Cost of living in Malaysia
Summary of cost of living in Malaysia
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: RM9,971
- Single person estimated monthly costs: RM5,063
- Malaysia is the 2nd cheapest country in Asia (12 out of 13)
- Malaysia is the 4th cheapest country in the World (66 out of 69)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | RM17 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | RM19 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | RM9 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | RM8 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | RM10 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | RM6 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | RM27 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | RM12 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | RM4.73 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | RM12 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | RM66 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | RM4.72 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | RM3.69 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | RM4,011 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | RM2,283 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | RM254 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | RM2,402 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | RM1,376 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | RM863 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | RM111 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | RM1,876 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | RM907 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | RM33 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | RM36 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | RM223 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | RM142 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | RM318 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | RM314 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | RM150,880 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | RM2.07 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | RM51 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | RM9 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | RM21 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | RM91 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | RM44 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | RM11 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | RM14 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | RM20 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | RM7 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | RM28 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | RM115 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | RM41 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | RM211 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | RM129 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | RM41 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | RM13 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | RM19 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | RM2,145 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | RM0.17 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | RM201 | ||
| 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 | Shah Alam | 57 |
| 2nd | Kuching | 56 |
| 3rd | Kota Kinabalu | 56 |
| 4th | Kuala Lumpur | 56 |
| 5th | Johor Bahru | 55 |
| 6th | Ipoh | 50 |
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 26% cheaper than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 72% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 56% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Georgetown (Penang) is 33% cheaper than in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 53% cheaper than in Montreal
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 13% more expensive than in Bangalore
- Cost of living in Kota Kinabalu is 58% cheaper than in Brisbane
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 66% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Johor Bahru is 73% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 5% cheaper than in Chiang Mai
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 21% cheaper than in Colombo
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 9% cheaper than in Jakarta
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 45% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 11% cheaper than in Manila
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 65% cheaper than in Toronto
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 45% cheaper than in Leicester
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 26% cheaper than in Brasília
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 19% more expensive than in Delhi
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is 52% cheaper than in Aberdeen
- Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is about the same as in Johor Bahru
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Kuala Lumpur costs RM140,000 (3 days ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Kuala Lumpur costs RM17 (3 days ago)