Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $867 in Penang versus $865 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,328 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,791 in George Town.

Monthly costs are close between Penang and George Town; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, George Town 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.56

$2.99 MYR 12.22

3.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$21.46 MYR 87.6

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.14 MYR 16.91

0.24%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.58 MYR 10.52

15.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.78 MYR 3.17

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$4.22 MYR 17.22

1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.18

$4.62 MYR 18.88

-3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.81 MYR 7.41

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.07 MYR 4.37

-3.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$1.63 MYR 6.65

26.38%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$2.06 MYR 8.41

2.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$17.36 MYR 70.9

-2.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$5.11 MYR 20.86

1.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$10.81 MYR 44.15

37.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$2.92 MYR 11.92

-0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.40 MYR 5.71

3.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.15 MYR 8.76

23.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$1.22 MYR 5.00

72.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.84 MYR 3.45

34.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.17 MYR 4.78

2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$0.74 MYR 3.00

20.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.55 MYR 2.23

-12.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.18 MYR 17.07

0.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$19.20 MYR 78.4

0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$2.72 MYR 11.11

-2.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$3.54 MYR 14.44

-3.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.45 MYR 1.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.63 MYR 47.49

52.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$1.20 MYR 4.92

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$0.46 MYR 1.89

10.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.18

$6.60 MYR 26.96

4.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.46 MYR 1.86

8.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$34.0K MYR 138.7K

0.34%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$24.9K MYR 101.6K

9.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.05 MYR 159

$38.72 MYR 158

0.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$9.78 MYR 39.94

3.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$29.08 MYR 119

8.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$38.41 MYR 157

-15.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$3.81 MYR 15.55

45.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$3.92 MYR 15.99

22.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$240 MYR 978

$148 MYR 606

61.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$4,522 MYR 18.5K

36.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$52.6 MYR 215

5.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$28.34 MYR 116

3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$62.3 MYR 255

-2.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$52.3 MYR 214

0.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$364 MYR 1,488

4.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$257 MYR 1,049

-12.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$711 MYR 2,901

-10.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$495 MYR 2,019

5.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,845

$1,072 MYR 4,378

-12.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

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

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Last update for George Town: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $364 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 14% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $21.00 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $265 per month, with George Town 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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in George Town. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Penang versus $364 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in George Town runs roughly 53% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Penang. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though George Town gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, George Town is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and George Town are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – George Town wins on affordability, Penang on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.