Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Seoul

For one person, living is cheaper in Penang: $839 a month against $1,822 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

41

Cost of Living Index in Penang
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Penang Living Index
87

Cost of Living Index in Seoul
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Seoul Living Index

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Penang

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$839

/mo nomad

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,822

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Penang and in Seoul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Penang and in Seoul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Penang versus $1,822 in Seoul.

Penang $839
Seoul $1,822

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,314 in Penang versus $2,847 in Seoul.

Penang $1,314
Seoul $2,847

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,790 in Penang versus $3,872 in Seoul.

Penang $1,790
Seoul $3,872

Living in Penang costs roughly 54% less than in Seoul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Penang is 37% below, Seoul is 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 MYR 14.65

$9.10 ₩12.2K

-60.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 MYR 81.1

$67.0 ₩90.0K

-70.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 MYR 18.71

$7.42 ₩9,964

-38.27%

Cappuccino

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$4.08 ₩5,482

-25.49%

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

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$1.60 ₩2,146

-54.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.80 ₩1,081

-51.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.18 MYR 17.07

$3.65 ₩4,898

14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 MYR 17.65

$5.94 ₩7,974

-27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$2.05 ₩2,748

-7.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$3.08 ₩4,139

-64.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.24

$4.21 ₩5,659

-57.96%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.11

$3.57 ₩4,795

-37.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.69 MYR 56.0

$17.95 ₩24.1K

-23.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 MYR 17.53

$10.64 ₩14.3K

-59.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 MYR 35.16

$26.44 ₩35.5K

-67.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MYR 12.43

$7.42 ₩9,969

-59.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.97

$3.53 ₩4,743

-51.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 10.91

$5.87 ₩7,884

-54.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 6.01

$6.37 ₩8,554

-76.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 MYR 4.47

$3.75 ₩5,040

-70.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.39

$2.49 ₩3,345

-57.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$2.92 ₩3,920

-60.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$1.15 ₩1,545

-50.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$3.29 ₩4,418

40.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.29 MYR 78.9

$18.49 ₩24.8K

4.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$2.28 ₩3,064

28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.37 MYR 21.95

$3.28 ₩4,408

63.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$1.14 ₩1,529

-55.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.30 MYR 50.3

$45.47 ₩61.1K

-72.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$3.48 ₩4,674

-49.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 MYR 1.52

$0.60 ₩805

-38.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 MYR 29.72

$8.70 ₩11.7K

-16.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 MYR 3.86

$1.50 ₩2,008

-37.33%

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

$41.0K MYR 167.4K

$29.1K ₩39.1M

40.66%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.6K

$28.2K ₩37.9M

23.69%

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

$36.55 MYR 149

$209 ₩280.5K

-82.50%

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

$9.97 MYR 40.75

$35.13 ₩47.2K

-71.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.32 MYR 120

$21.18 ₩28.4K

38.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.81 MYR 159

$57.3 ₩77.0K

-32.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.98 MYR 20.35

$15.89 ₩21.3K

-68.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 MYR 19.92

$11.33 ₩15.2K

-57.02%

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

$430 MYR 1,757

$1,902 ₩2.6M

-77.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K MYR 44.2K

$22.5K ₩30.2M

-52.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 246

$58.9 ₩79.1K

2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 MYR 144

$32.12 ₩43.1K

9.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 MYR 341

$70.1 ₩94.2K

19.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 MYR 285

$82.5 ₩110.8K

-15.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 MYR 1,643

$885 ₩1.2M

-54.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 MYR 950

$624 ₩837.5K

-62.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 MYR 2,537

$2,494 ₩3.3M

-75.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 MYR 1,678

$1,275 ₩1.7M

-67.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,212 MYR 9,045

$29.8K ₩40.1M

-92.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,057 MYR 4,323

$11.8K ₩15.9M

-91.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$943 MYR 3,855

$3,649 ₩4.9M

-74.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

4.08

-0.98%

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

Last update for Penang: October 5, 2026

Last update for Seoul: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Penang

$258 30.1%

Seoul

$479 26.7% 85.5% $221

Accommodation & Living

Penang

$232 27.1%

Seoul

$624 34.7% 168% $391

Eating Out

Penang

$113 13.2%

Seoul

$184 10.2% 62.8% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Penang

$112 13.1%

Seoul

$110 6.1% 2.1% $2.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Penang

$76 8.8%

Seoul

$265 14.8% 250% $189

Sport & Entertainment

Penang

$49 5.7%

Seoul

$80 4.5% 64.8% $31

Getting Around

Penang

$18 2.1%

Seoul

$57 3.1% 215% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Penang and $885 in Seoul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seoul pays 287% 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: $20.00 in Penang vs $67.0 in Seoul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $479 per month, with Penang cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇾 Penang

🇰🇷 Seoul

🕒 Local time

18:19 6:19 PM

19:19 7:19 PM

1 h ahead of Penang

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

158,336

9,509,458 Capital

💱 Currency

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

South Korean Won KRW ₩

📈 Exchange rate

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 EUR

10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KRW, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇾 Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.09 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.58 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,343 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,505 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.64 EUR).

USD to MYR in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Penang Seoul 4,490 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Penang
Seoul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Seoul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 117% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 287% lower in Seoul. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $402 in Penang versus $885 in Seoul. 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 $67.0 in Seoul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $839 per month in Penang versus $1,822 in Seoul – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $839 in Penang versus $1,822 in Seoul, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Penang but tight or insufficient in Seoul. The gap between the two cities makes Penang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Penang and Seoul 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 117% less than in Seoul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.