Cost of Living Comparison Between Skudai and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Skudai and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $828 in Skudai versus $855 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Skudai versus $1,394 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Skudai versus $1,933 in Penang.

Living in Skudai costs roughly 3% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Skudai 38% lower, Penang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 MYR 14.29

$2.97 MYR 12.15

17.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.56 MYR 75.9

$21.37 MYR 87.4

-13.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.57

$4.31 MYR 17.61

10.90%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.21

$2.88 MYR 11.77

3.82%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.91

$0.72 MYR 2.95

-1.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.61

$0.37 MYR 1.49

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 MYR 14.09

$4.45 MYR 18.19

-22.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 MYR 20.53

$4.30 MYR 17.60

16.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.63

$1.83 MYR 7.49

2.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.04 MYR 4.25

-8.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 MYR 5.34

$1.96 MYR 8.02

-33.16%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.72

$2.14 MYR 8.76

-11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.60 MYR 43.34

$17.25 MYR 70.6

-38.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.08

$5.14 MYR 21.04

-33.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 MYR 33.52

$14.66 MYR 60.0

-44.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 MYR 11.35

$2.93 MYR 11.98

-5.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.23

$1.50 MYR 6.13

1.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 MYR 10.14

$2.73 MYR 11.15

-9.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.17

$2.10 MYR 8.60

-39.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.80

$1.19 MYR 4.85

-1.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.65

$1.16 MYR 4.74

18.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.84

$0.90 MYR 3.69

4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.15

$0.45 MYR 1.83

15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.70

$4.20 MYR 17.18

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.16 MYR 57.9

$18.73 MYR 76.6

-24.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$2.59 MYR 10.59

5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.91

$3.40 MYR 13.89

-14.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.46 MYR 1.88

58.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$17.37 MYR 71.0

-31.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.19

$0.73 MYR 2.97

39.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 4.04

$0.53 MYR 2.17

86.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.40 MYR 38.44

$7.11 MYR 29.08

32.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$31.3K MYR 127.9K

$34.0K MYR 139.1K

-8.03%

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

$27.6K MYR 112.8K

$27.8K MYR 113.7K

-0.77%

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

$41.03 MYR 168

$38.69 MYR 158

6.05%

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

$8.90 MYR 36.42

$10.29 MYR 42.07

-13.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.17 MYR 94.8

$31.44 MYR 129

-26.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.67 MYR 150

$32.58 MYR 133

12.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.74 MYR 23.46

$5.45 MYR 22.29

5.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 MYR 19.74

$4.89 MYR 20.02

-1.23%

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

$187 MYR 765

$242 MYR 991

-22.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,839 MYR 28.0K

$6,079 MYR 24.9K

12.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.19 MYR 197

$55.4 MYR 227

-13.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.56 MYR 75.9

$28.57 MYR 117

-35.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.2 MYR 238

$61.6 MYR 252

-5.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.25 MYR 193

$53.3 MYR 218

-11.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,585

$384 MYR 1,572

0.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MYR 1,096

$230 MYR 942

16.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 MYR 2,621

$640 MYR 2,615

0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 MYR 1,920

$522 MYR 2,135

-10.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,945 MYR 7,955

$2,227 MYR 9,107

-12.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,258 MYR 5,143

$1,148 MYR 4,693

9.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$924 MYR 3,777

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 Skudai: July 21, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Skudai and $384 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Skudai vs $21.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $284 per month, with Skudai 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

Skudai vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Skudai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,242 in Skudai and $1,282 in Penang to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Skudai versus $384 in Penang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Skudai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $21.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $828 per month in Skudai versus $855 in Penang – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Skudai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Skudai 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, Skudai 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 Skudai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.