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: $867 in Penang versus $802 in Sibu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,227 in Sibu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,652 in Sibu.

Living in Penang is roughly 8% more expensive than in Sibu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Sibu 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.58

$2.16 MYR 8.84

42.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.4

$8.61 MYR 35.20

151.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.96

$4.18 MYR 17.10

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.13

$2.08 MYR 8.50

42.79%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.63 MYR 2.59

17.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.23 MYR 0.93

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.52

$2.85 MYR 11.65

50.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.20

$5.08 MYR 20.77

-12.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.39 MYR 5.67

35.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.35 MYR 5.53

-23.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.41

$1.15 MYR 4.70

79.13%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$1.53 MYR 6.24

38.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.5

$14.98 MYR 61.2

13.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.20

$4.67 MYR 19.07

11.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 61.0

$5.98 MYR 24.42

149.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.89

$2.99 MYR 12.20

-2.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.16 MYR 4.75

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.89

$1.93 MYR 7.87

37.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.60

$3.50 MYR 14.29

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$2.33 MYR 9.54

-48.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.05 MYR 4.28

-15.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.13

$4.06 MYR 16.58

3.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.8

$19.77 MYR 80.8

-2.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$1.22 MYR 5.00

117.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$3.90 MYR 15.96

-12.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.72 MYR 2.96

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.6

$11.95 MYR 48.84

48.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$1.21 MYR 4.94

-38.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.99 MYR 4.06

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.21

$5.80 MYR 23.70

18.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.47 MYR 1.90

6.38%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

$35.5K MYR 145.1K

-4.02%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

$31.8K MYR 129.9K

-13.94%

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

$39.05 MYR 160

$42.92 MYR 175

-9.02%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.58

$5.16 MYR 21.11

97.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$18.36 MYR 75.1

71.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$22.98 MYR 93.9

40.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.61

$5.80 MYR 23.69

-4.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.64

$3.22 MYR 13.17

49.38%

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

$240 MYR 979

$185 MYR 756

29.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

$6,983 MYR 28.5K

-11.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$60.4 MYR 247

-8.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$27.03 MYR 110

8.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 250

$71.7 MYR 293

-14.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$49.94 MYR 204

5.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,559

$392 MYR 1,603

-2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 921

$269 MYR 1,097

-16.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,598

$653 MYR 2,670

-2.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,133

$465 MYR 1,899

12.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 9,004

$2,325 MYR 9,502

-5.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,740

$1,259 MYR 5,145

-7.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,849

$489 MYR 1,998

92.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.25

-2.12%

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

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sibu: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $392 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 93% 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 $9.00 in Sibu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $252 per month, with Sibu 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

Sibu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 93% 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: $382 in Penang versus $392 in Sibu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sibu – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Penang versus $802 in Sibu – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Sibu 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 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 Sibu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.