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: $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $837 in Penang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,307 in Penang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,776 in Penang.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 30% less than in Penang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 57% lower, Penang 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.72 MYR 15.24

-6.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 MYR 86.0

$19.77 MYR 80.9

6.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.04

$4.57 MYR 18.72

7.22%

Cappuccino

$2.67 MYR 10.91

$2.98 MYR 12.18

-10.40%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$0.74 MYR 3.01

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.37 MYR 1.50

-13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 MYR 9.96

$4.30 MYR 17.60

-43.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 18.14

$4.53 MYR 18.53

-2.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 MYR 8.83

$1.80 MYR 7.37

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.40

$1.06 MYR 4.32

0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.72 MYR 7.05

1.74%

Eggs

$2.58 MYR 10.55

$2.14 MYR 8.76

20.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 MYR 64.0

$13.06 MYR 53.5

19.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 MYR 19.89

$4.32 MYR 17.68

12.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 MYR 41.02

$8.52 MYR 34.87

17.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 MYR 9.55

$2.93 MYR 11.99

-20.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.66 MYR 6.78

-10.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 MYR 9.20

$2.57 MYR 10.51

-12.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.46 MYR 5.99

-17.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 MYR 3.54

$1.11 MYR 4.55

-22.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$1.16 MYR 4.76

-31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MYR 2.91

$1.14 MYR 4.67

-37.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.54 MYR 2.21

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$4.74 MYR 19.38

-6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 MYR 9.95

$3.01 MYR 12.34

-19.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 MYR 15.54

$3.98 MYR 16.29

-4.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$1.73 MYR 7.09

-29.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.38 MYR 1.56

31.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 MYR 20.40

$7.46 MYR 30.55

-33.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.34

$0.87 MYR 3.57

-5.75%

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

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

0.85%

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

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

0.94%

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

$50.8 MYR 208

$36.65 MYR 150

38.66%

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

$8.67 MYR 35.49

$9.91 MYR 40.57

-12.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 MYR 128

$29.71 MYR 122

5.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$5.22 MYR 21.37

-12.45%

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

$242 MYR 989

$432 MYR 1,768

-44.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

-53.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MYR 220

$59.3 MYR 243

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.48 MYR 141

$35.89 MYR 147

-3.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 MYR 297

$83.0 MYR 340

-12.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 MYR 398

$71.4 MYR 292

36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,270

$914 MYR 3,740

-39.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.24

-0.94%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Penang pays 65% 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 $20.00 in Penang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $250 per month, with Penang 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 Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Penang differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($583 vs $837 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 65% 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.

Shoppers in Penang pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $583 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $837 in Penang – a 44% 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 44% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.