Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarawak and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sarawak versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,286 in Sarawak versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,673 in Sarawak versus $1,901 in Penang.

Living in Sarawak is roughly 4% more expensive than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarawak 33% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.79

$3.04 MYR 12.38

19.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.4

$21.59 MYR 87.8

-13.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MYR 21.46

$4.33 MYR 17.62

21.94%

Cappuccino

$2.76 MYR 11.23

$2.94 MYR 11.94

-6.12%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.68 MYR 2.78

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.36 MYR 1.48

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 MYR 32.16

$4.40 MYR 17.90

79.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 MYR 33.71

$4.46 MYR 18.15

85.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.69

$1.81 MYR 7.34

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.07

$0.99 MYR 4.01

1.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.23

$2.03 MYR 8.24

-36.45%

Eggs

$2.04 MYR 8.28

$2.13 MYR 8.68

-4.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.95 MYR 60.8

$17.36 MYR 70.6

-13.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.39

$5.21 MYR 21.19

-51.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 39.35

$15.08 MYR 61.3

-35.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.82

$2.87 MYR 11.69

1.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.00

$1.47 MYR 5.97

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.48

$2.57 MYR 10.46

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.90

$2.11 MYR 8.60

-31.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 4.97

$1.18 MYR 4.81

3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.40

$1.16 MYR 4.72

14.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 MYR 4.09

$0.95 MYR 3.88

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 MYR 2.73

$0.49 MYR 1.98

36.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.46

$4.36 MYR 17.73

-1.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.42 MYR 70.9

$19.63 MYR 79.8

-11.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.49

$2.62 MYR 10.64

7.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.15

$3.40 MYR 13.84

-12.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.45 MYR 1.82

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 48.71

$17.40 MYR 70.8

-31.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.67

$0.69 MYR 2.81

66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$0.54 MYR 2.21

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 MYR 24.06

$7.20 MYR 29.28

-17.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.47 MYR 1.90

4.26%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.1K

$32.9K MYR 133.9K

6.11%

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

$31.9K MYR 129.8K

$27.3K MYR 110.9K

17.02%

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

$43.20 MYR 176

$38.60 MYR 157

11.92%

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

$8.94 MYR 36.36

$10.06 MYR 40.91

-11.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.23 MYR 119

$31.44 MYR 128

-7.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 MYR 151

$33.04 MYR 134

12.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 MYR 24.39

$5.42 MYR 22.03

10.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MYR 20.59

$4.91 MYR 19.96

3.05%

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

$189 MYR 770

$238 MYR 966

-20.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,935 MYR 28.2K

$6,198 MYR 25.2K

11.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.81 MYR 150

$54.6 MYR 222

-32.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.24 MYR 160

$28.39 MYR 115

38.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 MYR 313

$60.5 MYR 246

27.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 MYR 228

$53.5 MYR 217

4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$324 MYR 1,317

$387 MYR 1,573

-16.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,095

$230 MYR 936

17.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 MYR 2,052

$640 MYR 2,604

-21.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$360 MYR 1,463

$525 MYR 2,137

-31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,935 MYR 7,870

$2,250 MYR 9,150

-13.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$973 MYR 3,956

$1,186 MYR 4,822

-17.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 MYR 1,708

$951 MYR 3,869

-55.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

4.16

-2.16%

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

Last update for Sarawak: June 7, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Sarawak and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 127% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Sarawak vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $287 per month, with Sarawak 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

Sarawak vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Penang earns 127% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $324 in Sarawak versus $387 in Penang. 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 $22.00 versus $19.00 in Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $900 per month in Sarawak versus $869 in Penang – a 4% 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 Sarawak, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sarawak and Penang 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 4% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.