George Town ranks 2nd of 4 priced cities in Malaysia on cost — $614 a month in essentials, 17% above Kota Kinabalu, the cheapest. The average net salary of $1,074 covers that 1.7×. 106.8 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at unit level. PM2.5 averages 17.3 µg/m³ a year, 3× the WHO guideline of 5. Nov averages 28°C, Mar 29°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $366 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $505 |
| Groceries | $96 |
| Dining out | $74 |
| Utilities | $67 |
| Local transport | $11 |
| Essentials / mo | $614 |
| Avg net salary | $1,074 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $653 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $916 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in George Town, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $3.42 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $15.14 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $4.64 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $2.69 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $3.05 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $4.39 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $0.74 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.34 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.90 |
| White bread, 500 g | $1.06 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $1.71 |
| Eggs, 12 | $2.16 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $13.15 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $4.39 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.36 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.46 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $1.22 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $0.90 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $0.81 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.55 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $0.49 |
| Monthly transit pass | $10.99 |
| Taxi start | $1.22 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.49 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $0.78 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $37.04 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $29.47 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $7.72 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $40.28 |
| Cinema, one seat | $4.64 |
Dating-age sex ratio
George Town has 106.8 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (unit level). That is the 5th-highest of 6 Malaysia cities we track. Malaysia's national figure is 116.6, so George Town runs 10 below the country as a whole.
Every Malaysia region by male-to-female ratio →
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28.1°C | 33.7°C | 79% | 79% | 106 mm |
| Feb | 28.6°C | 34.1°C | 76% | 68% | 94 mm |
| Mar | 28.9°C | 35°C | 78% | 70% | 141 mm |
| Apr | 28.7°C | 35.3°C | 82% | 84% | 221 mm |
| May | 28.8°C | 35.4°C | 83% | 90% | 270 mm |
| Jun | 28.6°C | 34.9°C | 82% | 85% | 152 mm |
| Jul | 28.6°C | 34.7°C | 81% | 86% | 137 mm |
| Aug | 28.3°C | 34.3°C | 81% | 88% | 206 mm |
| Sep | 27.9°C | 33.9°C | 83% | 90% | 242 mm |
| Oct | 27.9°C | 34°C | 84% | 91% | 305 mm |
| Nov | 27.7°C | 33.8°C | 85% | 92% | 400 mm |
| Dec | 27.8°C | 33.5°C | 82% | 84% | 214 mm |
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