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: $849 in Penang versus $844 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,356 in Penang versus $1,261 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in Penang versus $1,677 in Sentul.

Living in Penang is roughly 1% more expensive than in Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Sentul 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 MYR 12.85

$3.55 MYR 14.53

-11.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.56 MYR 88.2

$19.00 MYR 77.7

13.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.62 MYR 18.89

-9.52%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 12.05

$2.71 MYR 11.10

8.86%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.67 MYR 2.76

2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.45 MYR 1.85

-24.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.38 MYR 17.91

$3.44 MYR 14.08

27.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 MYR 18.59

$5.15 MYR 21.07

-11.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.68

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$1.00 MYR 4.10

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.00

$1.80 MYR 7.36

8.89%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.30

$1.90 MYR 7.76

6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 MYR 70.7

$10.68 MYR 43.66

61.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MYR 21.41

$3.41 MYR 13.95

53.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.76 MYR 60.4

$7.97 MYR 32.61

85.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.40

$2.77 MYR 11.33

0.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.51 MYR 6.19

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.69

$2.47 MYR 10.09

5.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.64

$1.25 MYR 5.11

68.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.13 MYR 4.64

4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.38 MYR 5.64

-15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.94 MYR 3.84

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.85

$0.60 MYR 2.44

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.58

$4.35 MYR 17.77

-1.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$14.13 MYR 57.8

37.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MYR 11.03

$2.67 MYR 10.92

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 MYR 13.94

$3.01 MYR 12.31

13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.34 MYR 70.9

$11.91 MYR 48.72

45.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.98 MYR 3.99

-30.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-48.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 MYR 28.19

$9.09 MYR 37.16

-24.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-8.00%

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

$33.0K MYR 134.9K

$31.9K MYR 130.3K

3.55%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.6K

$27.9K MYR 113.9K

-2.07%

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

$38.52 MYR 158

$40.41 MYR 165

-4.68%

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

$10.16 MYR 41.54

$8.94 MYR 36.57

13.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.68 MYR 130

$23.35 MYR 95.5

35.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.43 MYR 133

$37.18 MYR 152

-12.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.57 MYR 22.80

$5.78 MYR 23.64

-3.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.01

$5.07 MYR 20.72

-3.55%

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

$238 MYR 973

$187 MYR 763

27.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,317 MYR 25.8K

$7,016 MYR 28.7K

-9.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 MYR 222

$64.1 MYR 262

-15.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 120

$27.93 MYR 114

4.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 253

$59.9 MYR 245

3.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.6 MYR 215

$49.06 MYR 201

7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 MYR 1,553

$390 MYR 1,595

-2.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$222 MYR 910

$270 MYR 1,106

-17.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,620

$653 MYR 2,671

-1.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,111

$467 MYR 1,910

10.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 MYR 9,183

$2,138 MYR 8,746

5.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 MYR 4,779

$1,186 MYR 4,849

-1.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$921 MYR 3,765

$900 MYR 3,679

2.34%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Sentul: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Penang and $390 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $220 per month, with Sentul 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sentul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% 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: $380 in Penang versus $390 in Sentul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $849 per month in Penang versus $844 in Sentul – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Sentul gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Sentul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Penang, 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 Sentul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.