstetten: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Penang and $538 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 262% 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: $21 in Penang vs $55 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $373 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
Penang vs Amstetten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Penang and Amstetten?
Penang and Amstetten differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($854 vs $1,872 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Amstetten earns 262% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Penang and Amstetten?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Penang versus $538 in Amstetten. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Penang and Amstetten?
Childcare runs $236 in Penang versus $402 in Amstetten. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Amstetten. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $854 in Penang versus $1,872 in Amstetten, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Amstetten. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Penang and Amstetten?
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.
Is Penang or Amstetten safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Penang and Amstetten are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Penang or Amstetten?
Expats usually find Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.