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: $1,048 in Kuala Lumpur versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,117 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Kuala Lumpur is roughly 59% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Lumpur 22% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.64 MYR 18.82

$1.91 MYR 7.76

142.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.84 MYR 117

$19.96 MYR 80.9

44.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 MYR 19.20

$3.70 MYR 15.02

27.84%

Cappuccino

$3.08 MYR 12.47

$2.23 MYR 9.03

38.12%

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

$0.91 MYR 3.70

$0.74 MYR 3.02

22.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.16

$0.34 MYR 1.37

55.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.18 MYR 16.94

$3.14 MYR 12.74

33.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 MYR 23.80

$4.70 MYR 19.04

24.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 8.08

$1.67 MYR 6.77

19.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.25

$1.09 MYR 4.40

-3.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.05

$0.56 MYR 2.29

210.71%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.75

$1.89 MYR 7.68

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.64 MYR 59.4

$22.75 MYR 92.3

-35.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.31

$5.04 MYR 20.42

-10.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 MYR 39.85

$10.43 MYR 42.28

-5.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.59

$3.88 MYR 15.75

-26.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.66

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 MYR 11.10

$3.48 MYR 14.10

-21.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.18

$2.66 MYR 10.77

-42.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.19

$1.76 MYR 7.12

-27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.61

$1.00 MYR 4.04

38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.11 MYR 4.52

4.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MYR 2.59

$0.36 MYR 1.47

77.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.74

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-4.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.03 MYR 77.2

$18.90 MYR 76.7

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 MYR 13.62

$4.28 MYR 17.34

-21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 MYR 17.34

$2.61 MYR 10.59

63.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.94

$0.69 MYR 2.78

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.80 MYR 47.85

$11.80 MYR 47.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$1.20 MYR 4.87

-3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.46

$1.13 MYR 4.59

-2.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 MYR 19.05

$4.25 MYR 17.25

10.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.46 MYR 1.88

10.87%

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

$40.4K MYR 163.8K

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

-8.61%

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

$32.8K MYR 133.0K

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

4.97%

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

$63.6 MYR 258

$26.68 MYR 108

138.19%

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

$11.50 MYR 46.62

$9.95 MYR 40.36

15.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.57 MYR 104

$28.90 MYR 117

-11.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 MYR 185

$37.31 MYR 151

22.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.61 MYR 30.87

$5.92 MYR 23.99

28.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.43

$4.16 MYR 16.85

21.15%

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

$263 MYR 1,067

$119 MYR 483

120.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,446 MYR 38.3K

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

121.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 249

$11.98 MYR 48.58

411.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.36 MYR 152

$63.2 MYR 256

-40.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 MYR 344

$23.23 MYR 94.2

265.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 MYR 325

$78.2 MYR 317

2.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 MYR 2,347

$391 MYR 1,584

48.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 MYR 1,485

$58.8 MYR 238

522.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,070 MYR 4,337

$656 MYR 2,662

62.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,578

$477 MYR 1,936

33.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,242 MYR 17.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,498 MYR 6,074

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,727 MYR 7,004

$990 MYR 4,016

74.41%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Kuala Lumpur and $391 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 74% 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 $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $300, 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 59% in total monthly costs ($1,048 vs $661 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kuala Lumpur pays 74% 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: $579 in Kuala Lumpur versus $391 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 $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,048 per month in Kuala Lumpur versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $661 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,048 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 59% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.