Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Luang Prabang Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Luang Prabang

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 0.3% more expensive than Luang Prabang without rent, and 46% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Penang is 15% cheaper than Luang Prabang without rent, and 39.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 MYR 11.95
$1.89 LAK 41.6K
60.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.49 MYR 84.9
$17.42 LAK 382.8K
23.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.15 MYR 16.37
$5.65 LAK 124.2K
-26.55%
Cappuccino
$2.85 MYR 11.25
$1.63 LAK 35.8K
74.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 MYR 2.68
$0.92 LAK 20.3K
-26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MYR 1.32
$0.55 LAK 12.0K
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.42 MYR 17.48
$1.37 LAK 30.0K
222.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 MYR 17.09
$1.17 LAK 25.7K
270.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MYR 7.48
$1.71 LAK 37.6K
10.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 MYR 4.10
$1.07 LAK 23.6K
-2.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 MYR 7.81
$2.22 LAK 48.9K
-10.81%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.42
$2.36 LAK 51.9K
-9.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 MYR 69.7
$25.73 LAK 565.4K
-31.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.99 MYR 19.72
$2.72 LAK 59.9K
83.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.67 MYR 57.9
$4.38 LAK 96.3K
234.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 MYR 11.03
$1.36 LAK 30.0K
105.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MYR 5.90
$2.16 LAK 47.5K
-31.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 MYR 10.68
$2.15 LAK 47.2K
25.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 MYR 8.51
$4.39 LAK 96.6K
-51.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 4.72
$1.44 LAK 31.7K
-17.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.65
$1.00 LAK 22.1K
18.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MYR 3.59
$1.05 LAK 23.0K
-13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.95
$0.71 LAK 15.5K
-30.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MYR 16.39
$2.05 LAK 45.0K
102.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.76 MYR 78.1
$29.90 LAK 656.9K
-33.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 MYR 10.62
$1.26 LAK 27.7K
113.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.78
$0.81 LAK 17.8K
330.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 MYR 1.91
$0.57 LAK 12.6K
-15.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.54 MYR 69.3
$59.7 LAK 1.3M
-70.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 MYR 2.94
$0.96 LAK 21.1K
-22.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.15
$1.13 LAK 24.8K
-52.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 MYR 28.21
$4.62 LAK 101.6K
54.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 MYR 1.84
$1.14 LAK 25.1K
-58.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K MYR 130.5K
$29.2K LAK 642.1M
13.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K MYR 108.0K
$29.4K LAK 646.5M
-7.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.95 MYR 154
$86.3 LAK 1.9M
-54.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 MYR 40.37
$5.34 LAK 117.3K
91.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.73 MYR 125
$6.95 LAK 152.8K
356.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.71 MYR 129
$84.3 LAK 1.9M
-61.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.51 MYR 21.78
$7.82 LAK 171.9K
-29.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91 MYR 19.40
$2.53 LAK 55.6K
94.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 MYR 925
$257 LAK 5.6M
-8.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,126 MYR 24.2K
$9,099 LAK 199.9M
-32.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 MYR 218
$72.5 LAK 1.6M
-23.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.37 MYR 116
$62.1 LAK 1.4M
-52.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.3 MYR 238
$75.1 LAK 1.7M
-19.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.8 MYR 205
$52.6 LAK 1.2M
-1.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 MYR 1,537
$1,153 LAK 25.3M
-66.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 MYR 897
$849 LAK 18.6M
-73.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$640 MYR 2,527
$1,895 LAK 41.6M
-66.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$526 MYR 2,078
$1,714 LAK 37.7M
-69.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,321 MYR 9,167
$2,575 LAK 56.6M
-9.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,188 MYR 4,691
$136 LAK 3.0M
770.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Luang Prabang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$949 MYR 3,749
$200 LAK 4.4M
375.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
10.12
-58.89%

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

Last update for Penang: April 11, 2026

Last update for Luang Prabang: April 11, 2026

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