Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kuala Terengganu Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Kuala Terengganu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Penang versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in Penang versus $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Penang versus $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Penang is roughly 22% more expensive than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Kuala Terengganu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$2.41 MYR 9.87

30.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$22.12 MYR 90.5

-2.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.58 MYR 18.72

-8.73%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$2.92 MYR 11.96

1.03%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.48 MYR 1.96

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.27 MYR 1.11

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$3.60 MYR 14.71

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$5.00 MYR 20.45

-9.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

$1.55 MYR 6.33

21.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.96 MYR 3.91

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$1.31 MYR 5.35

49.62%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$2.12 MYR 8.67

-4.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$15.02 MYR 61.4

15.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$4.43 MYR 18.12

18.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$9.49 MYR 38.80

55.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$2.90 MYR 11.85

-3.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.50 MYR 6.15

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$2.52 MYR 10.31

3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$1.42 MYR 5.82

48.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.18 MYR 4.82

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.27 MYR 5.20

-8.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$1.03 MYR 4.22

-11.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.52 MYR 2.15

-13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$4.31 MYR 17.61

-0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$18.63 MYR 76.2

4.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$2.83 MYR 11.59

-4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$3.02 MYR 12.34

12.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.55 MYR 47.23

50.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-40.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.98 MYR 4.02

-45.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.19

$5.96 MYR 24.38

15.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.49 MYR 2.02

-6.12%

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

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

-5.37%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$31.3K MYR 128.1K

-12.93%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$43.18 MYR 177

-10.79%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$8.96 MYR 36.63

13.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$29.00 MYR 119

9.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$37.41 MYR 153

-13.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$5.73 MYR 23.45

-2.79%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$4.85 MYR 19.82

0.82%

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

$238 MYR 973

$187 MYR 763

27.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$6,827 MYR 27.9K

-7.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$61.3 MYR 251

-11.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$27.14 MYR 111

7.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$73.5 MYR 301

-15.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$50.8 MYR 208

3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$200 MYR 820

89.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$116 MYR 474

91.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$648 MYR 2,651

-1.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$273 MYR 1,116

89.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$2,050 MYR 8,383

9.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$1,138 MYR 4,653

2.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$490 MYR 2,003

88.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.07

2.21%

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

Last update for Penang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Penang and $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 88% 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 $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $249, with Kuala Terengganu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kuala Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($849 vs $696 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 88% higher in Penang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $380 in Penang versus $200 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $849 per month in Penang versus $696 in Kuala Terengganu – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 50% less than in Penang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kuala Terengganu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

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

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.