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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $867 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,368 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,870 in Penang.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 24% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$3.08 MYR 12.56

-39.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.07 MYR 81.9

$21.63 MYR 88.3

-7.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.79 MYR 15.48

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-8.67%

Cappuccino

$2.26 MYR 9.22

$2.97 MYR 12.12

-23.91%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.33 MYR 1.37

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$4.29 MYR 17.51

-29.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.76

$4.45 MYR 18.18

8.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.03 MYR 4.22

8.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$2.06 MYR 8.40

-72.82%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.74

$2.12 MYR 8.66

-10.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.77 MYR 93.0

$17.00 MYR 69.4

33.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.35

$5.19 MYR 21.18

-4.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 MYR 43.38

$14.91 MYR 60.9

-28.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 MYR 16.38

$2.91 MYR 11.88

37.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.45 MYR 5.92

19.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.04

$2.66 MYR 10.88

29.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.32

$2.10 MYR 8.59

20.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.96

$1.13 MYR 4.62

50.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.20 MYR 4.91

-17.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.59

$0.89 MYR 3.62

25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.48 MYR 1.96

-31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 17.23

$4.19 MYR 17.11

0.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 MYR 74.6

$19.28 MYR 78.7

-5.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$2.65 MYR 10.83

60.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.77

$3.40 MYR 13.88

-22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.45 MYR 1.83

51.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 48.97

$17.76 MYR 72.5

-32.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$0.74 MYR 3.03

55.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.51 MYR 2.06

121.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$6.90 MYR 28.18

-38.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.50 MYR 2.03

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

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

28.86%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

12.68%

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

$26.62 MYR 109

$39.05 MYR 159

-31.83%

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

$9.67 MYR 39.47

$10.17 MYR 41.54

-4.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.14 MYR 115

$31.51 MYR 129

-10.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.80 MYR 150

$32.40 MYR 132

13.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.43

$5.53 MYR 22.59

8.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 MYR 17.54

$4.81 MYR 19.62

-10.81%

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

$117 MYR 477

$240 MYR 978

-51.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

-31.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.65 MYR 47.56

$55.3 MYR 226

-78.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 MYR 264

$29.23 MYR 119

121.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.16 MYR 94.6

$61.1 MYR 249

-62.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 MYR 321

$52.7 MYR 215

49.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,583

$382 MYR 1,558

1.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 MYR 245

$225 MYR 920

-73.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,599

$636 MYR 2,596

0.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,954

$522 MYR 2,131

-8.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,267

$942 MYR 3,845

-41.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.16

-4.81%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Bukit Mertajam and $382 in Penang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 70% 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 $22.00 in Penang. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $286, with Penang 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 Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Penang differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($656 vs $867 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Penang. 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: $388 in Bukit Mertajam versus $382 in Penang. 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $867 in Penang – a 32% 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 Penang 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 32% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.