Cost of Living Comparison Between Sentul and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Sentul and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Sentul versus $846 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,348 in Sentul versus $1,313 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,771 in Sentul versus $1,779 in Penang.

Living in Sentul is roughly 9% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sentul 33% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 MYR 15.04

$3.73 MYR 15.18

-0.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.16 MYR 90.1

$20.03 MYR 81.5

10.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MYR 20.22

$4.83 MYR 19.66

2.90%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.16

$2.94 MYR 11.95

1.70%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$0.71 MYR 2.90

19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$0.39 MYR 1.60

23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 MYR 13.67

$4.22 MYR 17.17

-20.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 MYR 23.46

$4.50 MYR 18.32

28.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.14

$1.79 MYR 7.26

-2.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.42

$1.09 MYR 4.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.93

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-15.61%

Eggs

$1.77 MYR 7.19

$2.23 MYR 9.05

-20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.81

$13.37 MYR 54.4

-26.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.35

$4.37 MYR 17.78

-24.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 MYR 40.27

$9.00 MYR 36.60

10.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 MYR 13.70

$2.87 MYR 11.67

17.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.17

$1.70 MYR 6.90

3.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 MYR 11.35

$2.61 MYR 10.64

6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.69

$1.46 MYR 5.94

13.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$1.13 MYR 4.58

27.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.17 MYR 4.77

41.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 MYR 5.63

$1.11 MYR 4.51

24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.58 MYR 2.35

-5.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.96

$4.54 MYR 18.45

-2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 MYR 58.5

$19.54 MYR 79.5

-26.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 MYR 11.42

$2.91 MYR 11.85

-3.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 MYR 12.76

$3.98 MYR 16.20

-21.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$0.48 MYR 1.94

47.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.16 MYR 49.48

$12.28 MYR 49.95

-0.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 MYR 4.99

$1.70 MYR 6.92

-27.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.46

$0.42 MYR 1.70

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.03 MYR 36.73

$7.61 MYR 30.97

18.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.18

$0.84 MYR 3.40

-7.14%

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

$43.0K MYR 175.1K

$41.6K MYR 169.2K

3.45%

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

$33.7K MYR 137.0K

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

-3.09%

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

$49.11 MYR 200

$37.45 MYR 152

31.13%

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

$8.28 MYR 33.70

$9.83 MYR 40.01

-15.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.87 MYR 109

$29.72 MYR 121

-9.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.18 MYR 168

$38.51 MYR 157

6.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.80 MYR 27.68

$4.81 MYR 19.57

41.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.51

$5.31 MYR 21.59

-5.08%

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

$163 MYR 662

$435 MYR 1,769

-62.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,578 MYR 18.6K

$10.7K MYR 43.4K

-57.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 MYR 212

$60.3 MYR 245

-13.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.80 MYR 68.3

$34.72 MYR 141

-51.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 MYR 324

$85.3 MYR 347

-6.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.83 MYR 166

$70.8 MYR 288

-42.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$426 MYR 1,733

$399 MYR 1,623

6.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 MYR 1,343

$228 MYR 928

44.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 MYR 2,830

$591 MYR 2,406

17.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 MYR 2,013

$417 MYR 1,694

18.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,052 MYR 8,350

$2,235 MYR 9,094

-8.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,126 MYR 4,581

$1,068 MYR 4,346

5.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 MYR 3,650

$923 MYR 3,754

-2.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

4.24

-4.25%

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

Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Sentul and $399 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Sentul vs $20.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $255, with Sentul cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sentul vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% 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: $426 in Sentul versus $399 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 $20.00 versus $22.00 in Sentul. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Sentul versus $846 in Penang – a 9% 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 Sentul, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Sentul 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 9% less than in Sentul. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.