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: $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $912 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,335 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,758 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 28% 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

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$3.50 MYR 14.28

-46.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.07 MYR 81.9

$19.15 MYR 78.2

4.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.79 MYR 15.48

$4.78 MYR 19.52

-20.71%

Cappuccino

$2.26 MYR 9.22

$2.78 MYR 11.34

-18.71%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$3.61 MYR 14.75

-16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.76

$4.93 MYR 20.13

-1.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.92 MYR 7.82

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$0.93 MYR 3.81

20.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.79 MYR 7.31

-68.72%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.74

$2.20 MYR 8.97

-13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.77 MYR 93.0

$10.52 MYR 42.97

116.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.35

$3.41 MYR 13.91

46.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 MYR 43.38

$8.28 MYR 33.81

28.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 MYR 16.38

$2.65 MYR 10.83

51.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.68 MYR 6.87

2.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.04

$2.53 MYR 10.32

35.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.32

$1.20 MYR 4.90

110.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.96

$1.18 MYR 4.80

44.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.39 MYR 5.68

-28.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.59

$0.96 MYR 3.93

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.59 MYR 2.42

-44.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 17.23

$4.20 MYR 17.17

0.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 MYR 74.6

$19.92 MYR 81.3

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$2.78 MYR 11.35

53.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.77

$3.97 MYR 16.20

-33.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 48.97

$11.59 MYR 47.33

3.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$1.02 MYR 4.16

12.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$0.33 MYR 1.34

242.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$9.42 MYR 38.45

-55.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.46 MYR 1.87

8.70%

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

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

$31.0K MYR 126.7K

41.50%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

$28.3K MYR 115.4K

9.07%

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

$26.62 MYR 109

$40.45 MYR 165

-34.19%

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

$9.67 MYR 39.47

$9.18 MYR 37.49

5.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.14 MYR 115

$22.64 MYR 92.4

24.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.80 MYR 150

$37.27 MYR 152

-1.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.43

$7.35 MYR 29.99

-18.64%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 MYR 17.54

$4.88 MYR 19.94

-12.09%

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

$117 MYR 477

$208 MYR 850

-43.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

$8,031 MYR 32.8K

-47.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.65 MYR 47.56

$48.20 MYR 197

-75.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 MYR 264

$34.63 MYR 141

86.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.16 MYR 94.6

$54.0 MYR 221

-57.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 MYR 321

$49.14 MYR 201

59.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,583

$460 MYR 1,880

-15.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 MYR 245

$340 MYR 1,389

-82.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,599

$826 MYR 3,374

-22.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,954

$538 MYR 2,196

-11.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,118 MYR 12.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$204 MYR 834

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,267

$1,764 MYR 7,202

-68.52%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Bukit Mertajam and $460 in Petaling Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 218% 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 $298 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 39% in total monthly costs ($656 vs $912 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 218% lower in Petaling Jaya. 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 $460 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 $656 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $912 in Petaling Jaya – a 39% 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 39% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.