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: $588 in Bukit Mertajam versus $874 in Da Nang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,402 in Da Nang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,286 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,930 in Da Nang.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 33% less than in Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 57% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 MYR 14.36

$2.33 ₫60.8K

52.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.45 MYR 86.7

$19.42 ₫506.4K

10.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MYR 20.35

$4.46 ₫116.3K

12.78%

Cappuccino

$2.68 MYR 10.84

$1.72 ₫44.9K

55.81%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.30

$0.68 ₫17.8K

20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$0.34 ₫8,933

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 MYR 9.97

$1.30 ₫33.9K

90.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 MYR 17.61

$2.36 ₫61.6K

84.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 MYR 8.83

$1.54 ₫40.2K

41.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.49

$1.22 ₫31.9K

-9.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.86

$1.06 ₫27.6K

60.38%

Eggs

$2.47 MYR 9.99

$1.52 ₫39.7K

62.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.49 MYR 62.6

$12.97 ₫338.0K

19.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 MYR 19.50

$4.05 ₫105.7K

19.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 39.28

$9.27 ₫241.8K

4.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 MYR 9.47

$2.69 ₫70.2K

-13.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.88

$1.11 ₫28.9K

30.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 MYR 9.12

$1.33 ₫34.6K

69.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.07

$1.38 ₫35.9K

-9.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 MYR 3.56

$1.09 ₫28.5K

-19.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.51

$1.21 ₫31.6K

-28.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$1.03 ₫26.9K

-32.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.55

$0.52 ₫13.6K

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 MYR 17.94

$1.55 ₫40.5K

186.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.11 MYR 77.3

$7.71 ₫201.1K

147.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 MYR 9.98

$0.90 ₫23.6K

174.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 MYR 15.48

$2.14 ₫55.8K

78.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,222

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 ₫132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.95

$1.03 ₫26.9K

18.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.92

$0.65 ₫17.0K

-26.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 MYR 20.25

$19.08 ₫497.3K

-73.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.18

$0.85 ₫22.2K

-7.06%

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

$42.2K MYR 170.5K

$30.7K ₫801.3M

37.17%

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

$35.8K MYR 144.6K

$27.6K ₫718.3M

29.78%

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

$50.7 MYR 205

$88.0 ₫2.3M

-42.43%

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

$8.79 MYR 35.52

$6.28 ₫163.7K

39.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.76 MYR 128

$7.91 ₫206.3K

301.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ₫578.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₫138.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 MYR 19.54

$3.02 ₫78.7K

59.93%

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

$244 MYR 987

$161 ₫4.2M

51.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,067 MYR 20.5K

$15.1K ₫394.3M

-66.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 MYR 218

$46.10 ₫1.2M

17.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.65 MYR 140

$27.21 ₫709.3K

27.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 MYR 298

$103 ₫2.7M

-28.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 MYR 407

$81.7 ₫2.1M

23.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₫13.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₫9.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 ₫27.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₫21.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 ₫99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,312 ₫34.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$559 MYR 2,260

$350 ₫9.1M

59.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

10.72

-60.82%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: August 30, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Bukit Mertajam pays 60% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $19.00 in Da Nang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $198 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 49% in total monthly costs ($588 vs $874 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 60% higher in Bukit Mertajam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Da Nang pay roughly 31% 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 $874 in Da Nang – a 49% 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 49% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.