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: $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,491 in Petaling Jaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,946 in Petaling Jaya.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 44% less than in Petaling Jaya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 57% lower, Petaling Jaya 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 MYR 14.20

$3.60 MYR 14.75

-3.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.02 MYR 86.0

$24.59 MYR 101

-14.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 MYR 20.04

$4.95 MYR 20.26

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$2.67 MYR 10.91

$2.98 MYR 12.21

-10.40%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.36

$0.92 MYR 3.77

-10.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$0.42 MYR 1.70

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 MYR 9.96

$3.26 MYR 13.33

-25.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 18.14

$5.89 MYR 24.09

-24.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 MYR 8.83

$1.87 MYR 7.65

15.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.40

$1.05 MYR 4.29

1.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.17

$1.51 MYR 6.17

15.89%

Eggs

$2.58 MYR 10.55

$1.78 MYR 7.27

44.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 MYR 64.0

$9.85 MYR 40.31

58.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 MYR 19.89

$3.36 MYR 13.76

44.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 MYR 41.02

$9.56 MYR 39.13

4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 MYR 9.55

$3.46 MYR 14.17

-32.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.92 MYR 7.86

-22.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 MYR 9.20

$2.68 MYR 10.95

-16.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$1.82 MYR 7.44

-34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 MYR 3.54

$2.08 MYR 8.50

-58.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.26

$1.99 MYR 8.14

-59.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 MYR 2.91

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-52.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.53 MYR 2.17

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 MYR 18.19

$4.46 MYR 18.25

-0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

$19.38 MYR 79.3

-2.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 MYR 9.95

$2.63 MYR 10.77

-7.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 MYR 15.54

$4.52 MYR 18.49

-15.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.98

$1.26 MYR 5.17

-3.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.36 MYR 1.47

38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 MYR 20.40

$9.15 MYR 37.46

-45.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MYR 3.34

$0.79 MYR 3.22

3.80%

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

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

$41.6K MYR 170.2K

1.72%

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

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

$32.4K MYR 132.8K

8.44%

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

$50.8 MYR 208

$49.66 MYR 203

2.34%

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

$8.67 MYR 35.49

$8.04 MYR 32.92

7.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 MYR 128

$27.49 MYR 113

13.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MYR 212

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.53

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.79 MYR 19.60

-4.59%

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

$242 MYR 989

$282 MYR 1,155

-14.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

$10.5K MYR 43.1K

-53.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MYR 220

$50.9 MYR 208

5.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.48 MYR 141

$30.19 MYR 124

14.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 MYR 297

$78.9 MYR 323

-8.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.2 MYR 398

$84.4 MYR 345

15.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,969

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,640

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 MYR 3,523

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,315

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,990

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,270

$1,709 MYR 6,996

-67.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

4.51

-6.87%

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

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Petaling Jaya pays 208% 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 $25.00 in Petaling Jaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $249, with Petaling Jaya 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 Petaling Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Petaling Jaya differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($583 vs $1,036 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 208% 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.

Shoppers in Petaling Jaya pay roughly 4% 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 $1,036 in Petaling Jaya – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Petaling Jaya. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 78% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.