Cost of living in Malaysia
Summary of cost of living in Malaysia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: RM10,275
- Single person estimated monthly costs: RM4,885
- Malaysia is the 3rd cheapest country in Asia (7 out of 9)
- Cost of living in Malaysia is cheaper than in 87% of countries in the World (54 out of 62)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | RM20 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | RM19 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | RM11 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | RM8 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | RM12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | RM8 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | RM28 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | RM12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | RM7 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | RM13 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | RM74 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | RM5.51 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | RM4.41 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | RM3,764 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | RM2,382 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | RM276 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | RM2,377 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | RM1,592 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | RM206 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | RM111 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | RM1,115 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | RM403 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | RM24 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | RM29 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | RM249 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | RM162 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | RM339 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | RM317 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | RM151,634 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | RM2.25 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | RM52 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | RM15 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | RM37 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | RM80 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | RM32 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | RM13 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | RM13 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | RM8 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | RM11 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | RM44 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | RM115 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | RM39 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | RM361 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | RM141 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | RM35 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | RM14 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | RM19 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | RM2,486 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | RM0.50 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | RM211 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | RM18 | ||
Moving to Malaysia with your children?
International Schools in Malaysia
Map of Cost of Living in Malaysia
This map shows only the top cities in Malaysia. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Malaysia
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kuala Lumpur | 69 |
| 2nd | Kota Kinabalu | 65 |
| 3rd | Kuching | 65 |
| 4th | Shah Alam | 65 |
| 5th | Ipoh | 57 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Malaysia? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Malaysia of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Malaysia
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 29% cheaper than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Klang is 4% cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur
- Cost of living in Kuching is 31% cheaper than in Corunna
- Cost of living in Kuching is 32% cheaper than in Oporto
- Cost of living in Kuching is 36% more expensive than in Bekasi
- Cost of living in Kuching is 42% cheaper than in Lille
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 20% cheaper than in São Paulo
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 57% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Kuching is 27% cheaper than in Oviedo
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 67% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Johor Bahru is 68% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 36% more expensive than in Xiantao
- Cost of living in Johor Bahru is 57% more expensive than in Chandigarh
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 35% more expensive than in Madras
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 60% cheaper than in Dublin
- Cost of living in Kuching is 52% cheaper than in Brussels
- Cost of living in Johor Bahru is 41% cheaper than in Ra's al Khaymah
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 15% cheaper than in Santos, Sao Paulo
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 29% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 40% cheaper than in Seoul
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in Kuching costs RM2.40 (3 days ago)
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Kuching costs RM5.30 (3 days ago)
- 500 g of boneless chicken breast in Kuching costs RM22 (3 days ago)
- 1 kg of boneless chicken breast in Kuching costs RM9 (4 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Kuala Lumpur costs RM10 (7 days ago)
- 12 eggs, large in Kuala Lumpur costs RM10 (9 days ago)