Brisbane vs Penang: cost of living for digital nomads
Brisbane, Australia 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 59% cheaper than Brisbane for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $2,715).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $1,350 in Brisbane.
- Both score 8/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Brisbane: 220 Mbps typical against 180 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Brisbane wins 1 of the measured lines; Penang wins 6.
| Line | Brisbane | Penang |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $2,715 | $1,125 |
| Rent | $1,350 | $450 |
| Food | $590 | $300 |
| Transport | $85 | $35 |
| Coworking | $180 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 220 | 180 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.