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: $869 in Penang versus $807 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,223 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,639 in Skudai.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.35

$3.53 MYR 14.31

-13.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.6

$19.18 MYR 77.8

12.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.59

$4.83 MYR 19.59

-10.35%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.91

$2.97 MYR 12.06

-1.01%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.69 MYR 2.79

-1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.39 MYR 1.59

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.86

$3.61 MYR 14.66

21.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.11

$5.10 MYR 20.70

-12.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.33

$1.83 MYR 7.42

-1.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.01 MYR 4.10

-1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.22

$1.25 MYR 5.08

62.40%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.66

$1.80 MYR 7.29

18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$10.82 MYR 43.91

60.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.14

$3.44 MYR 13.97

51.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.2

$8.31 MYR 33.72

81.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.69 MYR 10.91

6.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.51 MYR 6.15

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$2.58 MYR 10.45

-0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.58

$1.24 MYR 5.04

70.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.80

$1.18 MYR 4.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.37 MYR 5.57

-15.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$0.94 MYR 3.81

1.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.52 MYR 2.11

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.69

$4.17 MYR 16.90

4.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.7

$14.43 MYR 58.6

36.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.62

$2.78 MYR 11.26

-5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.81

$2.97 MYR 12.07

14.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.65 MYR 47.28

49.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.98 MYR 3.99

-29.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.98 MYR 3.98

-44.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.21

$9.51 MYR 38.60

-24.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.49 MYR 2.01

-4.08%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.6K

$31.5K MYR 128.0K

4.38%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$27.8K MYR 112.7K

-1.81%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$41.22 MYR 167

-6.36%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.82

$8.87 MYR 35.98

13.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 128

$22.56 MYR 91.6

39.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$36.97 MYR 150

-10.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.99

$5.99 MYR 24.30

-9.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.91

$4.88 MYR 19.82

0.61%

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

$238 MYR 964

$189 MYR 766

25.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.2K

$6,831 MYR 27.7K

-9.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 222

$48.40 MYR 196

12.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$18.80 MYR 76.3

51.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$59.5 MYR 241

1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$47.35 MYR 192

12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,570

$387 MYR 1,571

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 934

$267 MYR 1,082

-13.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,599

$638 MYR 2,590

0.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,132

$470 MYR 1,908

11.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,130

$1,940 MYR 7,872

15.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,811

$1,095 MYR 4,443

8.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,860

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Skudai: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $387 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $219 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,304 in Penang and $1,211 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: $387 in Penang versus $387 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Penang versus $807 in Skudai – a 8% 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 8% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.