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: $909 in Petaling Jaya versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,224 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,765 in Petaling Jaya versus $1,786 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Petaling Jaya is roughly 38% more expensive than 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

$3.63 MYR 14.70

$1.91 MYR 7.76

90.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.88 MYR 76.6

$19.96 MYR 80.9

-5.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 MYR 19.02

$3.70 MYR 15.02

26.76%

Cappuccino

$2.71 MYR 10.99

$2.23 MYR 9.03

21.52%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.74

$0.74 MYR 3.02

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$0.34 MYR 1.37

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 14.24

$3.14 MYR 12.74

11.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 MYR 20.10

$4.70 MYR 19.04

5.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 MYR 7.78

$1.67 MYR 6.77

14.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.85

$1.09 MYR 4.40

-12.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.07

$0.56 MYR 2.29

210.71%

Eggs

$2.16 MYR 8.75

$1.89 MYR 7.68

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.81 MYR 43.82

$22.75 MYR 92.3

-52.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 14.45

$5.04 MYR 20.42

-29.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 MYR 32.21

$10.43 MYR 42.28

-23.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.18

$3.88 MYR 15.75

-28.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.02

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-1.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.47 MYR 10.04

$3.48 MYR 14.10

-29.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.89

$2.66 MYR 10.77

-54.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.76 MYR 7.12

-34.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.58

$1.00 MYR 4.04

38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.83

$1.11 MYR 4.52

-15.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$0.36 MYR 1.47

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.74

$4.33 MYR 17.57

-4.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.45 MYR 78.9

$18.90 MYR 76.7

2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MYR 11.09

$4.28 MYR 17.34

-35.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 MYR 15.30

$2.61 MYR 10.59

44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 MYR 3.08

$0.69 MYR 2.78

10.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.97 MYR 48.52

$11.80 MYR 47.83

1.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.20 MYR 4.87

-17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 MYR 1.32

$1.13 MYR 4.59

-71.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.35 MYR 37.92

$4.25 MYR 17.25

120.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.46 MYR 1.88

2.17%

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

$31.3K MYR 126.9K

$44.2K MYR 179.3K

-29.22%

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

$28.2K MYR 114.2K

$31.2K MYR 126.7K

-9.86%

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

$40.93 MYR 166

$26.68 MYR 108

53.41%

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

$8.87 MYR 35.97

$9.95 MYR 40.36

-10.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.16 MYR 93.9

$28.90 MYR 117

-19.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.87 MYR 149

$37.31 MYR 151

-1.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.22 MYR 29.28

$5.92 MYR 23.99

21.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 MYR 20.30

$4.16 MYR 16.85

20.43%

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

$209 MYR 849

$119 MYR 483

75.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,132 MYR 33.0K

$4,260 MYR 17.3K

90.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.47 MYR 197

$11.98 MYR 48.58

304.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.99 MYR 138

$63.2 MYR 256

-46.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.9 MYR 219

$23.23 MYR 94.2

132.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.57 MYR 197

$78.2 MYR 317

-37.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 MYR 1,911

$391 MYR 1,584

20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,407

$58.8 MYR 238

490.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 MYR 3,311

$656 MYR 2,662

24.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 MYR 2,200

$477 MYR 1,936

13.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,158 MYR 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$210 MYR 851

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,742 MYR 7,066

$990 MYR 4,016

75.95%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Petaling Jaya and $391 in Bukit Mertajam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Petaling Jaya pays 76% 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 $300 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 38% in total monthly costs ($909 vs $661 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Petaling Jaya pays 76% more on average, 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: $471 in Petaling Jaya 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 $19.00 in Petaling Jaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $909 per month in Petaling Jaya versus $661 in Bukit Mertajam – a 38% 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 38% less than in Petaling Jaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.