🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Penang versus $1,873 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $2,727 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $3,582 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 35% below, Amstetten is 39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04MYR 12.35
$16.27€14.10
-81.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.59MYR 87.6
$54.8€47.47
-60.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.33MYR 17.59
$9.01€7.81
-51.94%
Cappuccino
$2.94MYR 11.91
$3.66€3.17
-19.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MYR 2.78
$2.86€2.48
-76.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MYR 1.48
$2.60€2.25
-86.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.40MYR 17.86
$4.57€3.96
-3.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MYR 18.11
$3.44€2.99
29.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MYR 7.33
$1.67€1.45
8.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99MYR 4.00
$2.05€1.78
-51.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03MYR 8.22
$2.87€2.49
-29.27%
Eggs
$2.13MYR 8.66
$5.13€4.45
-58.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.36MYR 70.4
$17.99€15.59
-3.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21MYR 21.14
$13.71€11.88
-62.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.08MYR 61.2
$21.40€18.55
-29.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MYR 11.66
$2.82€2.45
1.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MYR 5.96
$2.54€2.20
-42.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57MYR 10.43
$2.94€2.55
-12.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.11MYR 8.58
$3.91€3.39
-46.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18MYR 4.80
$2.00€1.73
-41.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16MYR 4.71
$2.07€1.80
-43.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95MYR 3.87
$1.81€1.57
-47.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.98
$1.03€0.89
-52.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36MYR 17.69
$7.13€6.18
-38.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.63MYR 79.7
$9.14€7.92
114.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62MYR 10.62
$1.56€1.35
67.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40MYR 13.81
$1.97€1.71
72.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45MYR 1.82
$2.83€2.46
-84.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.40MYR 70.6
$60.9€52.7
-71.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69MYR 2.81
$5.83€5.06
-88.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MYR 2.21
$2.02€1.75
-73.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.20MYR 29.21
$34.68€30.06
-79.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.90
$1.83€1.58
-74.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KMYR 133.6K
$28.4K€24.6K
15.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KMYR 110.6K
$29.5K€25.6K
-7.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.60MYR 157
$371€322
-89.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.06MYR 40.82
$19.88€17.23
-49.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.44MYR 128
$35.93€31.14
-12.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.04MYR 134
$47.90€41.52
-31.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.42MYR 21.99
$26.37€22.86
-79.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91MYR 19.91
$13.93€12.07
-64.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$238MYR 964
$399€346
-40.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,198MYR 25.2K
$7,258€6,291
-14.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6MYR 222
$96.3€83.4
-43.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.39MYR 115
$40.01€34.68
-29.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.5MYR 245
$100€87.0
-39.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.5MYR 217
$147€127
-63.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$387MYR 1,570
$533€462
-27.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230MYR 934
$459€398
-49.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640MYR 2,599
$862€747
-25.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$525MYR 2,132
$794€688
-33.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,250MYR 9,130
$3,175€2,752
-29.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186MYR 4,811
$2,855€2,475
-58.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$951MYR 3,860
$2,998€2,598
-68.26%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Amstetten: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $533 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 215% 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: $22.00 in Penang vs $55.0 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $376 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 115% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $1,873 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 215% 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: $387 in Penang versus $533 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 $238 in Penang versus $399 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 $869 in Penang versus $1,873 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 115% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.