Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in Da Nang versus $646 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Da Nang versus $1,207 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,488 in Da Nang versus $1,768 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Da Nang is roughly 11% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang 46% lower, Bukit Mertajam 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$1.92 MYR 7.61

2.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.2K

$19.84 MYR 78.7

-4.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.8K

$3.73 MYR 14.79

23.32%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$2.34 MYR 9.29

-30.34%

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

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$0.69 MYR 2.73

-27.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,495

$0.34 MYR 1.34

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$3.08 MYR 12.19

-66.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$4.64 MYR 18.39

-65.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.62 MYR 6.44

-11.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.13 MYR 4.47

-9.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.3K

$0.58 MYR 2.28

98.28%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$1.85 MYR 7.34

-23.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫321.8K

$22.54 MYR 89.4

-45.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.5K

$4.93 MYR 19.54

-26.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.3K

$10.41 MYR 41.29

-2.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$3.85 MYR 15.28

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$1.72 MYR 6.83

-41.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$3.32 MYR 13.14

-67.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$2.66 MYR 10.56

-59.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$1.76 MYR 6.98

-35.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$1.00 MYR 3.98

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$1.13 MYR 4.49

-7.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.33 MYR 1.33

45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$4.13 MYR 16.37

-67.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.5K

$19.25 MYR 76.3

-59.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$4.35 MYR 17.26

-80.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.7K

$2.61 MYR 10.35

-36.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,325

$0.69 MYR 2.75

-53.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

$11.92 MYR 47.26

-67.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$1.20 MYR 4.74

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$1.15 MYR 4.54

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.7K

$4.41 MYR 17.48

164.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.4K

$0.49 MYR 1.96

81.63%

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

$26.8K ₫705.1M

$43.0K MYR 170.6K

-37.64%

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

$28.1K ₫738.4M

$32.0K MYR 126.8K

-12.12%

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

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$26.96 MYR 107

175.63%

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

$5.71 ₫150.1K

$9.44 MYR 37.44

-39.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.1K

$28.04 MYR 111

-71.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.3K

$37.01 MYR 147

-44.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.0K

$5.81 MYR 23.02

31.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.6K

$4.26 MYR 16.90

-27.00%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$120 MYR 474

30.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫333.9M

$4,316 MYR 17.1K

194.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

$11.89 MYR 47.16

224.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.1K

$62.3 MYR 247

-58.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$23.71 MYR 94.0

122.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

$78.0 MYR 309

-2.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

$379 MYR 1,504

-5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$58.8 MYR 233

322.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$644 MYR 2,555

12.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.0M

$468 MYR 1,855

-2.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$987 MYR 3,912

-64.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

3.96

169.44%

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Da Nang and $379 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 179% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Da Nang vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $298 per month, with Da Nang 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

Da Nang vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Nang and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($720 vs $646 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bukit Mertajam earns 179% less. 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: $360 in Da Nang versus $379 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 $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $720 per month in Da Nang versus $646 in Bukit Mertajam – a 11% 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, Da Nang 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 11% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.