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: $912 in Petaling Jaya versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,335 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,758 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Petaling Jaya is roughly 39% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Petaling Jaya 32% lower, Bukit Mertajam 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.50 MYR 14.28

$1.86 MYR 7.58

88.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.15 MYR 78.2

$20.07 MYR 81.9

-4.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.52

$3.79 MYR 15.48

26.12%

Cappuccino

$2.78 MYR 11.34

$2.26 MYR 9.22

23.01%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.60

$0.34 MYR 1.37

14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 MYR 14.75

$3.03 MYR 12.39

19.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 MYR 20.13

$4.84 MYR 19.76

1.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 MYR 7.82

$1.60 MYR 6.55

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.81

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-16.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.31

$0.56 MYR 2.29

219.64%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 8.97

$1.90 MYR 7.74

15.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 MYR 42.97

$22.77 MYR 93.0

-53.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 MYR 13.91

$4.98 MYR 20.35

-31.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 MYR 33.81

$10.62 MYR 43.38

-22.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.83

$4.01 MYR 16.38

-33.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.87

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-2.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.32

$3.44 MYR 14.04

-26.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.90

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-52.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.80

$1.70 MYR 6.96

-30.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$0.99 MYR 4.06

40.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.93

$1.12 MYR 4.59

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MYR 2.42

$0.33 MYR 1.36

78.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 17.17

$4.22 MYR 17.23

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.92 MYR 81.3

$18.26 MYR 74.6

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.35

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-34.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 MYR 16.20

$2.64 MYR 10.77

50.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MYR 3.08

$0.68 MYR 2.79

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.33

$11.99 MYR 48.97

-3.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.16

$1.15 MYR 4.68

-11.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 MYR 1.34

$1.13 MYR 4.62

-70.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.42 MYR 38.45

$4.22 MYR 17.25

123.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$0.50 MYR 2.04

-8.00%

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

$31.0K MYR 126.7K

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

-29.33%

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

$28.3K MYR 115.4K

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

-8.31%

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

$40.45 MYR 165

$26.62 MYR 109

51.95%

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

$9.18 MYR 37.49

$9.67 MYR 39.47

-5.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.64 MYR 92.4

$28.14 MYR 115

-19.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.27 MYR 152

$36.80 MYR 150

1.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.35 MYR 29.99

$5.98 MYR 24.43

22.91%

Cinema Ticket

$4.88 MYR 19.94

$4.29 MYR 17.54

13.75%

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

$208 MYR 850

$117 MYR 477

78.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,031 MYR 32.8K

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

89.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 MYR 197

$11.65 MYR 47.56

313.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.63 MYR 141

$64.7 MYR 264

-46.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.0 MYR 221

$23.16 MYR 94.6

133.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.14 MYR 201

$78.6 MYR 321

-37.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MYR 1,880

$388 MYR 1,583

18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 MYR 1,389

$59.9 MYR 245

467.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 MYR 3,374

$637 MYR 2,599

29.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 MYR 2,196

$478 MYR 1,954

12.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,118 MYR 12.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$204 MYR 834

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,764 MYR 7,202

$555 MYR 2,267

217.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

3.96

13.38%

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

Last update for Petaling Jaya: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Petaling Jaya and $388 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 218% 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: $19.00 in Petaling Jaya vs $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $298 per month, with Petaling Jaya 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

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

Petaling Jaya and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($912 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 218% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Petaling Jaya 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $912 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $656 in Bukit Mertajam – a 39% 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, 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 39% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.