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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Penang versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Penang versus $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Penang versus $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Penang is roughly 32% more expensive than Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 35% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$1.91 MYR 7.76

59.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$19.96 MYR 80.9

8.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$3.70 MYR 15.02

17.03%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$2.23 MYR 9.03

31.84%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.34 MYR 1.37

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$3.14 MYR 12.74

40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$4.70 MYR 19.04

-5.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.67 MYR 6.77

8.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.09 MYR 4.40

-9.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$0.56 MYR 2.29

262.50%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$1.89 MYR 7.68

12.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$22.75 MYR 92.3

-23.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$5.04 MYR 20.42

3.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$10.43 MYR 42.28

44.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$3.88 MYR 15.75

-26.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-16.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$3.48 MYR 14.10

-26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$2.66 MYR 10.77

-20.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.76 MYR 7.12

-32.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.00 MYR 4.04

16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$1.11 MYR 4.52

-14.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.36 MYR 1.47

36.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$4.33 MYR 17.57

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$18.90 MYR 76.7

3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$4.28 MYR 17.34

-38.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$2.61 MYR 10.59

30.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.69 MYR 2.78

-34.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$11.80 MYR 47.83

47.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$1.20 MYR 4.87

-42.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$1.13 MYR 4.59

-52.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$4.25 MYR 17.25

69.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$0.46 MYR 1.88

2.17%

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

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

-25.53%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

-12.73%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$26.68 MYR 108

44.68%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.95 MYR 40.36

1.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$28.90 MYR 117

8.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$37.31 MYR 151

-11.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$5.92 MYR 23.99

-8.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$4.16 MYR 16.85

18.03%

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

$238 MYR 963

$119 MYR 483

99.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

45.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$11.98 MYR 48.58

355.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$63.2 MYR 256

-55.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$23.23 MYR 94.2

160.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$78.2 MYR 317

-31.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$391 MYR 1,584

-0.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$58.8 MYR 238

291.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$656 MYR 2,662

-2.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$477 MYR 1,936

10.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$990 MYR 4,016

-3.94%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Penang and $391 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bukit Mertajam pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Penang vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $300, with Penang 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

Penang vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Penang and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($869 vs $661 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bukit Mertajam earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Penang 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $869 per month in Penang versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bukit Mertajam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Penang 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 32% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.