Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $646 in Bukit Mertajam versus $720 in Da Nang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,207 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,104 in Da Nang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,768 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,488 in Da Nang.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 10% less than in Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 52% lower, Da Nang 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.92 MYR 7.61

$1.97 ₫51.8K

-2.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 MYR 78.7

$18.92 ₫497.2K

4.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 14.79

$4.60 ₫120.8K

-18.91%

Cappuccino

$2.34 MYR 9.29

$1.63 ₫42.9K

43.56%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.73

$0.50 ₫13.1K

38.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.34

$0.29 ₫7,495

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 MYR 12.19

$1.02 ₫26.9K

201.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 MYR 18.39

$1.60 ₫42.0K

190.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MYR 6.44

$1.43 ₫37.5K

13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 MYR 4.47

$1.02 ₫26.9K

10.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.58 MYR 2.28

$1.15 ₫30.3K

-49.57%

Eggs

$1.85 MYR 7.34

$1.42 ₫37.4K

30.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.54 MYR 89.4

$12.25 ₫321.8K

84.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 MYR 19.54

$3.63 ₫95.5K

35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.41 MYR 41.29

$10.13 ₫266.3K

2.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 MYR 15.28

$2.75 ₫72.2K

40.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 6.83

$1.00 ₫26.2K

72.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 MYR 13.14

$1.09 ₫28.6K

204.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.56

$1.07 ₫28.1K

148.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 6.98

$1.13 ₫29.8K

55.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MYR 3.98

$1.15 ₫30.2K

-13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.49

$1.04 ₫27.4K

8.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$0.48 ₫12.6K

-31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.37

$1.36 ₫35.7K

203.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.25 MYR 76.3

$7.71 ₫202.5K

149.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.35 MYR 17.26

$0.86 ₫22.7K

405.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.35

$1.66 ₫43.7K

57.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.32 ₫8,325

115.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.26

$3.92 ₫103.0K

204.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.74

$0.90 ₫23.6K

33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.54

$0.69 ₫18.0K

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 MYR 17.48

$11.67 ₫306.7K

-62.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.96

$0.89 ₫23.4K

-44.94%

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

$43.0K MYR 170.6K

$26.8K ₫705.1M

60.35%

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

$32.0K MYR 126.8K

$28.1K ₫738.4M

13.80%

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

$26.96 MYR 107

$74.3 ₫2.0M

-63.72%

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

$9.44 MYR 37.44

$5.71 ₫150.1K

65.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.04 MYR 111

$8.07 ₫212.1K

247.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.01 MYR 147

$20.37 ₫535.3K

81.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.81 MYR 23.02

$7.65 ₫201.0K

-24.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 MYR 16.90

$3.11 ₫81.6K

36.98%

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

$120 MYR 474

$156 ₫4.1M

-23.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,316 MYR 17.1K

$12.7K ₫333.9M

-66.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.89 MYR 47.16

$38.62 ₫1.0M

-69.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.3 MYR 247

$26.00 ₫683.1K

139.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.71 MYR 94.0

$52.7 ₫1.4M

-55.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 MYR 309

$75.8 ₫2.0M

2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,504

$360 ₫9.5M

5.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.8 MYR 233

$249 ₫6.5M

-76.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,555

$727 ₫19.1M

-11.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MYR 1,855

$459 ₫12.0M

2.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$987 MYR 3,912

$353 ₫9.3M

179.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

10.67

-62.89%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 1, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Bukit Mertajam and $360 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 179% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $19.00 in Da Nang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $188 per month, with Da Nang cheaper across the board.

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 Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Da Nang differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($646 vs $720 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bukit Mertajam pays 179% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Bukit Mertajam versus $360 in Da Nang. 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 $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $646 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $720 in Da Nang – a 11% 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 Da Nang 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 11% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.