Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Buzau versus $588 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,537 in Buzau versus $937 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,026 in Buzau versus $1,286 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Buzau is roughly 79% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.18 RON 50.7

$3.55 MYR 14.36

214.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.07 RON 118

$21.45 MYR 86.7

21.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 RON 30.65

$5.03 MYR 20.35

34.39%

Cappuccino

$2.14 RON 9.71

$2.68 MYR 10.84

-20.15%

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

$2.10 RON 9.51

$0.82 MYR 3.30

156.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 RON 6.91

$0.33 MYR 1.33

360.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 RON 7.98

$2.47 MYR 9.97

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 RON 8.11

$4.36 MYR 17.61

-58.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 RON 8.03

$2.18 MYR 8.83

-18.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 RON 6.07

$1.11 MYR 4.49

20.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.88

$1.70 MYR 6.86

-10.59%

Eggs

$3.22 RON 14.59

$2.47 MYR 9.99

30.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.69 RON 34.86

$15.49 MYR 62.6

-50.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 RON 30.80

$4.82 MYR 19.50

40.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 RON 53.7

$9.72 MYR 39.28

21.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.58

$2.34 MYR 9.47

-56.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.78

$1.45 MYR 5.88

18.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 RON 5.23

$2.26 MYR 9.12

-49.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 RON 5.68

$1.25 MYR 5.07

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$0.88 MYR 3.56

-23.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$0.87 MYR 3.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 RON 2.20

$0.70 MYR 2.85

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 RON 3.32

$0.63 MYR 2.55

15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 RON 29.24

$4.44 MYR 17.94

45.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 RON 29.89

$19.11 MYR 77.3

-65.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RON 3.92

$2.47 MYR 9.98

-65.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 RON 6.61

$3.83 MYR 15.48

-61.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 RON 3.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.45 RON 102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 RON 2.53

$1.22 MYR 4.95

-54.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 RON 2.35

$0.48 MYR 1.92

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.65 RON 30.15

$5.01 MYR 20.25

32.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.15

$0.79 MYR 3.18

100.00%

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

$20.1K RON 91.3K

$42.2K MYR 170.5K

-52.26%

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

$22.3K RON 101.2K

$35.8K MYR 144.6K

-37.62%

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

$124 RON 563

$50.7 MYR 205

145.01%

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

$8.09 RON 36.71

$8.79 MYR 35.52

-7.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.17 RON 37.05

$31.76 MYR 128

-74.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.19 RON 155

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 RON 85.0

Cinema Ticket

$7.33 RON 33.24

$4.83 MYR 19.54

51.76%

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

$310 RON 1,406

$244 MYR 987

27.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,973 RON 31.6K

$5,067 MYR 20.5K

37.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 RON 267

$53.9 MYR 218

9.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.4 RON 278

$34.65 MYR 140

77.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 RON 466

$73.8 MYR 298

39.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 RON 393

$101 MYR 407

-13.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 RON 1,690

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,413

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 RON 2,884

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,975

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,563 RON 7,087

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,255 RON 5,693

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$900 RON 4,082

$559 MYR 2,260

60.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.97

4.2

65.95%

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

Last update for Buzau: August 31, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Buzau pays 61% 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: $26.00 in Buzau vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $258, with Buzau 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

Buzau vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buzau and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,049 vs $588 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Buzau, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Buzau pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,049 per month in Buzau versus $588 in Bukit Mertajam – a 79% 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, Buzau and Bukit Mertajam 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 79% less than in Buzau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.