Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibu and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibu and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $802 in Sibu versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,227 in Sibu versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,652 in Sibu versus $1,870 in Penang.

Living in Sibu costs roughly 7% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sibu 40% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 MYR 8.84

$3.08 MYR 12.58

-29.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.61 MYR 35.20

$21.63 MYR 88.4

-60.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.18 MYR 17.10

$4.15 MYR 16.96

0.72%

Cappuccino

$2.08 MYR 8.50

$2.97 MYR 12.13

-29.97%

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

$0.63 MYR 2.59

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 MYR 0.93

$0.33 MYR 1.37

-30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 MYR 11.65

$4.29 MYR 17.52

-33.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 MYR 20.77

$4.45 MYR 18.20

14.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 MYR 5.67

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-26.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 MYR 5.53

$1.03 MYR 4.22

31.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.70

$2.06 MYR 8.41

-44.17%

Eggs

$1.53 MYR 6.24

$2.12 MYR 8.67

-27.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 MYR 61.2

$17.00 MYR 69.5

-11.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 19.07

$5.19 MYR 21.20

-10.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 MYR 24.42

$14.91 MYR 61.0

-59.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.20

$2.91 MYR 11.89

2.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 MYR 7.87

$2.66 MYR 10.89

-27.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 MYR 14.29

$2.10 MYR 8.60

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.86

$1.13 MYR 4.62

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 MYR 9.54

$1.20 MYR 4.91

94.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.28

$0.89 MYR 3.62

17.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$0.48 MYR 1.96

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 MYR 16.58

$4.19 MYR 17.13

-3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.77 MYR 80.8

$19.28 MYR 78.8

2.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MYR 5.00

$2.65 MYR 10.84

-53.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 MYR 15.96

$3.40 MYR 13.89

14.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.45 MYR 1.83

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 48.84

$17.76 MYR 72.6

-32.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.94

$0.74 MYR 3.04

63.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$0.51 MYR 2.07

94.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.70

$6.90 MYR 28.21

-15.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.50 MYR 2.03

-6.00%

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

$35.5K MYR 145.1K

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

4.19%

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

$31.8K MYR 129.9K

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

16.19%

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

$42.92 MYR 175

$39.05 MYR 160

9.91%

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

$5.16 MYR 21.11

$10.17 MYR 41.58

-49.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.36 MYR 75.1

$31.51 MYR 129

-41.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.98 MYR 93.9

$32.40 MYR 132

-29.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 MYR 23.69

$5.53 MYR 22.61

4.88%

Cinema Ticket

$3.22 MYR 13.17

$4.81 MYR 19.64

-33.06%

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

$185 MYR 756

$240 MYR 979

-22.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,983 MYR 28.5K

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

12.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 MYR 247

$55.3 MYR 226

9.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.03 MYR 110

$29.23 MYR 119

-7.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 MYR 293

$61.1 MYR 250

17.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.94 MYR 204

$52.7 MYR 215

-5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 MYR 1,603

$382 MYR 1,559

2.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,097

$225 MYR 921

19.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 MYR 2,670

$636 MYR 2,598

2.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,899

$522 MYR 2,133

-10.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,325 MYR 9,502

$2,203 MYR 9,004

5.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,259 MYR 5,145

$1,160 MYR 4,740

8.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$489 MYR 1,998

$942 MYR 3,849

-48.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.25

4.16

2.16%

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

Last update for Sibu: July 28, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Penang pays 93% 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: $9.00 in Sibu vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $286 per month, with Sibu 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

Sibu vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sibu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 93% 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: $392 in Sibu versus $382 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sibu – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $802 per month in Sibu versus $867 in Penang – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Sibu 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, Sibu 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 Sibu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.