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: $854 in Penang versus $809 in Skudai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,396 in Penang versus $1,238 in Skudai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,938 in Penang versus $1,667 in Skudai.

Living in Penang is roughly 6% more expensive than Skudai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 36% lower, Skudai 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 MYR 11.97

$3.47 MYR 13.71

-12.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.23 MYR 83.9

$18.65 MYR 73.7

13.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.12 MYR 16.28

$4.66 MYR 18.40

-11.59%

Cappuccino

$2.95 MYR 11.64

$2.98 MYR 11.77

-1.01%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$0.73 MYR 2.89

-1.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.33

$0.37 MYR 1.46

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.46 MYR 17.63

$3.50 MYR 13.84

27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 17.87

$4.92 MYR 19.43

-8.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.26

$1.87 MYR 7.40

-1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 MYR 4.04

$0.98 MYR 3.88

4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 MYR 7.99

$1.25 MYR 4.95

61.60%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.32

$1.88 MYR 7.41

12.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.98 MYR 67.1

$10.54 MYR 41.65

61.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.17 MYR 20.41

$3.55 MYR 14.01

45.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 MYR 57.7

$8.36 MYR 33.02

74.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.56

$2.77 MYR 10.96

5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.73

$1.51 MYR 5.97

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.57

$2.50 MYR 9.87

7.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 MYR 8.61

$1.20 MYR 4.74

81.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.19 MYR 4.71

-3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.83

$1.35 MYR 5.32

-9.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 MYR 3.83

$0.89 MYR 3.50

8.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.51 MYR 2.03

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MYR 16.35

$4.32 MYR 17.08

-4.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.42 MYR 76.7

$14.38 MYR 56.8

35.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.40

$2.73 MYR 10.79

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 MYR 13.94

$2.94 MYR 11.61

20.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.91

$0.74 MYR 2.91

-35.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.59 MYR 69.5

$11.95 MYR 47.21

47.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 MYR 2.86

$1.01 MYR 3.99

-28.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.13

$0.99 MYR 3.93

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.28 MYR 28.74

$9.51 MYR 37.55

-23.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.47 MYR 1.85

4.26%

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

$33.7K MYR 133.3K

$31.5K MYR 124.4K

7.14%

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

$27.5K MYR 108.7K

$27.6K MYR 109.1K

-0.38%

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

$38.68 MYR 153

$40.65 MYR 161

-4.85%

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

$10.06 MYR 39.73

$9.35 MYR 36.95

7.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.12 MYR 123

$22.69 MYR 89.6

37.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.54 MYR 129

$36.95 MYR 146

-11.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 MYR 22.32

$5.99 MYR 23.68

-5.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 19.89

$5.08 MYR 20.05

-0.79%

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

$236 MYR 931

$190 MYR 750

24.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,202 MYR 24.5K

$6,814 MYR 26.9K

-8.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 MYR 215

$49.26 MYR 195

10.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.20 MYR 115

$18.59 MYR 73.5

57.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 MYR 247

$60.1 MYR 237

3.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.1 MYR 210

$47.05 MYR 186

12.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$381 MYR 1,503

$386 MYR 1,527

-1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 890

$271 MYR 1,071

-16.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 MYR 2,539

$635 MYR 2,507

1.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 MYR 2,036

$473 MYR 1,868

9.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,303 MYR 9,095

$1,753 MYR 6,923

31.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 MYR 4,709

$880 MYR 3,477

35.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$960 MYR 3,792

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Skudai: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Penang and $386 in Skudai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21 in Penang vs $19 in Skudai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,281 in Penang and $1,213 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: $381 in Penang versus $386 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 $854 per month in Penang versus $809 in Skudai – a 6% 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 6% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.