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: $837 in Penang versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,307 in Penang versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Penang versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Penang is roughly 44% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Penang 39% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.24

$3.47 MYR 14.20

7.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.9

$21.02 MYR 86.0

-5.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.72

$4.90 MYR 20.04

-6.73%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.18

$2.67 MYR 10.91

11.61%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.82 MYR 3.36

-9.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.32 MYR 1.32

15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.60

$2.43 MYR 9.96

76.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.53

$4.43 MYR 18.14

2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.37

$2.16 MYR 8.83

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.32

$1.07 MYR 4.40

-0.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.05

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-1.71%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.76

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-17.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.5

$15.63 MYR 64.0

-16.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.68

$4.86 MYR 19.89

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.87

$10.02 MYR 41.02

-14.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.99

$2.33 MYR 9.55

25.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.49 MYR 6.10

11.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.51

$2.25 MYR 9.20

14.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.99

$1.20 MYR 4.90

21.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.55

$0.86 MYR 3.54

29.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$0.80 MYR 3.26

45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.67

$0.71 MYR 2.91

60.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.38

$4.45 MYR 18.19

6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.7

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.34

$2.43 MYR 9.95

23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.29

$3.80 MYR 15.54

4.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.09

$1.22 MYR 4.98

41.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.56

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.55

$4.99 MYR 20.40

49.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.57

$0.82 MYR 3.34

6.10%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.7K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-0.84%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.7K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-0.93%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$50.8 MYR 208

-27.88%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.57

$8.67 MYR 35.49

14.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 122

$31.31 MYR 128

-5.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.71

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.37

$4.57 MYR 18.72

14.22%

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

$432 MYR 1,768

$242 MYR 989

78.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.4K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

116.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 243

$53.7 MYR 220

10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$34.48 MYR 141

4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 340

$72.5 MYR 297

14.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$97.2 MYR 398

-26.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,675

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 934

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,387

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,694

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,187

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,740

$555 MYR 2,270

64.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Penang pays 65% 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: $20.00 in Penang vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $259 per month, with Penang cheaper across the board.

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 44% in total monthly costs ($837 vs $583 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 65% higher in Penang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Penang pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $837 per month in Penang versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 44% 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 44% less than in Penang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.