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: $884 in Sibu versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,308 in Sibu versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,733 in Sibu versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Sibu is roughly 6% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sibu 35% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.18 MYR 8.91

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-41.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.54 MYR 79.8

$19.77 MYR 80.7

-1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.20 MYR 17.16

$4.57 MYR 18.67

-8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.36 MYR 9.65

$2.98 MYR 12.15

-20.81%

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

$0.67 MYR 2.73

$0.74 MYR 3.01

-9.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 MYR 0.98

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 MYR 12.32

$4.30 MYR 17.55

-29.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$4.53 MYR 18.49

-5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 MYR 7.23

$1.80 MYR 7.35

-1.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MYR 3.41

$1.06 MYR 4.31

-20.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.34

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-23.84%

Eggs

$1.97 MYR 8.06

$2.14 MYR 8.74

-7.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.04 MYR 61.4

$13.06 MYR 53.3

15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 MYR 17.22

$4.32 MYR 17.64

-2.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 MYR 41.40

$8.52 MYR 34.79

19.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 MYR 13.24

$2.93 MYR 11.96

10.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 MYR 7.53

$1.66 MYR 6.76

10.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 MYR 11.18

$2.57 MYR 10.48

6.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.13

$1.46 MYR 5.97

2.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.12

$1.11 MYR 4.54

13.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.16 MYR 4.75

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.41

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.54 MYR 2.21

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 MYR 18.45

$4.74 MYR 19.33

-4.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.54 MYR 83.9

$18.98 MYR 77.5

8.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.23

$3.01 MYR 12.31

-0.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 MYR 14.93

$3.98 MYR 16.25

-8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 MYR 2.69

$0.50 MYR 2.04

32.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.00 MYR 57.2

$12.18 MYR 49.73

14.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 MYR 5.33

$1.73 MYR 7.07

-24.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 MYR 1.80

$0.38 MYR 1.55

15.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.43 MYR 34.41

$7.46 MYR 30.47

13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 MYR 2.71

$0.87 MYR 3.56

-24.14%

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

$36.0K MYR 146.9K

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

-14.21%

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

$35.2K MYR 143.8K

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

1.03%

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

$49.25 MYR 201

$36.65 MYR 150

34.38%

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

$7.19 MYR 29.34

$9.91 MYR 40.47

-27.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.77 MYR 109

$29.71 MYR 121

-9.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.76 MYR 113

$39.12 MYR 160

-29.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.44 MYR 26.30

$4.82 MYR 19.66

33.61%

Cinema Ticket

$3.65 MYR 14.89

$5.22 MYR 21.31

-30.08%

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

$180 MYR 735

$432 MYR 1,763

-58.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,923 MYR 20.1K

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

-53.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 250

$59.3 MYR 242

3.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.18 MYR 148

$35.89 MYR 147

0.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 MYR 380

$83.0 MYR 339

11.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 MYR 283

$71.4 MYR 292

-2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$416 MYR 1,696

$409 MYR 1,670

1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 MYR 1,466

$228 MYR 932

57.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$784 MYR 3,201

$583 MYR 2,381

34.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,832

$414 MYR 1,690

8.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,916 MYR 7,822

$2,244 MYR 9,163

-14.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,147 MYR 4,682

$1,058 MYR 4,320

8.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$499 MYR 2,037

$914 MYR 3,730

-45.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.24

-0.94%

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

Last update for Sibu: September 14, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Sibu and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Sibu vs $20.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $261 vs $250, with Penang 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

Sibu vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 83% 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: $416 in Sibu versus $409 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 $20.00 in Sibu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $884 per month in Sibu versus $837 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 Sibu, 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 Penang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.