Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Skudai

For one person, living costs are similar in Penang and in Skudai: $913 and $900 a month, rent and utilities included.

44

Cost of Living Index in Penang
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Penang Living Index
43

Cost of Living Index in Skudai
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Skudai Living Index

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Penang

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$913

/mo nomad

Skudai

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$900

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Penang and in Skudai

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 Skudai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $913 in Penang versus $900 in Skudai.

Penang $913
Skudai $900

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Penang versus $1,370 in Skudai.

Penang $1,403
Skudai $1,370

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,894 in Penang versus $1,840 in Skudai.

Penang $1,894
Skudai $1,840

Living in Penang is roughly 1% more expensive than in Skudai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 33% lower, Skudai 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.23

$3.63 MYR 14.84

2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 MYR 81.4

$18.25 MYR 74.6

9.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.54

$4.90 MYR 20.05

-2.45%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.19

$2.87 MYR 11.73

3.83%

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

$0.75 MYR 3.08

$0.83 MYR 3.40

-9.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.45 MYR 1.83

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 MYR 16.60

$3.33 MYR 13.62

21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 17.89

$5.62 MYR 22.97

-22.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.62

$1.74 MYR 7.11

6.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.42

$1.02 MYR 4.18

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.22

$1.48 MYR 6.06

18.92%

Eggs

$2.22 MYR 9.07

$1.66 MYR 6.78

33.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.46 MYR 55.0

$9.64 MYR 39.43

39.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.45 MYR 18.20

$3.20 MYR 13.09

39.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 MYR 35.57

$9.61 MYR 39.28

-9.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.93

$3.42 MYR 13.98

-14.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.74

$1.70 MYR 6.94

-2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.67

$2.61 MYR 10.68

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.72

$1.64 MYR 6.69

-14.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.30

$1.41 MYR 5.75

-25.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.73 MYR 7.08

-35.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 MYR 4.49

$1.37 MYR 5.59

-19.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.40

$0.51 MYR 2.09

15.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 MYR 19.16

$4.28 MYR 17.49

9.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.31 MYR 79.0

$13.83 MYR 56.5

39.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.28

$2.74 MYR 11.19

9.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 MYR 22.11

$2.99 MYR 12.22

80.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.83 MYR 3.40

-39.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.03 MYR 49.17

$10.95 MYR 44.78

9.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 MYR 6.80

$1.01 MYR 4.13

64.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.36 MYR 1.46

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 MYR 30.54

$9.03 MYR 36.92

-17.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 MYR 3.86

$0.86 MYR 3.51

10.47%

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

$44.2K MYR 180.7K

$44.3K MYR 181.0K

-0.17%

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

$35.8K MYR 146.2K

$36.0K MYR 147.2K

-0.69%

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

$36.68 MYR 150

$48.79 MYR 199

-24.82%

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

$9.56 MYR 39.07

$8.16 MYR 33.38

17.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.49 MYR 121

$26.88 MYR 110

9.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.20 MYR 160

$36.95 MYR 151

6.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.85 MYR 19.85

$7.55 MYR 30.86

-35.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 MYR 19.54

$4.93 MYR 20.17

-3.04%

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

$398 MYR 1,626

$235 MYR 962

69.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$4,393 MYR 18.0K

141.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$50.5 MYR 206

20.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.45 MYR 145

$16.62 MYR 68.0

113.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 MYR 342

$77.2 MYR 316

8.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 MYR 287

$85.4 MYR 349

-17.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 MYR 1,668

$357 MYR 1,461

14.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 MYR 1,174

$311 MYR 1,270

-7.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$698 MYR 2,852

$650 MYR 2,659

7.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 MYR 2,184

$565 MYR 2,310

-5.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,117 MYR 8,653

$1,956 MYR 7,997

8.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,261 MYR 5,155

$1,161 MYR 4,746

8.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$931 MYR 3,808

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

4.06

-0.49%

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

Last update for Penang: October 26, 2026

Last update for Skudai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Penang

$287 31.5%

Skudai

$311 34.5% 8.2% $24

Groceries & Markets

Penang

$257 28.2%

Skudai

$226 25.2% 12% $31

Eating Out

Penang

$113 12.4%

Skudai

$111 12.4% 2% $2.3

Clothing & Footwear

Penang

$113 12.3%

Skudai

$103 11.5% 8.1% $9.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Penang

$76 8.3%

Skudai

$84 9.3% 10.7% $8.1

Sport & Entertainment

Penang

$49 5.3%

Skudai

$47 5.2% 4% $1.9

Getting Around

Penang

$18 1.9%

Skudai

$17 1.9% 3% $0.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Penang and $357 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20 in Penang vs $18 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $226 per month, with Skudai cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇾 Penang

🇲🇾 Skudai

🕒 Local time

00:02 12:02 AM

Same time as Penang

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

158,336

159,733

💱 Currency

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.219 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.219 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Penang Skudai 570 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Penang
Skudai

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 Skudai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skudai is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and utilities. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $1,369 in Penang and $1,349 in Skudai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Penang versus $357 in Skudai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Skudai – a meal for two runs $18 versus $20 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $913 per month in Penang versus $900 in Skudai – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Skudai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Penang and Skudai 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 Skudai 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.