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: $867 in Penang versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,368 in Penang versus $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Penang versus $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Penang is roughly 32% more expensive than in 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

$3.08 MYR 12.56

$1.86 MYR 7.58

65.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.3

$20.07 MYR 81.9

7.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.95

$3.79 MYR 15.48

9.50%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.12

$2.26 MYR 9.22

31.42%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$0.72 MYR 2.96

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.34 MYR 1.37

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.51

$3.03 MYR 12.39

41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.18

$4.84 MYR 19.76

-8.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.60 MYR 6.55

17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-8.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.40

$0.56 MYR 2.29

267.86%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.66

$1.90 MYR 7.74

11.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.4

$22.77 MYR 93.0

-25.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.18

$4.98 MYR 20.35

4.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 60.9

$10.62 MYR 43.38

40.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

$4.01 MYR 16.38

-27.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-16.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.88

$3.44 MYR 14.04

-22.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.59

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-17.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-33.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$0.99 MYR 4.06

21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$1.12 MYR 4.59

-20.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.33 MYR 1.36

45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.11

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.7

$18.26 MYR 74.6

5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.88

$2.64 MYR 10.77

28.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.68 MYR 2.79

-33.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.5

$11.99 MYR 48.97

48.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$1.15 MYR 4.68

-35.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.06

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-54.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.18

$4.22 MYR 17.25

63.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.50 MYR 2.04

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

$34.1K MYR 139.1K

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

-22.40%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.7K

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

-11.25%

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

$39.05 MYR 159

$26.62 MYR 109

46.69%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.54

$9.67 MYR 39.47

5.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$28.14 MYR 115

11.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$36.80 MYR 150

-11.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.59

$5.98 MYR 24.43

-7.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.62

$4.29 MYR 17.54

12.12%

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

$240 MYR 978

$117 MYR 477

105.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.2K

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

45.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$11.65 MYR 47.56

375.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$64.7 MYR 264

-54.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 249

$23.16 MYR 94.6

163.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$78.6 MYR 321

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,558

$388 MYR 1,583

-1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 920

$59.9 MYR 245

276.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,596

$637 MYR 2,599

-0.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,131

$478 MYR 1,954

9.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 8,996

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,735

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,845

$555 MYR 2,267

69.58%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Penang and $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Penang pays 70% 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: $22.00 in Penang vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $298, 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 ($867 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 70% higher in Penang, 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: $382 in Penang 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 $22.00 in Penang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $867 per month in Penang versus $656 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.