Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sarawak Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sarawak

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Penang versus $900 in Sarawak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,286 in Sarawak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,673 in Sarawak.

Living in Penang costs roughly 3% less than in Sarawak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Sarawak 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.38

$3.64 MYR 14.79

-16.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.8

$18.77 MYR 76.4

15.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.62

$5.28 MYR 21.46

-17.99%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.94

$2.76 MYR 11.23

6.52%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.74 MYR 3.01

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.90

$7.91 MYR 32.16

-44.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.15

$8.29 MYR 33.71

-46.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.34

$1.89 MYR 7.69

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.01

$1.00 MYR 4.07

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.24

$1.29 MYR 5.23

57.36%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.68

$2.04 MYR 8.28

4.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.6

$14.95 MYR 60.8

16.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.19

$2.55 MYR 10.39

104.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.3

$9.68 MYR 39.35

55.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.69

$2.91 MYR 11.82

-1.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.97

$1.48 MYR 6.00

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.46

$2.58 MYR 10.48

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.60

$1.45 MYR 5.90

45.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.22 MYR 4.97

-3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$1.33 MYR 5.40

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.88

$1.00 MYR 4.09

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.67 MYR 2.73

-26.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.73

$4.29 MYR 17.46

1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.8

$17.42 MYR 70.9

12.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.64

$2.82 MYR 11.49

-7.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.84

$2.99 MYR 12.15

13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.69 MYR 2.82

-34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.8

$11.98 MYR 48.71

45.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$1.15 MYR 4.67

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.98 MYR 3.99

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.28

$5.92 MYR 24.06

21.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.49 MYR 2.01

-4.08%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.9K

$34.9K MYR 142.1K

-5.76%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.9K

$31.9K MYR 129.8K

-14.55%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$43.20 MYR 176

-10.65%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.91

$8.94 MYR 36.36

12.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 128

$29.23 MYR 119

7.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$37.24 MYR 151

-11.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 22.03

$6.00 MYR 24.39

-9.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.96

$5.06 MYR 20.59

-2.96%

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

$238 MYR 966

$189 MYR 770

25.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.2K

$6,935 MYR 28.2K

-10.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 222

$36.81 MYR 150

48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$39.24 MYR 160

-27.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 246

$76.9 MYR 313

-21.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$56.1 MYR 228

-4.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,573

$324 MYR 1,317

19.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 936

$269 MYR 1,095

-14.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,604

$505 MYR 2,052

26.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,137

$360 MYR 1,463

46.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,150

$1,935 MYR 7,870

16.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,822

$973 MYR 3,956

21.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,869

$420 MYR 1,708

126.54%

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 8, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $324 in Sarawak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 127% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Sarawak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $243 per month, with Sarawak 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 Sarawak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Penang pays 127% 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: $387 in Penang versus $324 in Sarawak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Penang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $19.00 in Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Penang versus $900 in Sarawak – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

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

Safety-wise, Penang and Sarawak 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 4% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.