Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Petaling Jaya and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,036 in Petaling Jaya versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Petaling Jaya versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,946 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Petaling Jaya is roughly 78% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petaling Jaya 24% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.60 MYR 14.75

$3.47 MYR 14.20

3.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.59 MYR 101

$21.02 MYR 86.0

16.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.26

$4.90 MYR 20.04

1.02%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.21

$2.67 MYR 10.91

11.61%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.77

$0.82 MYR 3.36

12.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.70

$0.32 MYR 1.32

31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MYR 13.33

$2.43 MYR 9.96

34.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 MYR 24.09

$4.43 MYR 18.14

32.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.65

$2.16 MYR 8.83

-13.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.29

$1.07 MYR 4.40

-1.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.17

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-13.71%

Eggs

$1.78 MYR 7.27

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-31.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 MYR 40.31

$15.63 MYR 64.0

-36.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.76

$4.86 MYR 19.89

-30.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 MYR 39.13

$10.02 MYR 41.02

-4.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.17

$2.33 MYR 9.55

48.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$1.49 MYR 6.10

28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.95

$2.25 MYR 9.20

19.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 MYR 7.44

$1.20 MYR 4.90

51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MYR 8.50

$0.86 MYR 3.54

141.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MYR 8.14

$0.80 MYR 3.26

148.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$0.71 MYR 2.91

111.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MYR 18.25

$4.45 MYR 18.19

0.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 MYR 79.3

$18.98 MYR 77.7

2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MYR 10.77

$2.43 MYR 9.95

8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 18.49

$3.80 MYR 15.54

18.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

$1.22 MYR 4.98

3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.47

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-28.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.15 MYR 37.46

$4.99 MYR 20.40

83.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.22

$0.82 MYR 3.34

-3.66%

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

$41.6K MYR 170.2K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-1.69%

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

$32.4K MYR 132.8K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-7.78%

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

$49.66 MYR 203

$50.8 MYR 208

-2.28%

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

$8.04 MYR 32.92

$8.67 MYR 35.49

-7.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.49 MYR 113

$31.31 MYR 128

-12.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MYR 212

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.53

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 MYR 19.60

$4.57 MYR 18.72

4.81%

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

$282 MYR 1,155

$242 MYR 989

16.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 43.1K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

115.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 MYR 208

$53.7 MYR 220

-5.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 MYR 124

$34.48 MYR 141

-12.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 MYR 323

$72.5 MYR 297

8.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 MYR 345

$97.2 MYR 398

-13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,969

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,640

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$861 MYR 3,523

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 MYR 2,315

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,210 MYR 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 MYR 3,990

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,709 MYR 6,996

$555 MYR 2,270

208.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

4.2

7.38%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Petaling Jaya pays 208% 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: $25.00 in Petaling Jaya vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $259, with Petaling Jaya 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

Petaling Jaya vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Petaling Jaya and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($1,036 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 208% higher in Petaling Jaya, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Petaling Jaya pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,036 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,036 in Petaling Jaya, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Petaling Jaya. 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, Petaling Jaya 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 78% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.