Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Tawau Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Tawau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $837 in Penang versus $951 in Tawau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $1,399 in Tawau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,847 in Tawau.

Living in Penang costs roughly 12% less than in Tawau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Tawau 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$3.11 MYR 12.70

19.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$19.83 MYR 81.0

-0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$4.10 MYR 16.74

11.46%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$3.07 MYR 12.53

-2.93%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$1.02 MYR 4.16

-27.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.38 MYR 1.56

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$2.65 MYR 10.81

62.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$4.36 MYR 17.79

3.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.87 MYR 7.64

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.49 MYR 6.10

15.44%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$2.00 MYR 8.17

7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$13.78 MYR 56.3

-5.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$4.49 MYR 18.33

-3.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$9.84 MYR 40.18

-13.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$2.92 MYR 11.91

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.78 MYR 7.28

-6.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$2.17 MYR 8.85

18.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$1.86 MYR 7.58

-21.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$1.20 MYR 4.89

-7.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.02 MYR 4.16

13.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.33 MYR 5.42

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.56 MYR 2.30

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$4.45 MYR 18.17

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$18.95 MYR 77.4

0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$2.90 MYR 11.82

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$3.38 MYR 13.81

17.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.78 MYR 3.17

-35.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$11.45 MYR 46.74

6.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.19 MYR 4.87

45.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$0.49 MYR 1.98

-22.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$8.00 MYR 32.64

-6.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$0.73 MYR 2.97

19.18%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$41.5K MYR 169.5K

1.06%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$34.2K MYR 139.6K

1.92%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$51.0 MYR 208

-28.11%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$10.52 MYR 42.93

-5.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$28.28 MYR 115

5.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$42.62 MYR 174

-8.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$7.38 MYR 30.12

-34.69%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$3.62 MYR 14.77

44.20%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$181 MYR 740

138.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$5,615 MYR 22.9K

88.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$52.0 MYR 212

14.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$30.14 MYR 123

19.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$92.9 MYR 379

-10.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$66.9 MYR 273

6.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$382 MYR 1,558

7.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$286 MYR 1,167

-20.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$743 MYR 3,032

-21.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$535 MYR 2,184

-22.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$2,277 MYR 9,295

-1.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$1,204 MYR 4,917

-12.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$416 MYR 1,697

119.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tawau: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Penang and $382 in Tawau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 120% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Penang vs $20.00 in Tawau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $258 per month, with Penang 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 Tawau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 120% higher in Penang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $409 in Penang versus $382 in Tawau. 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 $20.00 in Tawau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $951 in Tawau – a 14% 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 Tawau, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Penang and Tawau 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 14% less than in Tawau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.