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: $855 in Penang versus $910 in Sarawak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,394 in Penang versus $1,313 in Sarawak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,933 in Penang versus $1,716 in Sarawak.

Living in Penang costs roughly 6% less than in Sarawak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Sarawak 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 12.15

$3.57 MYR 14.59

-16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.37 MYR 87.4

$18.74 MYR 76.6

14.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 MYR 17.61

$5.21 MYR 21.32

-17.27%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$2.79 MYR 11.43

3.23%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-8.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$7.67 MYR 31.38

-41.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$8.42 MYR 34.42

-48.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.49

$1.82 MYR 7.43

0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.00 MYR 4.08

4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.02

$1.25 MYR 5.13

56.80%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$2.14 MYR 8.73

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.25 MYR 70.6

$14.84 MYR 60.7

16.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 MYR 21.04

$2.57 MYR 10.49

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 MYR 60.0

$9.49 MYR 38.80

54.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.98

$2.88 MYR 11.80

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.13

$1.53 MYR 6.26

-1.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.15

$2.50 MYR 10.23

9.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.60

$1.37 MYR 5.61

53.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.85

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.32 MYR 5.39

-12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.69

$0.99 MYR 4.07

-9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.66 MYR 2.71

-31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 17.18

$4.18 MYR 17.09

0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.73 MYR 76.6

$16.95 MYR 69.3

10.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 MYR 10.59

$2.81 MYR 11.51

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$3.04 MYR 12.42

11.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-36.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.37 MYR 71.0

$11.74 MYR 48.00

47.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-39.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$1.03 MYR 4.20

-48.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 MYR 29.08

$5.88 MYR 24.04

20.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.06

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

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

$35.1K MYR 143.6K

-3.10%

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

$27.8K MYR 113.7K

$31.9K MYR 130.6K

-12.93%

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

$38.69 MYR 158

$43.10 MYR 176

-10.23%

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

$10.29 MYR 42.07

$8.86 MYR 36.24

16.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 129

$29.05 MYR 119

8.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.58 MYR 133

$37.07 MYR 152

-12.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.45 MYR 22.29

$6.04 MYR 24.69

-9.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.02

$4.98 MYR 20.38

-1.81%

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

$242 MYR 991

$189 MYR 771

28.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,079 MYR 24.9K

$6,901 MYR 28.2K

-11.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 227

$36.25 MYR 148

52.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.57 MYR 117

$38.85 MYR 159

-26.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 MYR 252

$78.1 MYR 319

-21.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 218

$56.1 MYR 229

-5.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,572

$329 MYR 1,347

16.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 942

$273 MYR 1,116

-15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,615

$498 MYR 2,038

28.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,135

$356 MYR 1,455

46.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,227 MYR 9,107

$2,076 MYR 8,489

7.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,148 MYR 4,693

$1,136 MYR 4,646

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$924 MYR 3,777

$417 MYR 1,706

121.44%

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 20, 2026

Last update for Sarawak: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Penang and $329 in Sarawak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 121% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Sarawak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $240 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 121% 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: $384 in Penang versus $329 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 $21.00 versus $19.00 in Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Penang versus $910 in Sarawak – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.