🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $846 in Penang versus $1,891 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Penang versus $3,071 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Penang versus $4,251 in Amstetten.
🌍Living in Penang costs roughly 55% less than in Amstetten, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Penang is 39% below, Amstetten is 37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.73MYR 15.09
$17.37€14.93
-78.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.03MYR 81.0
$58.6€50.4
-65.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83MYR 19.55
$14.03€12.06
-65.57%
Cappuccino
$2.94MYR 11.88
$4.01€3.45
-26.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71MYR 2.88
$3.24€2.78
-78.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MYR 1.59
$2.55€2.19
-84.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.22MYR 17.07
$3.91€3.36
7.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50MYR 18.21
$3.80€3.27
18.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79MYR 7.22
$1.89€1.62
-5.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09MYR 4.42
$2.56€2.20
-57.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MYR 7.01
$2.86€2.46
-39.51%
Eggs
$2.23MYR 9.00
$4.91€4.22
-54.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37MYR 54.1
$22.66€19.48
-41.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37MYR 17.67
$15.26€13.12
-71.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.00MYR 36.38
$23.26€20.00
-61.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MYR 11.60
$2.96€2.55
-3.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70MYR 6.86
$2.63€2.26
-35.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61MYR 10.58
$3.35€2.88
-22.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46MYR 5.91
$3.71€3.19
-60.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.55
$1.92€1.65
-41.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17MYR 4.74
$2.01€1.73
-41.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11MYR 4.48
$2.02€1.73
-45.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MYR 2.34
$1.00€0.86
-42.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.54MYR 18.34
$7.27€6.25
-37.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.54MYR 79.0
$8.99€7.73
117.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91MYR 11.78
$1.14€0.98
155.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98MYR 16.10
$1.77€1.53
124.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48MYR 1.93
$2.43€2.09
-80.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.28MYR 49.65
$55.3€47.54
-77.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70MYR 6.88
$5.58€4.79
-69.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42MYR 1.69
$2.73€2.35
-84.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.61MYR 30.79
$36.72€31.58
-79.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84MYR 3.38
$1.80€1.55
-53.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6KMYR 168.2K
$30.8K€26.5K
34.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KMYR 140.5K
$29.1K€25.1K
19.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.45MYR 151
$286€246
-86.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.83MYR 39.77
$11.45€9.84
-14.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72MYR 120
$35.17€30.24
-15.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.51MYR 156
$71.9€61.8
-46.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.81MYR 19.45
$24.97€21.47
-80.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31MYR 21.46
$14.18€12.19
-62.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$435MYR 1,759
$525€451
-17.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMYR 43.2K
$5,792€4,980
84.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3MYR 244
$108€93.3
-44.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.72MYR 140
$42.54€36.58
-18.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3MYR 345
$115€98.4
-25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8MYR 286
$175€151
-59.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$399MYR 1,614
$606€521
-34.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228MYR 923
$471€405
-51.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591MYR 2,392
$1,152€991
-48.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$417MYR 1,684
$1,185€1,019
-64.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,235MYR 9,040
$3,242€2,787
-31.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,068MYR 4,321
$2,926€2,515
-63.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$923MYR 3,732
$3,076€2,645
-70.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
3.66
15.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026
Last update for Amstetten: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Penang and $606 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 233% 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: $20.00 in Penang vs $59.0 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $409 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 123% in total monthly costs ($846 vs $1,891 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 233% 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: $399 in Penang versus $606 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 $435 in Penang versus $525 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 61% 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 $846 in Penang versus $1,891 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 123% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.