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: $837 in Penang versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,379 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,826 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Penang costs roughly 10% less than in Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Kuala Terengganu 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.53 MYR 10.32

47.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$23.42 MYR 95.6

-15.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$5.06 MYR 20.65

-9.68%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$2.74 MYR 11.18

8.76%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.47 MYR 1.90

57.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.28 MYR 1.15

32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$3.77 MYR 15.41

14.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$4.50 MYR 18.35

0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.77 MYR 7.24

1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$1.05 MYR 4.28

0.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.52 MYR 6.20

13.16%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$1.91 MYR 7.82

12.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$11.50 MYR 46.96

13.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.52 MYR 18.46

-4.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$10.20 MYR 41.62

-16.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$3.49 MYR 14.24

-16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.59 MYR 6.51

4.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$2.42 MYR 9.89

6.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$1.68 MYR 6.87

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.27 MYR 5.19

-12.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.32 MYR 5.40

-12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.18 MYR 4.80

-3.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.53 MYR 18.51

4.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$17.43 MYR 71.2

8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$2.93 MYR 11.96

2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$3.49 MYR 14.26

14.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.77 MYR 3.14

-35.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$10.74 MYR 43.84

13.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.12 MYR 4.57

54.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.45 MYR 1.85

-15.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$8.33 MYR 33.99

-10.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.82 MYR 3.34

6.10%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$46.2K MYR 188.6K

-9.22%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$34.7K MYR 141.5K

0.53%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$53.7 MYR 219

-31.71%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$9.08 MYR 37.08

9.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$30.68 MYR 125

-3.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$42.43 MYR 173

-7.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$6.89 MYR 28.14

-30.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$4.51 MYR 18.41

15.74%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$175 MYR 715

146.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$5,228 MYR 21.3K

102.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$64.9 MYR 265

-8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$30.80 MYR 126

16.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$79.6 MYR 325

4.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$67.4 MYR 275

5.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$454 MYR 1,852

-9.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$273 MYR 1,115

-16.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$681 MYR 2,780

-14.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$551 MYR 2,250

-24.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$2,147 MYR 8,765

4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$1,004 MYR 4,098

5.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$494 MYR 2,016

85.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 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 11% in total monthly costs ($837 vs $932 including rent). Penang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 85% 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: $409 in Penang versus $454 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Penang runs roughly 13% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $837 in Penang versus $932 in Kuala Terengganu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Kuala Terengganu. The gap between the two cities makes Penang 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.