Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Petaling Jaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Petaling Jaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Bukit Mertajam versus $909 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,337 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,765 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 27% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Petaling Jaya 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 MYR 7.76

$3.63 MYR 14.70

-47.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.96 MYR 80.9

$18.88 MYR 76.6

5.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.70 MYR 15.02

$4.69 MYR 19.02

-21.11%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 9.03

$2.71 MYR 10.99

-17.71%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.68 MYR 2.74

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.37 MYR 1.49

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MYR 12.74

$3.51 MYR 14.24

-10.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.70 MYR 19.04

$4.96 MYR 20.10

-5.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 MYR 6.77

$1.92 MYR 7.78

-13.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 MYR 4.40

$0.95 MYR 3.85

14.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.74 MYR 7.07

-67.82%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.68

$2.16 MYR 8.75

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.75 MYR 92.3

$10.81 MYR 43.82

110.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 MYR 20.42

$3.56 MYR 14.45

41.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 MYR 42.28

$7.94 MYR 32.21

31.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 MYR 15.75

$2.76 MYR 11.18

40.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.13

$1.73 MYR 7.02

1.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 MYR 14.10

$2.47 MYR 10.04

40.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.77

$1.21 MYR 4.89

119.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.12

$1.15 MYR 4.65

53.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MYR 4.04

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-27.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$0.94 MYR 3.83

18.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$4.13 MYR 16.74

4.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.90 MYR 76.7

$19.45 MYR 78.9

-2.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.28 MYR 17.34

$2.74 MYR 11.09

56.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MYR 10.59

$3.77 MYR 15.30

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.78

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-9.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 47.83

$11.97 MYR 48.52

-1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.87

$0.99 MYR 4.00

21.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.59

$0.32 MYR 1.32

253.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 MYR 17.25

$9.35 MYR 37.92

-54.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.47 MYR 1.90

-2.13%

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

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

41.28%

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

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

10.94%

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

$26.68 MYR 108

$40.93 MYR 166

-34.82%

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

$9.95 MYR 40.36

$8.87 MYR 35.97

12.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.90 MYR 117

$23.16 MYR 93.9

24.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 MYR 151

$36.87 MYR 149

1.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 MYR 23.99

$7.22 MYR 29.28

-18.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 MYR 16.85

$5.01 MYR 20.30

-16.97%

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

$119 MYR 483

$209 MYR 849

-43.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

-47.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.98 MYR 48.58

$48.47 MYR 197

-75.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.2 MYR 256

$33.99 MYR 138

85.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.23 MYR 94.2

$53.9 MYR 219

-56.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 MYR 317

$48.57 MYR 197

60.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,584

$471 MYR 1,911

-17.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.8 MYR 238

$347 MYR 1,407

-83.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,662

$817 MYR 3,311

-19.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MYR 1,936

$543 MYR 2,200

-12.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 851

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$990 MYR 4,016

$1,742 MYR 7,066

-43.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

4.49

-11.80%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Bukit Mertajam and $471 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 76% 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $236 per month, with Petaling Jaya 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 Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Petaling Jaya differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($661 vs $909 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Petaling Jaya earns 76% less. 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: $391 in Bukit Mertajam versus $471 in Petaling Jaya. 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 Petaling Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $909 in Petaling Jaya – a 38% 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 Petaling Jaya 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 38% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.