Las Palmas vs Penang: cost of living for digital nomads

Las Palmas, Spain 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 38% cheaper than Las Palmas for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $1,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $900 in Las Palmas.
  • Both score 8/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Las Palmas: 300 Mbps typical against 180 Mbps.
  • Las Palmas is mediterranean; Penang is tropical.

Las Palmas wins 2 of the measured lines; Penang wins 5.

LineLas PalmasPenang
Monthly total (USD)$1,800$1,125
Rent$900$450
Food$450$300
Transport$45$35
Coworking$130$90
Safety (out of 10)8/108/10
Internet (Mbps)300180
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemidmetro
Settingislandisland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Las Palmas

Gran Canaria's nomad capital — year-round spring weather, beaches in the city, huge coworking scene.

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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.