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: $1,115 in Buzau versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,568 in Buzau versus $1,225 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Buzau versus $1,794 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Buzau is roughly 70% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buzau 17% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.27 RON 56.0

$1.87 MYR 7.64

556.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.22 RON 115

$19.80 MYR 81.0

27.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 RON 26.44

$3.80 MYR 15.55

52.37%

Cappuccino

$2.81 RON 12.82

$2.24 MYR 9.17

25.45%

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

$1.98 RON 9.04

$0.69 MYR 2.84

186.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 RON 7.22

$0.36 MYR 1.49

338.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 RON 14.98

$3.12 MYR 12.78

5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 RON 16.07

$4.81 MYR 19.67

-26.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 RON 7.09

$1.61 MYR 6.61

-3.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 RON 6.21

$1.13 MYR 4.63

20.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 RON 7.76

$0.61 MYR 2.49

178.69%

Eggs

$3.35 RON 15.29

$1.91 MYR 7.82

75.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 RON 39.71

$21.95 MYR 89.8

-60.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 RON 30.07

$4.98 MYR 20.37

32.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 RON 45.78

$10.65 MYR 43.59

-5.82%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.37

$3.89 MYR 15.93

-75.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 RON 7.33

$1.78 MYR 7.27

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.39

$3.33 MYR 13.64

-64.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.85

$2.52 MYR 10.33

-31.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-50.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 RON 4.84

$1.04 MYR 4.24

1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 RON 2.78

$1.08 MYR 4.40

-43.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 RON 2.70

$0.34 MYR 1.39

73.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 RON 25.52

$4.30 MYR 17.61

30.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 RON 30.07

$19.15 MYR 78.4

-65.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.80

$4.38 MYR 17.94

-76.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 RON 7.66

$2.60 MYR 10.65

-35.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 RON 3.20

$0.69 MYR 2.82

1.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.62 RON 89.6

$11.71 MYR 47.93

67.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 RON 3.13

$1.19 MYR 4.89

-42.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.20

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-38.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 RON 32.46

$4.42 MYR 18.08

60.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.45

$0.46 MYR 1.88

254.35%

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

$21.6K RON 98.4K

$43.4K MYR 177.6K

-50.33%

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

$22.7K RON 103.7K

$31.8K MYR 130.2K

-28.62%

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

$126 RON 574

$27.01 MYR 111

365.31%

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

$6.41 RON 29.27

$9.95 MYR 40.74

-35.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.76 RON 40.00

$28.88 MYR 118

-69.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 RON 170

$37.45 MYR 153

-0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 RON 91.2

$5.95 MYR 24.37

235.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.86 RON 26.75

$4.19 MYR 17.17

39.86%

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

$339 RON 1,546

$116 MYR 474

192.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,608 RON 30.2K

$4,297 MYR 17.6K

53.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 RON 280

$11.84 MYR 48.47

418.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.38 RON 198

$64.0 MYR 262

-32.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 RON 442

$23.39 MYR 95.7

313.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 RON 442

$78.2 MYR 320

23.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 RON 1,964

$387 MYR 1,585

11.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 RON 1,686

$57.9 MYR 237

537.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 RON 2,892

$649 MYR 2,656

-2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 RON 2,109

$478 MYR 1,957

-3.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,524 RON 6,956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,220 RON 5,568

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$899 RON 4,104

$554 MYR 2,266

62.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

3.96

94.44%

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

Last update for Buzau: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Buzau and $387 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buzau pays 62% 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: $25.00 in Buzau vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $297, 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 70% in total monthly costs ($1,115 vs $655 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Buzau, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Buzau versus $387 in Bukit Mertajam. 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 $25.00 in Buzau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,115 per month in Buzau versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $655 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,115 in Buzau, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Buzau. 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, 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 70% less than in Buzau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.