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: $867 in Penang versus $858 in Tawau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,306 in Tawau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,754 in Tawau.

Living in Penang is roughly 1% more expensive than in Tawau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Tawau 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.57

$3.59 MYR 14.67

-14.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$18.61 MYR 76.0

16.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$4.04 MYR 16.48

2.72%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.26 MYR 9.24

31.42%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.72 MYR 2.93

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.36 MYR 1.49

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$2.41 MYR 9.83

78.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$3.28 MYR 13.41

35.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.53 MYR 6.23

22.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.32 MYR 5.37

-21.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$1.68 MYR 6.87

22.62%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.06 MYR 8.41

2.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$14.84 MYR 60.6

14.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$4.45 MYR 18.18

16.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$9.15 MYR 37.37

62.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$2.93 MYR 11.98

-0.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.53 MYR 6.23

-5.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$2.48 MYR 10.15

7.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$1.42 MYR 5.81

47.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.23 MYR 5.04

-8.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.28 MYR 5.21

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.00 MYR 4.07

-11.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.52 MYR 2.14

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.12

$4.27 MYR 17.43

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$18.31 MYR 74.8

5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$2.76 MYR 11.27

-3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$2.90 MYR 11.84

17.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.70 MYR 2.84

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.94 MYR 48.75

48.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$1.20 MYR 4.92

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$0.99 MYR 4.06

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.19

$5.98 MYR 24.42

15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.05

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$34.7K MYR 141.6K

-1.74%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$31.6K MYR 129.2K

-13.56%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$44.32 MYR 181

-11.89%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$8.87 MYR 36.23

14.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$28.77 MYR 117

9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$36.32 MYR 148

-10.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$5.78 MYR 23.60

-4.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$2.78 MYR 11.36

73.02%

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

$240 MYR 978

$186 MYR 758

29.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$6,797 MYR 27.8K

-9.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$60.0 MYR 245

-7.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$26.87 MYR 110

8.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$71.9 MYR 294

-15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$50.4 MYR 206

4.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$392 MYR 1,601

-2.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$272 MYR 1,110

-17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$649 MYR 2,652

-2.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$468 MYR 1,911

11.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,997

$2,253 MYR 9,198

-2.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

$1,247 MYR 5,092

-7.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,846

$420 MYR 1,716

124.11%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Tawau: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $392 in Tawau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 124% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $19.00 in Tawau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $251 per month, with Tawau 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

Tawau is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 124% 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: $382 in Penang versus $392 in Tawau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Tawau – 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 $867 per month in Penang versus $858 in Tawau – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tawau gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Tawau 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 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 Tawau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.