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City Profile

Bentong, Pahang

Malaysia · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare Bentong Custom Comparison
77
Overall Score

Bentong is a historic and vibrant parliamentary and municipal district located in the state of Pahang, Malaysia, situated just a short drive from the bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur via the Karak Expressway. Historically known for its rich mining and agricultural roots, the town has evolved into a popular eco-tourism and weekend getaway destination famous for its tropical rainforests, cool highland climate in areas like Genting Highlands, and legendary agricultural products such as Bentong ginger and Musang King durians. People are increasingly drawn to Bentong for its unique blend of tranquil nature-infused living and relatively easy access to the metropolitan amenities of the Klang Valley.

About Pahang

Pahang, the largest state in Peninsular Malaysia, is characterized by its diverse natural landscapes, including pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and cooler highlands like Cameron Highlands. Its economy is driven by services, manufacturing, and agriculture, with key industries including tourism, palm oil, rubber, timber, and increasingly, chemical and petrochemical, automotive, and food manufacturing. Living in Pahang generally offers an affordable lifestyle compared to many Western countries, with a tropical equatorial climate that is warm and humid year-round, though highland areas provide cooler temperatures. The cost of living is considered low in Asia, with affordable food and housing options.

116,542
Population
$14K
Avg Salary
52
Cost Index
76.7
Quality Score
How this 77/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 74 / 100 74.0 30% 22.2
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 52.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $15,500 Income needed to live here: $12,000 Unemployment rate: 3.5% 71.4 20% 14.3
Growth Population growth rate: 1.1% Job growth rate: 2.2% 58.3 15% 8.7
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 65 / 100 65.0 10% 6.5
Overall score 76.7

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
65
Livability
75
Affordability
78
Growth
71

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Bentong is generally lower than the national urban averages found in Kuala Lumpur, making it an attractive location for families and retirees looking to stretch their ringgit. Everyday expenses such as local food, fresh produce from local markets, and basic services remain highly affordable compared to major Malaysian economic hubs. However, certain housing and lifestyle costs have experienced upward pressure due to Bentong's growing popularity as a tourism hotspot and a secondary residential market for commuters working in Kuala Lumpur.

Average Rent
$450/mo
Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$110/mo
Utilities
$95/mo
Healthcare
$80/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$30.00
Cinema ticket
$5.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$8.00
Monthly groceries
$200.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$25.00

Income

Salary Insights

Bentong's economy is primarily driven by agriculture, ecotourism, hospitality, and retail trade, supported by its strategic position along major transport corridors. Agriculture remains a cornerstone, with world-renowned durian plantations and ginger farming employing a significant portion of the local workforce. Meanwhile, tourism and hospitality thrive due to the district's proximity to popular highland resorts, nature reserves, and waterfalls. While traditional corporate and tech remote-working scenes are limited locally, its economic integration with the Greater Kuala Lumpur conurbation allows some residents to participate in broader regional labor markets.

The average salary in Bentong is $14,000 per year. You would need approximately $12,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Tourism & Hospitality +3.50% Public Administration & Services +1.20% Manufacturing & Construction +1.80% Retail & Wholesale Trade +2.00% Agriculture & Agro-tourism +3.10%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
27°C
Avg Temp
☀️
33°C
Summer High
❄️
23°C
Winter Low
🌧️
107.80"
Annual Rain
💧
82.00%
Humidity
🌤️
102
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in Bentong relies predominantly on road networks, anchored by the East Coast Expressway (Karak Highway) which connects the district directly to Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan. Public transit options within the town and surrounding rural areas are limited, making personal vehicle ownership virtually essential for daily commuting and errands. Walkability is favorable within the compact town center, but broader travel across the district requires driving.

32 min
Avg Commute
38.00/10
Transit Score
58.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Strategic location along the Karak Expressway providing relatively easy access to Kuala Lumpur.
Renowned natural attractions, including tropical rainforests, waterfalls, and cooler highland areas.
Famous agricultural sector producing high-value crops like Musang King durian and Bentong ginger.
Lower overall cost of living and housing expenses compared to central Kuala Lumpur.
Strong community safety profile and a peaceful, nature-oriented lifestyle environment.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal vehicles due to limited local public transportation infrastructure.
Traffic congestion along the main highway corridors during weekends and public holidays due to tourism.
Limited local presence of advanced corporate job sectors and high-tech industries.
Dependence on major hospitals in the Klang Valley for specialized or advanced medical treatments.
Upward pressure on property and rental prices driven by tourism and external weekend homeowners.

Head to Head

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Explore

Nearby Cities

Genting Highlands
63
Raub
78
Jerantut
70
Ringlet
79

Community Q&A

Questions about Bentong

What people ask about living in and moving to Bentong, Pahang.

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Gathering the most common questions about Bentong…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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