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: $1,059 in Kuala Lumpur versus $639 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,608 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,215 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,156 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,790 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuala Lumpur is roughly 66% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Lumpur 21% lower, Bukit Mertajam 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 MYR 18.40

$1.85 MYR 7.32

151.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.90 MYR 110

$20.24 MYR 80.0

37.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 MYR 18.18

$3.82 MYR 15.09

20.42%

Cappuccino

$3.14 MYR 12.39

$2.33 MYR 9.19

34.76%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.62

$0.74 MYR 2.94

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.09

$0.33 MYR 1.32

60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 MYR 16.26

$3.02 MYR 11.93

36.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 MYR 22.79

$4.74 MYR 18.71

21.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$1.68 MYR 6.63

22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.15

$1.13 MYR 4.47

-7.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.76

$0.61 MYR 2.41

180.33%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 8.96

$1.86 MYR 7.34

22.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 MYR 56.6

$22.05 MYR 87.1

-35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$4.88 MYR 19.27

-4.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 38.40

$10.54 MYR 41.64

-7.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.70

$3.86 MYR 15.27

-23.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.47

$1.77 MYR 6.97

-7.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.30

$3.40 MYR 13.41

-23.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.74

$2.57 MYR 10.17

-43.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.71 MYR 6.75

-28.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$1.00 MYR 3.97

33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$1.07 MYR 4.22

10.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MYR 2.52

$0.36 MYR 1.44

77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.10

$4.19 MYR 16.55

3.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.33 MYR 76.4

$19.23 MYR 76.0

0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.38

$4.23 MYR 16.70

-19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 17.38

$2.56 MYR 10.10

71.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.85

$0.72 MYR 2.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.10

$11.90 MYR 47.00

0.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.15 MYR 4.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.47

$1.15 MYR 4.55

-1.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MYR 18.34

$4.17 MYR 16.49

11.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.50 MYR 1.97

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

$40.3K MYR 159.2K

$44.1K MYR 174.1K

-8.53%

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

$32.2K MYR 127.0K

$31.4K MYR 124.1K

2.36%

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

$63.7 MYR 252

$26.25 MYR 104

142.70%

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

$11.44 MYR 45.19

$9.95 MYR 39.29

14.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.19 MYR 99.5

$28.38 MYR 112

-11.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.61 MYR 184

$36.20 MYR 143

28.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.59 MYR 29.98

$6.00 MYR 23.72

26.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.26 MYR 20.80

$4.30 MYR 16.98

22.33%

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

$266 MYR 1,049

$117 MYR 461

127.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,549 MYR 37.7K

$4,334 MYR 17.1K

120.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 MYR 244

$11.96 MYR 47.25

415.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.70 MYR 145

$63.0 MYR 249

-41.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 346

$23.31 MYR 92.1

275.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 MYR 315

$79.9 MYR 316

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MYR 2,223

$383 MYR 1,514

46.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,459

$59.0 MYR 233

526.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 MYR 4,139

$647 MYR 2,556

61.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 MYR 2,469

$467 MYR 1,845

33.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,024 MYR 15.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,144

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,594 MYR 6,296

$975 MYR 3,853

63.42%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $563 in Kuala Lumpur and $383 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 63% 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 $268 vs $297, 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 66% in total monthly costs ($1,059 vs $639 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kuala Lumpur pays 63% more on average, 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: $563 in Kuala Lumpur versus $383 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 $1,059 per month in Kuala Lumpur versus $639 in Bukit Mertajam – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $639 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,059 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 66% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.