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: $807 in Skudai versus $869 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Skudai versus $1,385 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Skudai versus $1,901 in Penang.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 MYR 14.31

$3.04 MYR 12.35

16.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 MYR 77.8

$21.59 MYR 87.6

-11.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 MYR 19.59

$4.33 MYR 17.59

11.55%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.06

$2.94 MYR 11.91

1.02%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.68 MYR 2.78

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.59

$0.36 MYR 1.48

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 MYR 14.66

$4.40 MYR 17.86

-17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 MYR 20.70

$4.46 MYR 18.11

14.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.42

$1.81 MYR 7.33

1.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.10

$0.99 MYR 4.00

2.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.08

$2.03 MYR 8.22

-38.42%

Eggs

$1.80 MYR 7.29

$2.13 MYR 8.66

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 MYR 43.91

$17.36 MYR 70.4

-37.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.97

$5.21 MYR 21.14

-33.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 MYR 33.72

$15.08 MYR 61.2

-44.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.91

$2.87 MYR 11.66

-6.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.47 MYR 5.96

2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.45

$2.57 MYR 10.43

0.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.04

$2.11 MYR 8.58

-41.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.81

$1.18 MYR 4.80

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.57

$1.16 MYR 4.71

18.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.81

$0.95 MYR 3.87

-1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.49 MYR 1.98

6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.90

$4.36 MYR 17.69

-4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 MYR 58.6

$19.63 MYR 79.7

-26.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.26

$2.62 MYR 10.62

6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 MYR 12.07

$3.40 MYR 13.81

-12.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.45 MYR 1.82

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.65 MYR 47.28

$17.40 MYR 70.6

-33.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.99

$0.69 MYR 2.81

42.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MYR 3.98

$0.54 MYR 2.21

81.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.51 MYR 38.60

$7.20 MYR 29.21

32.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.47 MYR 1.90

4.26%

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

$31.5K MYR 128.0K

$32.9K MYR 133.6K

-4.20%

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

$27.8K MYR 112.7K

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

1.84%

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

$41.22 MYR 167

$38.60 MYR 157

6.79%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.98

$10.06 MYR 40.82

-11.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.56 MYR 91.6

$31.44 MYR 128

-28.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.97 MYR 150

$33.04 MYR 134

11.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.99 MYR 24.30

$5.42 MYR 21.99

10.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 MYR 19.82

$4.91 MYR 19.91

-0.61%

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

$189 MYR 766

$238 MYR 964

-20.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,831 MYR 27.7K

$6,198 MYR 25.2K

10.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.40 MYR 196

$54.6 MYR 222

-11.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.80 MYR 76.3

$28.39 MYR 115

-33.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.5 MYR 241

$60.5 MYR 245

-1.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.35 MYR 192

$53.5 MYR 217

-11.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,571

$387 MYR 1,570

0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,082

$230 MYR 934

15.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,590

$640 MYR 2,599

-0.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MYR 1,908

$525 MYR 2,132

-10.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,940 MYR 7,872

$2,250 MYR 9,130

-13.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,095 MYR 4,443

$1,186 MYR 4,811

-7.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,860

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Skudai and $387 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Skudai vs $22.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $287 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,211 in Skudai and $1,304 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: $387 in Skudai versus $387 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $807 per month in Skudai versus $869 in Penang – a 8% 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 8% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.