😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Bursa versus $812 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,618 in Bursa versus $1,327 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Bursa versus $1,842 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Living in Bursa is roughly 32% more expensive than Bayan Lepas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bursa20% lower, Bayan Lepas40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65₺445
$3.52MYR 14.30
174.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.92₺1,425
$18.98MYR 77.0
62.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.74₺357
$4.20MYR 17.05
84.29%
Cappuccino
$2.85₺131
$2.77MYR 11.25
2.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12₺51.8
$0.81MYR 3.30
38.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₺19.47
$0.53MYR 2.17
-20.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11₺97.2
$4.84MYR 19.62
-56.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23₺103
$4.80MYR 19.47
-53.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87₺40.32
$2.47MYR 10.02
-64.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76₺34.86
$0.90MYR 3.64
-15.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95₺89.7
$1.34MYR 5.44
45.52%
Eggs
$1.93₺89.2
$1.72MYR 6.98
12.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18₺423
$14.85MYR 60.3
-38.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.59₺258
$4.64MYR 18.83
20.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.48₺852
$6.72MYR 27.28
175.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49₺68.7
$2.92MYR 11.84
-48.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28₺105
$1.61MYR 6.52
41.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32₺61.0
$2.99MYR 12.15
-55.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62₺74.9
$1.18MYR 4.81
37.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76₺34.94
$0.98MYR 3.98
-22.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.47₺21.44
$1.05MYR 4.26
-55.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82₺37.67
$0.61MYR 2.48
34.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₺13.89
$0.65MYR 2.62
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15₺99.1
$4.90MYR 19.87
-56.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.94₺504
$20.11MYR 81.6
-45.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94₺89.4
$2.78MYR 11.28
-30.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05₺94.6
$1.31MYR 5.31
56.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69₺77.9
$0.66MYR 2.68
156.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.28₺2,272
$14.08MYR 57.1
250.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89₺41.01
$1.57MYR 6.36
-43.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₺29.90
$1.03MYR 4.18
-36.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.79₺405
$6.06MYR 24.59
45.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₺52.8
$0.58MYR 2.34
98.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K₺1.9M
$35.6KMYR 144.5K
16.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.5K₺2.0M
$29.5KMYR 119.9K
47.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.4₺2,601
$34.16MYR 139
65.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.61₺443
$11.40MYR 46.26
-15.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71₺540
$29.97MYR 122
-60.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.7₺2,613
$31.71MYR 129
78.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.40₺1,724
$4.55MYR 18.47
721.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57₺349
$4.04MYR 16.39
87.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$366₺16.9K
$237MYR 963
54.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1K₺832.8K
$7,168MYR 29.1K
151.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2₺2,592
$37.65MYR 153
49.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.80₺2,019
$26.14MYR 106
67.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102₺4,717
$61.3MYR 249
66.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0₺3,644
$78.6MYR 319
0.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$441₺20.3K
$192MYR 780
129.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340₺15.7K
$211MYR 858
60.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817₺37.7K
$466MYR 1,890
75.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517₺23.8K
$565MYR 2,293
-8.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,331₺61.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,191₺54.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bursa
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,009₺46.5K
$999MYR 4,056
0.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
42.62
3.3
1191.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bursa: June 9, 2026
Last update for Bayan Lepas: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Bursa and $192 in Bayan Lepas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bursa pays 1% 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: $31.00 in Bursa vs $19.00 in Bayan Lepas. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $248, with Bursa 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
Bursa vs Bayan Lepas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bursa and Bayan Lepas?
Bursa and Bayan Lepas differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,076 vs $812 including rent). Bayan Lepas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bursa or Bayan Lepas?
Bursa pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bursa and Bayan Lepas?
Rent for a central apartment: $441 in Bursa versus $192 in Bayan Lepas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Bursa and Bayan Lepas?
A monthly transit pass in Bayan Lepas runs roughly 250% less than in Bursa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bursa and Bayan Lepas?
Childcare runs $366 in Bursa versus $237 in Bayan Lepas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $812 in Bayan Lepas versus $1,076 in Bursa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bayan Lepas but tight or insufficient in Bursa. The gap between the two cities makes Bayan Lepas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bursa and Bayan Lepas?
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.
Is Bursa or Bayan Lepas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bursa and Bayan Lepas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bursa or Bayan Lepas?
Expats usually find Bayan Lepas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Bursa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.