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: $655 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,115 in Buzau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,225 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,568 in Buzau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,794 in Bukit Mertajam versus $2,020 in Buzau.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 41% less than in Buzau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Buzau 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.87 MYR 7.64

$12.27 RON 56.0

-84.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.80 MYR 81.0

$25.22 RON 115

-21.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 MYR 15.55

$5.79 RON 26.44

-34.37%

Cappuccino

$2.24 MYR 9.17

$2.81 RON 12.82

-20.28%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.84

$1.98 RON 9.04

-65.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.49

$1.58 RON 7.22

-77.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MYR 12.78

$3.28 RON 14.98

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 MYR 19.67

$3.52 RON 16.07

36.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 MYR 6.61

$1.55 RON 7.09

3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$1.36 RON 6.21

-16.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 MYR 2.49

$1.70 RON 7.76

-64.12%

Eggs

$1.91 MYR 7.82

$3.35 RON 15.29

-42.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.95 MYR 89.8

$8.70 RON 39.71

152.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.37

$6.59 RON 30.07

-24.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.65 MYR 43.59

$10.03 RON 45.78

6.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 MYR 15.93

$0.96 RON 4.37

305.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.27

$1.61 RON 7.33

10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 MYR 13.64

$1.18 RON 5.39

182.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.33

$1.72 RON 7.85

46.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$0.87 RON 3.97

101.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 MYR 4.24

$1.06 RON 4.84

-1.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.40

$0.61 RON 2.78

77.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.39

$0.59 RON 2.70

-42.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MYR 17.61

$5.59 RON 25.52

-23.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.15 MYR 78.4

$6.59 RON 30.07

190.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 17.94

$1.05 RON 4.80

317.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 MYR 10.65

$1.68 RON 7.66

54.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.70 RON 3.20

-1.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.71 MYR 47.93

$19.62 RON 89.6

-40.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.89

$0.69 RON 3.13

72.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 MYR 4.65

$0.70 RON 3.20

62.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 MYR 18.08

$7.11 RON 32.46

-37.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.63 RON 7.45

-71.78%

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

$43.4K MYR 177.6K

$21.6K RON 98.4K

101.35%

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

$31.8K MYR 130.2K

$22.7K RON 103.7K

40.09%

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

$27.01 MYR 111

$126 RON 574

-78.51%

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

$9.95 MYR 40.74

$6.41 RON 29.27

55.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.88 MYR 118

$8.76 RON 40.00

229.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.45 MYR 153

$37.26 RON 170

0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.95 MYR 24.37

$19.99 RON 91.2

-70.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 MYR 17.17

$5.86 RON 26.75

-28.50%

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

$116 MYR 474

$339 RON 1,546

-65.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,297 MYR 17.6K

$6,608 RON 30.2K

-34.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.84 MYR 48.47

$61.4 RON 280

-80.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 MYR 262

$43.38 RON 198

47.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.39 MYR 95.7

$96.7 RON 442

-75.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 MYR 320

$96.7 RON 442

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,585

$430 RON 1,964

-9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.9 MYR 237

$369 RON 1,686

-84.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 MYR 2,656

$633 RON 2,892

2.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,957

$462 RON 2,109

3.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 RON 6,956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,220 RON 5,568

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 MYR 2,266

$899 RON 4,104

-38.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

7.7

-48.57%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 14, 2026

Last update for Buzau: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Bukit Mertajam and $430 in Buzau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buzau pays 62% 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: $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $25.00 in Buzau. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $202, 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 70% in total monthly costs ($655 vs $1,115 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 62% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Bukit Mertajam versus $430 in Buzau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $25.00 in Buzau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $655 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,115 in Buzau – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $655 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,115 in Buzau, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Buzau. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 70% less than in Buzau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.