Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur versus $585 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,685 in Kuala Lumpur versus $919 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,251 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,252 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuala Lumpur is roughly 91% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Bukit Mertajam 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.07 MYR 20.62

$3.36 MYR 13.68

50.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.14 MYR 119

$20.87 MYR 84.9

39.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.56

$4.96 MYR 20.19

-3.02%

Cappuccino

$3.17 MYR 12.89

$2.79 MYR 11.34

13.62%

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

$0.82 MYR 3.32

$0.80 MYR 3.26

2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$0.36 MYR 1.45

27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.43 MYR 18.02

$2.52 MYR 10.26

75.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.40

$4.51 MYR 18.33

33.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 MYR 8.61

$2.20 MYR 8.94

-3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.52

$1.07 MYR 4.37

3.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.55

$1.78 MYR 7.24

17.98%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.12

$2.45 MYR 9.97

1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.53 MYR 63.2

$15.59 MYR 63.4

-0.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 MYR 20.07

$4.72 MYR 19.20

4.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 39.17

$9.52 MYR 38.71

1.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.76

$2.37 MYR 9.63

42.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.61

$1.51 MYR 6.14

23.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MYR 9.71

$2.33 MYR 9.48

2.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.63

$1.26 MYR 5.13

29.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.55

$0.95 MYR 3.88

43.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.91

$0.86 MYR 3.50

68.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$0.71 MYR 2.87

61.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.69 MYR 2.81

7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 MYR 17.96

$4.40 MYR 17.89

0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 MYR 76.7

$18.88 MYR 76.8

-0.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 MYR 14.42

$2.42 MYR 9.86

46.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 MYR 20.45

$3.78 MYR 15.39

33.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.11

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.27 MYR 49.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.91

$1.22 MYR 4.94

-0.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MYR 4.99

$0.47 MYR 1.92

161.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 MYR 20.04

$5.05 MYR 20.54

-2.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 MYR 3.11

$0.82 MYR 3.35

-7.32%

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

$42.8K MYR 174.0K

$42.8K MYR 174.1K

-0.05%

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

$35.4K MYR 144.0K

$34.4K MYR 139.8K

2.97%

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

$63.5 MYR 258

$51.5 MYR 210

23.13%

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

$9.41 MYR 38.29

$8.61 MYR 35.01

9.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.74 MYR 109

$31.67 MYR 129

-15.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 MYR 205

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.64 MYR 31.07

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 MYR 22.55

$4.75 MYR 19.34

16.63%

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

$302 MYR 1,230

$246 MYR 1,000

23.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K MYR 51.6K

$4,996 MYR 20.3K

153.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 MYR 299

$55.1 MYR 224

33.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.08 MYR 171

$35.19 MYR 143

19.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 MYR 361

$74.9 MYR 305

18.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 MYR 395

$99.4 MYR 404

-2.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 MYR 2,470

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 MYR 1,492

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 MYR 4,933

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$642 MYR 2,612

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,079 MYR 16.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,535 MYR 6,246

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,493 MYR 6,075

$563 MYR 2,289

165.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Kuala Lumpur pays 165% 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: $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $258 per month, with Bukit Mertajam 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

Kuala Lumpur vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($1,120 vs $585 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 165% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Kuala Lumpur. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,120 per month in Kuala Lumpur versus $585 in Bukit Mertajam – a 91% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $585 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,120 in Kuala Lumpur, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Kuala Lumpur. 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, Kuala Lumpur 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 91% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.