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: $850 in Penang versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Penang versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,868 in Penang versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Penang is roughly 20% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 37% lower, Kuala Terengganu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 MYR 12.34

$2.29 MYR 9.08

35.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.86 MYR 82.7

$21.99 MYR 87.2

-5.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.42

$4.36 MYR 17.30

-5.05%

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.22

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-4.71%

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

$0.74 MYR 2.93

$0.44 MYR 1.75

68.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.27 MYR 1.07

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 MYR 17.40

$3.57 MYR 14.16

22.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 17.63

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-8.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MYR 7.53

$1.54 MYR 6.12

23.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.92

$0.96 MYR 3.79

3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.78

$1.25 MYR 4.95

56.80%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.47

$2.05 MYR 8.11

4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.10 MYR 67.8

$15.08 MYR 59.8

13.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 MYR 20.11

$4.40 MYR 17.46

15.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.51 MYR 57.5

$9.68 MYR 38.38

49.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.00

$2.98 MYR 11.83

-7.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.01

$1.45 MYR 5.76

4.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 MYR 10.30

$2.57 MYR 10.20

1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MYR 8.42

$1.38 MYR 5.47

53.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.47

$1.24 MYR 4.91

-8.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.80

$1.33 MYR 5.26

-9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.78

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.95

$0.52 MYR 2.07

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.41

$4.36 MYR 17.29

-5.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.79 MYR 78.5

$18.78 MYR 74.5

5.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 MYR 10.31

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-7.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 MYR 13.94

$3.01 MYR 11.93

16.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$0.74 MYR 2.95

-37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.00 MYR 71.4

$11.98 MYR 47.50

50.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.69

$1.20 MYR 4.77

-43.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.16

$0.99 MYR 3.91

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 MYR 27.68

$6.05 MYR 23.99

15.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.99

$0.50 MYR 2.00

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

$34.0K MYR 134.8K

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-3.94%

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

$27.0K MYR 106.9K

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

-15.78%

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

$39.05 MYR 155

$43.46 MYR 172

-10.15%

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

$10.11 MYR 40.09

$9.35 MYR 37.07

8.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.91 MYR 123

$29.66 MYR 118

4.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.17 MYR 128

$36.44 MYR 144

-11.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 MYR 21.44

$5.79 MYR 22.96

-6.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MYR 19.49

$4.98 MYR 19.74

-1.20%

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

$240 MYR 950

$184 MYR 730

30.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,110 MYR 24.2K

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

-13.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 MYR 220

$60.9 MYR 242

-8.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 MYR 115

$26.86 MYR 106

7.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 MYR 241

$74.2 MYR 294

-18.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 MYR 206

$51.1 MYR 202

1.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,539

$199 MYR 787

95.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 MYR 909

$120 MYR 476

91.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,530

$648 MYR 2,571

-1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$513 MYR 2,034

$273 MYR 1,084

87.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,318 MYR 9,190

$1,973 MYR 7,823

17.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 MYR 4,678

$978 MYR 3,879

20.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 MYR 3,762

$505 MYR 2,001

88.05%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Penang and $199 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: $21.00 in Penang vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Groceries flip the comparison at $285 vs $250, 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 20% in total monthly costs ($850 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Penang pays 88% more on average, 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: $388 in Penang versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Penang versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 20% 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.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $850 in Penang, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Penang. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 20% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.