🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Penang versus $1,831 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,394 in Penang versus $2,716 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,933 in Penang versus $3,602 in Amstetten.
🌍Living in Penang costs roughly 53% less than in Amstetten, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Penang is 36% below, Amstetten is 37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97MYR 12.14
$15.93€14.01
-81.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.37MYR 87.4
$54.9€48.24
-61.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.31MYR 17.60
$8.67€7.62
-50.29%
Cappuccino
$2.88MYR 11.77
$3.73€3.28
-22.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72MYR 2.95
$2.80€2.46
-74.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.49
$2.60€2.28
-85.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.45MYR 18.19
$4.60€4.04
-3.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30MYR 17.59
$3.44€3.03
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83MYR 7.49
$1.61€1.42
13.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04MYR 4.25
$2.09€1.84
-50.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MYR 8.02
$2.93€2.58
-33.11%
Eggs
$2.14MYR 8.75
$5.03€4.42
-57.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.25MYR 70.5
$17.56€15.43
-1.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14MYR 21.03
$13.81€12.14
-62.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.66MYR 59.9
$20.74€18.23
-29.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93MYR 11.97
$2.82€2.48
3.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MYR 6.13
$2.49€2.19
-39.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.73MYR 11.14
$2.83€2.49
-3.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MYR 8.59
$3.98€3.50
-47.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19MYR 4.85
$2.00€1.75
-40.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16MYR 4.74
$2.07€1.82
-43.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MYR 3.69
$1.83€1.61
-50.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.83
$1.02€0.90
-55.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MYR 17.18
$7.44€6.54
-43.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.73MYR 76.6
$8.72€7.66
114.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59MYR 10.59
$1.51€1.33
71.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40MYR 13.89
$2.04€1.80
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46MYR 1.88
$2.88€2.53
-84.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.37MYR 71.0
$60.7€53.4
-71.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MYR 2.97
$5.72€5.03
-87.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MYR 2.17
$1.92€1.69
-72.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.11MYR 29.07
$34.90€30.68
-79.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.02
$1.74€1.53
-71.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KMYR 139.1K
$28.5K€25.0K
19.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KMYR 113.7K
$29.8K€26.2K
-6.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.69MYR 158
$370€325
-89.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.29MYR 42.05
$19.65€17.27
-47.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.44MYR 129
$36.38€31.98
-13.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.58MYR 133
$46.80€41.15
-30.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.45MYR 22.28
$26.36€23.18
-79.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MYR 20.01
$13.76€12.10
-64.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$242MYR 991
$407€358
-40.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,079MYR 24.9K
$7,241€6,365
-16.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4MYR 227
$96.3€84.7
-42.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.57MYR 117
$39.48€34.71
-27.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.6MYR 252
$99.6€87.6
-38.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3MYR 218
$151€133
-64.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384MYR 1,572
$540€475
-28.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230MYR 941
$463€407
-50.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640MYR 2,614
$877€771
-27.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$522MYR 2,134
$778€684
-32.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,227MYR 9,104
$3,087€2,714
-27.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,148MYR 4,691
$2,891€2,542
-60.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$924MYR 3,776
$3,030€2,664
-69.52%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Amstetten: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Penang and $540 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 228% 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: $21.00 in Penang vs $55.0 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $372 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 in Amstetten?
Penang and Amstetten differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($855 vs $1,831 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, salaries run 228% lower in Amstetten. 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 in Amstetten?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Penang versus $540 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 $242 in Penang versus $407 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 $855 in Penang versus $1,831 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 114% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.