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: $704 in Da Nang versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Da Nang versus $1,225 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,458 in Da Nang versus $1,794 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Da Nang is roughly 7% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang 47% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 ₫50.8K

$1.87 MYR 7.63

3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.46 ₫511.5K

$19.80 MYR 81.0

-1.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 ₫122.2K

$3.80 MYR 15.54

22.37%

Cappuccino

$1.61 ₫42.3K

$2.24 MYR 9.16

-28.13%

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

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.69 MYR 2.84

-26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,592

$0.36 MYR 1.49

-19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

$3.12 MYR 12.77

-65.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.7K

$4.81 MYR 19.66

-66.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$1.61 MYR 6.61

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$1.13 MYR 4.63

-15.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$0.61 MYR 2.49

91.80%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.91 MYR 7.82

-25.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 ₫331.0K

$21.95 MYR 89.8

-42.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 ₫95.8K

$4.98 MYR 20.36

-26.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 ₫257.3K

$10.65 MYR 43.57

-8.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.4K

$3.89 MYR 15.92

-29.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ₫24.8K

$1.78 MYR 7.27

-47.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$3.33 MYR 13.63

-66.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.6K

$2.52 MYR 10.32

-58.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-37.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ₫31.4K

$1.04 MYR 4.23

14.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₫26.3K

$1.08 MYR 4.40

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$0.34 MYR 1.39

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$4.30 MYR 17.60

-67.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 ₫197.7K

$19.15 MYR 78.3

-60.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₫21.4K

$4.38 MYR 17.93

-81.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.1K

$2.60 MYR 10.65

-38.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,321

$0.69 MYR 2.82

-53.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.73 ₫98.2K

$11.71 MYR 47.90

-68.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₫21.5K

$1.19 MYR 4.89

-31.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.3K

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-39.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.03 ₫316.4K

$4.42 MYR 18.06

172.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.46 MYR 1.88

97.83%

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

$27.2K ₫715.1M

$43.4K MYR 177.5K

-37.32%

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

$28.1K ₫739.2M

$31.8K MYR 130.1K

-11.62%

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

$74.1 ₫1.9M

$27.01 MYR 110

174.19%

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

$5.97 ₫157.0K

$9.95 MYR 40.71

-40.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.3K

$28.88 MYR 118

-72.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.06 ₫527.5K

$37.45 MYR 153

-46.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 ₫197.6K

$5.95 MYR 24.35

26.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 ₫78.9K

$4.19 MYR 17.16

-28.40%

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

$153 ₫4.0M

$116 MYR 474

32.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫336.9M

$4,297 MYR 17.6K

198.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.61 ₫1.0M

$11.84 MYR 48.44

234.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 ₫673.1K

$64.0 MYR 262

-59.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$23.39 MYR 95.7

125.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 ₫2.0M

$78.2 MYR 320

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₫9.6M

$387 MYR 1,584

-5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 ₫6.4M

$57.9 MYR 237

321.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ₫19.2M

$649 MYR 2,655

12.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$478 MYR 1,956

-4.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,767 ₫99.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,304 ₫34.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 ₫9.4M

$554 MYR 2,265

-35.16%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Da Nang and $387 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 54% 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 $186 vs $297 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 7% in total monthly costs ($704 vs $655 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Bukit Mertajam. 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: $365 in Da Nang 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 $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $704 per month in Da Nang versus $655 in Bukit Mertajam – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $655 in Bukit Mertajam versus $704 in Da Nang, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Da Nang. 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, 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 7% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.