Digital Nomads Penang

Score

Penang is known for its history, culture, and delectable cuisine. There is an established coworking scene, with excellent food options, and a blend of modern amenities with colonial twist. However, traffic can be bad and occasional noise levels may pose challenges for some. Overall, Penang offers an exciting mix of work and play, making it a popular choice for digital nomads seeking adventure and inspiration.

The Good

😋 Decent food options
🍜 Streetfood
☕ Coffee
👴 Strong ex-pat community
☀️ Warm weather
👮 Safe
⛱️ Decent beach

The Bad

🏘️ Limited accomodation options
🚘 Traffic
📡 Unreliable wifi
🚌 Limited public transport
🚶 Not walkable
✈️ Far from airport

Living costs

Estimated Monthly Living Cost

Penang

Cheapest () Costliest ()

Malaysia

cheaper than Malaysia median

42nd

Cheapest out of 291 RoamRank places

Penang is the 3rd most expensive place (out of 5) to live in Malaysia
The average salary in Penang is
It's about 15% cheaper to live in Penang than it is Medellin
You can expect to spend around $687.22 per month living here

USD

USD - $
GBP - £
EUR - €
CNY - ¥
CAD - $
AUD - $
AED - د.إ
CHF - CHF
JPY - ¥
MYR - RM
NOK - kr
SEK - kr

Work


Internet 60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data
PAYG Sim Card 30 Day / Unlimited Data	--
Airalo eSim Global eSims for Instant Connectivity	Buy
Coffee Regular (8-10oz)
Co-Working Space Per Month	--

Living


Apartment (1 bed) Median Rent Per Month
Apartment (2 beds) Median Rent Per Month	--
Airbnb (2 beds) Median Rent Per Month	--
Utilities Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage Collection Per Month
Water 0.33 liter bottle

Leisure


Meal Cheap Restaurant
Meal for 2 Mid Range Restaurant
Local Beer 330ml Bottle
Cocktail Standard Measure	--
Bottle of Wine Mid range
Gym Membership Per Month
Cigarettes 20 pack
Cinema Admission Per Person

Prices are estimates and should be used as a guide only. We accept no responsibility for inaccuracies in data.
Prices adjusted to reflect exchange rates as of 4th Jun 2026

Safety

safe

Generally safe with low crime rates; however, petty crime like pickpocketing can occur in tourist areas.

Where to stay

1. George Town

George Town is a UNESCO world heritage listed town, where narrow streets are filled with street art and historic colonial era buildings. It's the main hub of Penang and there is plenty of restaurants, cafes and nightlife to keep you entertained.