Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Buzau Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Buzau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $588 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,049 in Buzau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,537 in Buzau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,286 in Bukit Mertajam versus $2,026 in Buzau.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 44% less than in Buzau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 57% lower, Buzau 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 MYR 14.36

$11.18 RON 50.7

-68.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.45 MYR 86.7

$26.07 RON 118

-17.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MYR 20.35

$6.76 RON 30.65

-25.59%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.84

$2.14 RON 9.71

25.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MYR 3.30

$2.10 RON 9.51

-60.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$1.52 RON 6.91

-78.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 MYR 9.97

$1.76 RON 7.98

40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 MYR 17.61

$1.79 RON 8.11

143.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 MYR 8.83

$1.77 RON 8.03

23.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.34 RON 6.07

-17.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.86

$1.52 RON 6.88

11.84%

Eggs

$2.47 MYR 9.99

$3.22 RON 14.59

-23.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.49 MYR 62.6

$7.69 RON 34.86

101.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 MYR 19.50

$6.79 RON 30.80

-29.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 39.28

$11.85 RON 53.7

-17.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 MYR 9.47

$1.01 RON 4.58

131.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.88

$1.72 RON 7.78

-15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 MYR 9.12

$1.15 RON 5.23

96.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.07

$1.25 RON 5.68

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MYR 3.56

$0.67 RON 3.05

31.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.51

$0.87 RON 3.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$0.49 RON 2.20

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.55

$0.73 RON 3.32

-13.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 MYR 17.94

$6.45 RON 29.24

-31.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.11 MYR 77.3

$6.59 RON 29.89

189.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 MYR 9.98

$0.86 RON 3.92

187.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 MYR 15.48

$1.46 RON 6.61

162.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 RON 3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.45 RON 102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$0.56 RON 2.53

117.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.92

$0.52 RON 2.35

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 MYR 20.25

$6.65 RON 30.15

-24.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.18

$1.58 RON 7.15

-50.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.2K MYR 170.5K

$20.1K RON 91.3K

109.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K MYR 144.6K

$22.3K RON 101.2K

60.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$50.7 MYR 205

$124 RON 563

-59.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.79 MYR 35.52

$8.09 RON 36.71

8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.76 MYR 128

$8.17 RON 37.05

288.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.19 RON 155

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 RON 85.0

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 MYR 19.54

$7.33 RON 33.24

-34.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$244 MYR 987

$310 RON 1,406

-21.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,067 MYR 20.5K

$6,973 RON 31.6K

-27.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 MYR 218

$58.9 RON 267

-8.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.65 MYR 140

$61.4 RON 278

-43.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 MYR 298

$103 RON 466

-28.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 MYR 407

$86.7 RON 393

16.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 RON 1,690

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,413

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 RON 2,884

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,975

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,563 RON 7,087

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,255 RON 5,693

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$559 MYR 2,260

$900 RON 4,082

-37.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

6.97

-39.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: August 30, 2026

Last update for Buzau: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Buzau pays 61% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $26.00 in Buzau. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $204, with Buzau cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bukit Mertajam vs Buzau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Buzau differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($588 vs $1,049 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Buzau. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Buzau pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $588 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,049 in Buzau – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bukit Mertajam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bukit Mertajam and Buzau are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Buzau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.