Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Bukit Mertajam

😐 Solo nomad: Penang is 1.3% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam without rent, and 34.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Penang is 10.5% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam without rent, and 5.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 MYR 12.13
$1.91 MYR 7.56
60.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.19 MYR 83.7
$20.11 MYR 79.4
5.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.20 MYR 16.58
$3.66 MYR 14.46
14.75%
Cappuccino
$2.96 MYR 11.71
$2.24 MYR 8.85
32.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MYR 2.93
$0.69 MYR 2.71
7.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MYR 1.45
$0.37 MYR 1.45
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.49 MYR 17.73
$3.01 MYR 11.88
49.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 MYR 17.40
$4.67 MYR 18.44
-5.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 MYR 7.52
$1.61 MYR 6.37
18.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 MYR 3.92
$1.08 MYR 4.27
-8.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 MYR 8.11
$0.57 MYR 2.26
259.65%
Eggs
$2.15 MYR 8.48
$1.92 MYR 7.57
11.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.37 MYR 68.6
$22.50 MYR 88.9
-22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 MYR 19.74
$4.80 MYR 18.97
4.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.88 MYR 58.8
$10.70 MYR 42.27
39.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MYR 10.96
$4.05 MYR 16.01
-31.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 5.80
$1.77 MYR 6.98
-16.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 MYR 10.21
$3.46 MYR 13.67
-25.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MYR 8.66
$2.63 MYR 10.39
-16.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 MYR 4.50
$1.69 MYR 6.66
-32.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.75
$1.03 MYR 4.07
16.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 MYR 3.53
$1.07 MYR 4.22
-16.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.93
$0.37 MYR 1.45
32.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MYR 17.18
$4.28 MYR 16.91
1.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.52 MYR 77.1
$19.01 MYR 75.1
2.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MYR 10.34
$4.37 MYR 17.27
-40.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 MYR 13.75
$2.57 MYR 10.14
35.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MYR 1.80
$0.67 MYR 2.66
-31.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.36 MYR 68.6
$11.97 MYR 47.27
45.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 MYR 2.68
$1.20 MYR 4.74
-43.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 1.98
$1.14 MYR 4.51
-56.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.19 MYR 28.39
$4.42 MYR 17.48
62.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.96
$0.46 MYR 1.81
6.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K MYR 134.2K
$43.2K MYR 170.8K
-21.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K MYR 110.1K
$32.0K MYR 126.4K
-12.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.37 MYR 156
$26.86 MYR 106
46.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.01 MYR 39.54
$9.97 MYR 39.37
0.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.45 MYR 124
$28.47 MYR 112
10.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.02 MYR 130
$36.66 MYR 145
-9.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.53 MYR 21.84
$5.84 MYR 23.05
-5.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 MYR 19.01
$4.29 MYR 16.97
12.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 MYR 937
$116 MYR 459
104.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,252 MYR 24.7K
$4,395 MYR 17.4K
42.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 MYR 214
$11.96 MYR 47.25
354.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.00 MYR 115
$62.6 MYR 247
-53.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.5 MYR 247
$23.29 MYR 92.0
168.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4 MYR 207
$78.4 MYR 310
-33.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 MYR 1,556
$390 MYR 1,542
0.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 MYR 910
$60.0 MYR 237
283.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 MYR 2,531
$651 MYR 2,573
-1.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$517 MYR 2,042
$470 MYR 1,858
9.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,335 MYR 9,224
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,191 MYR 4,703
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penang
Bukit Mertajam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$974 MYR 3,849
$984 MYR 3,886
-0.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
3.96
5.05%

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

Last update for Penang: March 2, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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