Buenos Aires vs Penang: cost of living for digital nomads
Buenos Aires, Argentina 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 13% cheaper than Buenos Aires for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $600 in Buenos Aires.
- Penang scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Penang: 180 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
- Buenos Aires is temperate; Penang is tropical.
Buenos Aires wins 1 of the measured lines; Penang wins 7.
| Line | Buenos Aires | Penang |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,300 | $1,125 |
| Rent | $600 | $450 |
| Food | $360 | $300 |
| Transport | $40 | $35 |
| Coworking | $110 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 180 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 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.