Penang vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads
Penang, Malaysia and San Jose, Costa Rica, 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 41% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,125 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Penang against $900 in San Jose.
- Penang scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Penang: 180 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Penang wins 7 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 0.
| Line | Penang | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,125 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $450 | $900 |
| Food | $300 | $480 |
| Transport | $35 | $55 |
| Coworking | $90 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 180 | 80 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | island | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 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.