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Penang or San Jose

Comprehensive comparison between Penang (Malaysia) and San Jose (USA). Analyze differences in purchasing power, housing, safety, and visas to make your next move.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Based on 2026 cost of living data, Penang is more affordable than San Jose. Penang has a cost rating of 30/100, while San Jose has a cost rating of 84/100.
In terms of safety, San Jose ranks higher with a safety score of 82/100, compared to Penang at 82/100. Penang's safety score is 82/100 and San Jose's safety score is 82/100.
Average rent in Penang is typically €350 - €650 per month, whereas typical rent in San Jose averages $2,300 - $3,100 per month.
For Penang, the visa process is rated as: DE Rantau Nomad Visa & MM2H (Malaysia’s DE Rantau Nomad Visa grants remote workers up to 2 years residence (~$24k/yr income), alongside MM2H long-term residency.). For San Jose, the process is rated as: World Epicenter for H-1B, O-1 & EB-1 Sponsorship (Unrivaled employer sponsorship by Nvidia, Apple, Google, Adobe, Cisco, and thousands of AI startups.).