Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sibu Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Sibu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $837 in Penang versus $884 in Sibu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,308 in Sibu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,733 in Sibu.

Living in Penang costs roughly 5% less than in Sibu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Sibu 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$2.18 MYR 8.91

70.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$19.54 MYR 79.8

1.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$4.20 MYR 17.16

8.81%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$2.36 MYR 9.65

26.27%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.67 MYR 2.73

10.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.24 MYR 0.98

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$3.02 MYR 12.32

42.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$4.30 MYR 17.55

5.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.77 MYR 7.23

1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$0.84 MYR 3.41

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.31 MYR 5.34

31.30%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$1.97 MYR 8.06

8.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$15.04 MYR 61.4

-13.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.22 MYR 17.22

2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$10.14 MYR 41.40

-15.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$3.24 MYR 13.24

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.84 MYR 7.53

-9.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$2.74 MYR 11.18

-6.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$1.50 MYR 6.13

-2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.26 MYR 5.12

-11.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.08 MYR 4.41

5.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.50 MYR 2.05

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.52 MYR 18.45

4.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$20.54 MYR 83.9

-7.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$3.00 MYR 12.23

0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$3.66 MYR 14.93

8.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.66 MYR 2.69

-24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$14.00 MYR 57.2

-13.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.31 MYR 5.33

32.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.44 MYR 1.80

-13.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$8.43 MYR 34.41

-11.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.66 MYR 2.71

31.82%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$36.0K MYR 146.9K

16.57%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$35.2K MYR 143.8K

-1.02%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$49.25 MYR 201

-25.58%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$7.19 MYR 29.34

37.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$26.77 MYR 109

10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$27.76 MYR 113

40.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$6.44 MYR 26.30

-25.16%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$3.65 MYR 14.89

43.01%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$180 MYR 735

140.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$4,923 MYR 20.1K

115.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$61.3 MYR 250

-3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$36.18 MYR 148

-0.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$93.0 MYR 380

-10.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$69.4 MYR 283

2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$416 MYR 1,696

-1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$359 MYR 1,466

-36.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$784 MYR 3,201

-25.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$449 MYR 1,832

-7.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$1,916 MYR 7,822

17.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$1,147 MYR 4,682

-7.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$499 MYR 2,037

83.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sibu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $416 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 83% 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 $20.00 in Sibu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $261 per month, with Penang 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 Sibu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 83% 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: $409 in Penang versus $416 in Sibu. 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 $20.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $884 in Sibu – 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 Sibu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Sibu 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 Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.