Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sentul Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sentul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $846 in Penang versus $924 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Penang versus $1,348 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Penang versus $1,771 in Sentul.

Living in Penang costs roughly 8% less than in Sentul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Sentul 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.18

$3.70 MYR 15.04

0.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.03 MYR 81.5

$22.16 MYR 90.1

-9.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.66

$4.97 MYR 20.22

-2.82%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.95

$2.99 MYR 12.16

-1.67%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.85 MYR 3.44

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.17

$3.36 MYR 13.67

25.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.32

$5.77 MYR 23.46

-22.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.26

$1.75 MYR 7.14

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.45

$1.09 MYR 4.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.46 MYR 5.93

18.49%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.05

$1.77 MYR 7.19

25.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 MYR 54.4

$9.79 MYR 39.81

36.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.78

$3.28 MYR 13.35

33.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 MYR 36.60

$9.90 MYR 40.27

-9.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.67

$3.37 MYR 13.70

-14.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.90

$1.76 MYR 7.17

-3.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.64

$2.79 MYR 11.35

-6.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.94

$1.65 MYR 6.69

-11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.58

$1.44 MYR 5.85

-21.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.77

$1.66 MYR 6.76

-29.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$1.38 MYR 5.63

-19.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$0.55 MYR 2.23

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 MYR 18.45

$4.41 MYR 17.96

2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 79.5

$14.37 MYR 58.5

35.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.85

$2.81 MYR 11.42

3.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.20

$3.14 MYR 12.76

26.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.71 MYR 2.90

-32.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.28 MYR 49.95

$12.16 MYR 49.48

0.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 MYR 6.92

$1.23 MYR 4.99

38.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.36 MYR 1.46

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MYR 30.97

$9.03 MYR 36.73

-15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.40

$0.78 MYR 3.18

7.69%

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

$41.6K MYR 169.2K

$43.0K MYR 175.1K

-3.33%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

$33.7K MYR 137.0K

3.19%

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

$37.45 MYR 152

$49.11 MYR 200

-23.74%

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

$9.83 MYR 40.01

$8.28 MYR 33.70

18.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 MYR 121

$26.87 MYR 109

10.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 MYR 157

$41.18 MYR 168

-6.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.81 MYR 19.57

$6.80 MYR 27.68

-29.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.59

$5.04 MYR 20.51

5.36%

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

$435 MYR 1,769

$163 MYR 662

167.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.4K

$4,578 MYR 18.6K

133.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 245

$52.1 MYR 212

15.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.72 MYR 141

$16.80 MYR 68.3

106.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 347

$79.8 MYR 324

6.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 288

$40.83 MYR 166

73.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,623

$426 MYR 1,733

-6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 928

$330 MYR 1,343

-30.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MYR 2,406

$696 MYR 2,830

-14.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 MYR 1,694

$495 MYR 2,013

-15.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,094

$2,052 MYR 8,350

8.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,068 MYR 4,346

$1,126 MYR 4,581

-5.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 MYR 3,754

$897 MYR 3,650

2.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.06

4.43%

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

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Penang and $426 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 3% 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 $22.00 in Sentul. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $232, with Sentul 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% 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: $399 in Penang versus $426 in Sentul. 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 $20.00 versus $22.00 in Sentul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $846 per month in Penang versus $924 in Sentul – a 9% 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 Sentul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Sentul 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 9% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.