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: $1,069 in Kuala Lumpur versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,594 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuala Lumpur is roughly 63% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.79 MYR 19.60

$1.86 MYR 7.59

157.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.03 MYR 115

$20.07 MYR 82.0

39.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.64

$3.79 MYR 15.49

26.91%

Cappuccino

$3.09 MYR 12.62

$2.26 MYR 9.23

36.73%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.44

$0.72 MYR 2.96

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.34 MYR 1.37

55.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.82

$3.03 MYR 12.40

43.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 MYR 24.16

$4.84 MYR 19.78

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.09

$1.60 MYR 6.55

23.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.84

$0.56 MYR 2.30

198.21%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.29

$1.90 MYR 7.75

19.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.79 MYR 60.5

$22.77 MYR 93.1

-35.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.48

$4.98 MYR 20.37

-9.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.47 MYR 38.70

$10.62 MYR 43.42

-10.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.59

$4.01 MYR 16.40

-29.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.39

$1.73 MYR 7.06

-9.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.62 MYR 10.71

$3.44 MYR 14.06

-23.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 6.04

$2.53 MYR 10.33

-41.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-24.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.52

$0.99 MYR 4.06

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.12 MYR 4.59

3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.76

$0.33 MYR 1.36

106.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.14

$4.22 MYR 17.25

-0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.22 MYR 74.5

$18.26 MYR 74.6

-0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 MYR 13.39

$4.26 MYR 17.43

-23.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 MYR 17.74

$2.64 MYR 10.78

64.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.68 MYR 2.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.25

$11.99 MYR 49.02

-3.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$1.15 MYR 4.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.69

$1.13 MYR 4.62

1.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 MYR 19.79

$4.22 MYR 17.26

14.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.50 MYR 2.05

2.00%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.4K

$43.9K MYR 179.5K

-7.29%

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

$32.3K MYR 132.1K

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

4.93%

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

$65.7 MYR 268

$26.62 MYR 109

146.66%

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

$11.50 MYR 46.99

$9.67 MYR 39.51

18.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.16 MYR 103

$28.14 MYR 115

-10.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 MYR 186

$36.80 MYR 150

23.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 MYR 31.54

$5.98 MYR 24.46

29.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 MYR 20.86

$4.29 MYR 17.55

18.88%

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

$267 MYR 1,089

$117 MYR 478

128.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,341 MYR 38.2K

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

120.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 MYR 250

$11.65 MYR 47.60

424.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.05 MYR 151

$64.7 MYR 265

-42.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 MYR 355

$23.16 MYR 94.7

274.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 MYR 328

$78.6 MYR 321

2.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 MYR 2,366

$388 MYR 1,585

49.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 MYR 1,524

$59.9 MYR 245

522.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 MYR 4,286

$637 MYR 2,602

64.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 MYR 2,631

$478 MYR 1,956

34.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 MYR 16.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 MYR 6,000

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,589 MYR 6,493

$555 MYR 2,270

186.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

3.96

12.88%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Kuala Lumpur and $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 186% 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: $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $298, with Kuala Lumpur 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

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

Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,069 vs $656 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 186% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Kuala Lumpur versus $388 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 $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,069 per month in Kuala Lumpur versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,069 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 63% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.