Antigua vs Penang: cost of living for digital nomads

Antigua, Guatemala and Penang, Malaysia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Penang is about 18% cheaper than Antigua for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $1,380).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $600 in Antigua.
  • Penang scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Penang: 180 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
  • Antigua is temperate; Penang is tropical.

Antigua wins 0 of the measured lines; Penang wins 8.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Antigua or Penang?

Penang is cheaper: about $1,125/month against $1,380/month in Antigua, roughly 18% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Antigua or Penang?

Penang scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Antigua.

Which has faster internet, Antigua or Penang?

Penang has faster typical internet: 180 Mbps against 90 Mbps in Antigua.

LineAntiguaPenang
Monthly total (USD)$1,380$1,125
Rent$600$450
Food$360$300
Transport$40$35
Coworking$100$90
Safety (out of 10)7/108/10
Internet (Mbps)90180
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizesmallmetro
Settingmountainisland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

Compare Antigua with

Compare Penang with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Antigua September 11, 2026, Penang September 11, 2026.