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: $855 in Penang versus $828 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,394 in Penang versus $1,256 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,933 in Penang versus $1,683 in Skudai.

Living in Penang is roughly 3% more expensive than in Skudai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Skudai 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 12.15

$3.49 MYR 14.29

-14.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.37 MYR 87.4

$18.56 MYR 75.9

15.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 MYR 17.61

$4.78 MYR 19.57

-9.83%

Cappuccino

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$2.99 MYR 12.21

-3.68%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.95

$0.71 MYR 2.91

1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.39 MYR 1.61

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$3.45 MYR 14.09

28.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$5.02 MYR 20.53

-14.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.49

$1.87 MYR 7.63

-2.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$0.95 MYR 3.87

9.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 8.02

$1.31 MYR 5.34

49.62%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$1.89 MYR 7.72

13.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.25 MYR 70.6

$10.60 MYR 43.34

62.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 MYR 21.04

$3.44 MYR 14.08

49.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 MYR 60.0

$8.20 MYR 33.52

78.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.98

$2.77 MYR 11.35

5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.13

$1.52 MYR 6.23

-1.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.15

$2.48 MYR 10.14

10.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.60

$1.27 MYR 5.17

65.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.85

$1.17 MYR 4.80

1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.74

$1.38 MYR 5.65

-15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.69

$0.94 MYR 3.84

-4.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.52 MYR 2.15

-13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 17.18

$4.33 MYR 17.70

-3.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.73 MYR 76.6

$14.16 MYR 57.9

32.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 MYR 10.59

$2.73 MYR 11.18

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$2.91 MYR 11.91

16.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.73 MYR 2.98

-36.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.37 MYR 71.0

$11.85 MYR 48.46

46.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$1.02 MYR 4.19

-28.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.99 MYR 4.04

-46.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 MYR 29.08

$9.40 MYR 38.44

-24.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

$31.3K MYR 127.9K

8.73%

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

$27.8K MYR 113.7K

$27.6K MYR 112.8K

0.78%

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

$38.69 MYR 158

$41.03 MYR 168

-5.70%

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

$10.29 MYR 42.07

$8.90 MYR 36.42

15.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 129

$23.17 MYR 94.8

35.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.58 MYR 133

$36.67 MYR 150

-11.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.45 MYR 22.29

$5.74 MYR 23.46

-5.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 20.02

$4.83 MYR 19.74

1.24%

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

$242 MYR 991

$187 MYR 765

29.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,079 MYR 24.9K

$6,839 MYR 28.0K

-11.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 MYR 227

$48.19 MYR 197

15.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.57 MYR 117

$18.56 MYR 75.9

53.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 MYR 252

$58.2 MYR 238

5.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 218

$47.25 MYR 193

12.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$384 MYR 1,572

$388 MYR 1,585

-0.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 942

$268 MYR 1,096

-14.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,615

$641 MYR 2,621

-0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,135

$469 MYR 1,920

11.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,227 MYR 9,107

$1,945 MYR 7,955

14.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,148 MYR 4,693

$1,258 MYR 5,143

-8.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$924 MYR 3,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.07

2.21%

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

Last update for Penang: July 20, 2026

Last update for Skudai: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Penang and $388 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $218 per month, with Skudai 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 Skudai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skudai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,282 in Penang and $1,242 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: $384 in Penang versus $388 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 $19.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Penang versus $828 in Skudai – a 3% 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.

For families, Skudai 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 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 3% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.