Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Bukit Mertajam Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Bukit Mertajam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,219 in Shanghai versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,966 in Shanghai versus $933 in Bukit Mertajam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,713 in Shanghai versus $1,283 in Bukit Mertajam.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 109% more expensive than in Bukit Mertajam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 11% lower, Bukit Mertajam 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 ¥30.25

$3.47 MYR 14.20

30.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.28 ¥196

$21.02 MYR 86.0

39.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ¥35.25

$4.90 MYR 20.04

7.35%

Cappuccino

$3.18 ¥21.30

$2.67 MYR 10.91

19.10%

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

$0.62 ¥4.12

$0.82 MYR 3.36

-24.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.40

$0.32 MYR 1.32

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ¥7.84

$2.43 MYR 9.96

-51.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ¥18.33

$4.43 MYR 18.14

-38.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ¥12.75

$2.16 MYR 8.83

-12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 ¥12.69

$1.07 MYR 4.40

76.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ¥6.86

$1.75 MYR 7.17

-41.71%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥10.89

$2.58 MYR 10.55

-36.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.20 ¥115

$15.63 MYR 64.0

10.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ¥21.19

$4.86 MYR 19.89

-34.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 ¥87.9

$10.02 MYR 41.02

30.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 ¥14.25

$2.33 MYR 9.55

-8.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.12

$1.49 MYR 6.10

21.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ¥13.25

$2.25 MYR 9.20

-12.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ¥10.75

$1.20 MYR 4.90

34.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ¥5.18

$0.86 MYR 3.54

-10.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 ¥6.05

$0.80 MYR 3.26

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ¥4.40

$0.71 MYR 2.91

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.06

$0.63 MYR 2.57

-3.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.80 ¥25.41

$4.45 MYR 18.19

-14.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 ¥69.4

$18.98 MYR 77.7

-45.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥5.88

$2.43 MYR 9.95

-63.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ¥10.40

$3.80 MYR 15.54

-59.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 ¥3.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.00 ¥201

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 ¥14.49

$1.22 MYR 4.98

77.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.88

$0.50 MYR 2.05

-14.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.04 ¥60.5

$4.99 MYR 20.40

81.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.47

$0.82 MYR 3.34

53.66%

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

$19.4K ¥130.2K

$42.3K MYR 173.2K

-54.02%

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

$18.7K ¥125.2K

$35.2K MYR 144.0K

-46.85%

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

$57.5 ¥385

$50.8 MYR 208

13.22%

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

$8.41 ¥56.3

$8.67 MYR 35.49

-3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.08 ¥67.5

$31.31 MYR 128

-67.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.3 ¥437

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.29 ¥116

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 ¥60.1

$4.57 MYR 18.72

96.50%

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

$1,411 ¥9,449

$242 MYR 989

483.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.2K ¥189.1K

$4,890 MYR 20.0K

477.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 ¥348

$53.7 MYR 220

-3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.39 ¥250

$34.48 MYR 141

8.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 ¥493

$72.5 MYR 297

1.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ¥704

$97.2 MYR 398

8.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 ¥6,572

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 ¥3,785

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,419 ¥16.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 ¥7,805

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K ¥91.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,118 ¥41.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,743 ¥11.7K

$555 MYR 2,270

214.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.38

4.2

-19.52%

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

Last update for Shanghai: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Shanghai pays 214% 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: $29.00 in Shanghai vs $21.00 in Bukit Mertajam. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $259, with Shanghai 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

Shanghai vs Bukit Mertajam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai and Bukit Mertajam differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($1,219 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 214% higher in Shanghai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Shanghai pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,219 per month in Shanghai versus $583 in Bukit Mertajam – a 109% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $583 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,219 in Shanghai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. 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, Shanghai 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 109% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.