Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Skudai Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Skudai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $846 in Penang versus $928 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Penang versus $1,343 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Penang versus $1,757 in Skudai.

Living in Penang costs roughly 9% less than in Skudai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Skudai 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.14

$3.75 MYR 15.21

-0.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.03 MYR 81.3

$22.01 MYR 89.3

-9.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.61

$4.88 MYR 19.79

-1.02%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.91

$2.87 MYR 11.64

2.44%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$0.84 MYR 3.42

-15.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.42 MYR 1.70

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.12

$3.43 MYR 13.90

23.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 MYR 18.27

$5.84 MYR 23.70

-22.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.24

$1.75 MYR 7.12

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.43

$1.03 MYR 4.18

5.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.03

$1.50 MYR 6.07

15.33%

Eggs

$2.23 MYR 9.03

$1.70 MYR 6.89

31.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 MYR 54.3

$9.64 MYR 39.10

38.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MYR 17.73

$3.22 MYR 13.07

35.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 MYR 36.50

$9.92 MYR 40.23

-9.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.64

$3.35 MYR 13.58

-14.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.88

$1.74 MYR 7.08

-2.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.61

$2.79 MYR 11.33

-6.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.93

$1.64 MYR 6.66

-10.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.57

$1.42 MYR 5.78

-20.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.75 MYR 7.11

-33.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.50

$1.32 MYR 5.37

-15.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MYR 2.35

$0.54 MYR 2.21

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 MYR 18.40

$4.41 MYR 17.91

2.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 79.3

$14.26 MYR 57.9

37.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.81

$2.69 MYR 10.90

8.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.15

$3.03 MYR 12.28

31.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.93

$0.76 MYR 3.10

-36.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.28 MYR 49.81

$12.44 MYR 50.5

-1.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 MYR 6.91

$1.23 MYR 4.99

38.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.39 MYR 1.57

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 MYR 30.89

$9.39 MYR 38.11

-18.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 MYR 3.39

$0.73 MYR 2.95

15.07%

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

$41.6K MYR 168.8K

$42.7K MYR 173.1K

-2.52%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.0K

$33.1K MYR 134.2K

5.05%

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

$37.45 MYR 152

$49.43 MYR 201

-24.24%

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

$9.83 MYR 39.90

$8.43 MYR 34.20

16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 MYR 121

$26.70 MYR 108

11.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.51 MYR 156

$41.50 MYR 168

-7.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.81 MYR 19.51

$6.56 MYR 26.60

-26.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.31 MYR 21.53

$5.08 MYR 20.59

4.53%

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

$435 MYR 1,765

$162 MYR 657

168.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MYR 43.3K

$4,558 MYR 18.5K

134.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 MYR 244

$52.9 MYR 214

13.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.72 MYR 141

$16.99 MYR 68.9

104.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 MYR 346

$79.7 MYR 323

7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 287

$41.41 MYR 168

71.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 MYR 1,619

$427 MYR 1,732

-6.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 926

$334 MYR 1,354

-31.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 MYR 2,400

$692 MYR 2,808

-14.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 MYR 1,690

$497 MYR 2,014

-16.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,235 MYR 9,069

$2,062 MYR 8,366

8.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,068 MYR 4,335

$1,140 MYR 4,626

-6.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$923 MYR 3,744

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.06

4.43%

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

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Last update for Skudai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $399 in Penang and $427 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $22.00 in Skudai. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $230, with Skudai cheaper for home cooking.

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

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,270 in Penang and $1,391 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: $399 in Penang versus $427 in Skudai. 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 $22.00 in Skudai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $846 per month in Penang versus $928 in Skudai – a 10% 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 Skudai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Skudai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.