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: $910 in Sarawak versus $855 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,313 in Sarawak versus $1,394 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,716 in Sarawak versus $1,933 in Penang.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Sarawak 32% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 14.59

$2.97 MYR 12.15

20.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.74 MYR 76.6

$21.37 MYR 87.4

-12.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 MYR 21.32

$4.31 MYR 17.61

20.88%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.43

$2.88 MYR 11.77

-3.12%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$0.72 MYR 2.95

9.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.37 MYR 1.49

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.67 MYR 31.38

$4.45 MYR 18.19

72.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.42 MYR 34.42

$4.30 MYR 17.60

95.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MYR 7.43

$1.83 MYR 7.49

-0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.08

$1.04 MYR 4.25

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.13

$1.96 MYR 8.02

-36.22%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.73

$2.14 MYR 8.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 60.7

$17.25 MYR 70.6

-13.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.49

$5.14 MYR 21.04

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 MYR 38.80

$14.66 MYR 60.0

-35.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.80

$2.93 MYR 11.98

-1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.26

$1.50 MYR 6.13

2.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 MYR 10.23

$2.73 MYR 11.15

-8.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.61

$2.10 MYR 8.60

-34.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$1.19 MYR 4.85

4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 MYR 5.39

$1.16 MYR 4.74

13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 MYR 4.07

$0.90 MYR 3.69

10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 MYR 2.71

$0.45 MYR 1.83

46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 MYR 17.09

$4.20 MYR 17.18

-0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.95 MYR 69.3

$18.73 MYR 76.6

-9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.51

$2.59 MYR 10.59

8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.42

$3.40 MYR 13.89

-10.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.46 MYR 1.88

56.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.74 MYR 48.00

$17.37 MYR 71.0

-32.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$0.73 MYR 2.97

64.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.20

$0.53 MYR 2.17

94.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 MYR 24.04

$7.11 MYR 29.08

-17.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$35.1K MYR 143.6K

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

3.20%

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

$31.9K MYR 130.6K

$27.8K MYR 113.7K

14.84%

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

$43.10 MYR 176

$38.69 MYR 158

11.40%

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

$8.86 MYR 36.24

$10.29 MYR 42.07

-13.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.05 MYR 119

$31.44 MYR 129

-7.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 MYR 152

$32.58 MYR 133

13.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 MYR 24.69

$5.45 MYR 22.29

10.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 20.38

$4.89 MYR 20.02

1.84%

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

$189 MYR 771

$242 MYR 991

-22.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,901 MYR 28.2K

$6,079 MYR 24.9K

13.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.25 MYR 148

$55.4 MYR 227

-34.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 MYR 159

$28.57 MYR 117

35.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 MYR 319

$61.6 MYR 252

26.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.1 MYR 229

$53.3 MYR 218

5.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 MYR 1,347

$384 MYR 1,572

-14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$230 MYR 942

18.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 MYR 2,038

$640 MYR 2,615

-22.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MYR 1,455

$522 MYR 2,135

-31.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,076 MYR 8,489

$2,227 MYR 9,107

-6.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 MYR 4,646

$1,148 MYR 4,693

-0.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 MYR 1,706

$924 MYR 3,777

-54.84%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Sarawak and $384 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 121% 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 $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $284 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 121% lower in Penang. 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: $329 in Sarawak versus $384 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 $21.00 versus $19.00 in Sarawak. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $910 per month in Sarawak versus $855 in Penang – a 6% 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 6% less than in Sarawak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.