Cost of Living Comparison Between Tawau and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Tawau and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $951 in Tawau versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Tawau versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,847 in Tawau versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Tawau is roughly 14% more expensive than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tawau 30% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.11 MYR 12.70

$3.72 MYR 15.20

-16.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.83 MYR 81.0

$19.77 MYR 80.7

0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 MYR 16.74

$4.57 MYR 18.67

-10.28%

Cappuccino

$3.07 MYR 12.53

$2.98 MYR 12.15

3.02%

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

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$0.74 MYR 3.01

37.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.37 MYR 1.49

2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 MYR 10.81

$4.30 MYR 17.55

-38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 MYR 17.79

$4.53 MYR 18.49

-3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.64

$1.80 MYR 7.35

3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 MYR 4.65

$1.06 MYR 4.31

7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.72 MYR 7.03

-13.37%

Eggs

$2.00 MYR 8.17

$2.14 MYR 8.74

-6.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.78 MYR 56.3

$13.06 MYR 53.3

5.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 MYR 18.33

$4.32 MYR 17.64

3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.84 MYR 40.18

$8.52 MYR 34.79

15.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 MYR 11.91

$2.93 MYR 11.96

-0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.28

$1.66 MYR 6.76

7.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 MYR 8.85

$2.57 MYR 10.48

-15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$1.46 MYR 5.97

27.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.89

$1.11 MYR 4.54

8.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.16 MYR 4.75

-12.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 MYR 5.42

$1.14 MYR 4.66

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.30

$0.54 MYR 2.21

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 MYR 18.17

$4.74 MYR 19.33

-6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 MYR 77.4

$18.98 MYR 77.5

-0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.82

$3.01 MYR 12.31

-3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 13.81

$3.98 MYR 16.25

-15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 MYR 3.17

$0.50 MYR 2.04

56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.45 MYR 46.74

$12.18 MYR 49.73

-5.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.87

$1.73 MYR 7.07

-31.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MYR 1.98

$0.38 MYR 1.55

28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.00 MYR 32.64

$7.46 MYR 30.47

7.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 MYR 2.97

$0.87 MYR 3.56

-16.09%

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

$41.5K MYR 169.5K

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

-1.05%

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

$34.2K MYR 139.6K

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

-1.88%

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

$51.0 MYR 208

$36.65 MYR 150

39.10%

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

$10.52 MYR 42.93

$9.91 MYR 40.47

6.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.28 MYR 115

$29.71 MYR 121

-4.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.62 MYR 174

$39.12 MYR 160

8.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.38 MYR 30.12

$4.82 MYR 19.66

53.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 MYR 14.77

$5.22 MYR 21.31

-30.65%

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

$181 MYR 740

$432 MYR 1,763

-58.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,615 MYR 22.9K

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

-47.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 MYR 212

$59.3 MYR 242

-12.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.14 MYR 123

$35.89 MYR 147

-16.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.9 MYR 379

$83.0 MYR 339

11.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 MYR 273

$71.4 MYR 292

-6.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$409 MYR 1,670

-6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 MYR 1,167

$228 MYR 932

25.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 MYR 3,032

$583 MYR 2,381

27.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 MYR 2,184

$414 MYR 1,690

29.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,277 MYR 9,295

$2,244 MYR 9,163

1.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MYR 4,917

$1,058 MYR 4,320

13.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$416 MYR 1,697

$914 MYR 3,730

-54.52%

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 Tawau: September 13, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Tawau and $409 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 120% 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 Tawau vs $20.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 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

Tawau vs Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 120% 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: $382 in Tawau 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 Tawau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $951 per month in Tawau versus $837 in Penang – a 14% 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 Tawau, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Tawau 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 14% less than in Tawau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.