Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malaysia

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in United States:
City in Malaysia:

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Malaysia are 58.6% lower than in United States (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Malaysia are 66.9% lower than in United States
Rent Prices in Malaysia are 82.1% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in Malaysia are 73.2% lower than in United States
Groceries Prices in Malaysia are 52.6% lower than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in Malaysia is 43.6% lower than in United States

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	20.00 $ (95.60 RM)	2.72 $ (13.00 RM)	-86.4 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	75.00 $ (358.50 RM)	20.92 $ (100.00 RM)	-72.1 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	10.90 $ (52.10 RM)	3.77 $ (18.00 RM)	-65.5 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	6.00 $ (28.68 RM)	3.14 $ (15.00 RM)	-47.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	7.00 $ (33.46 RM)	4.18 $ (20.00 RM)	-40.2 %
Cappuccino (regular)	5.10 $ (24.39 RM)	2.47 $ (11.80 RM)	-51.6 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	2.49 $ (11.89 RM)	0.68 $ (3.27 RM)	-72.5 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.06 $ (9.86 RM)	0.39 $ (1.88 RM)	-81.0 %
Markets	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	4.00 $ (19.14 RM)	5.69 $ (27.20 RM)	+42.1 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.23 $ (15.46 RM)	0.72 $ (3.45 RM)	-77.7 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.07 $ (9.91 RM)	0.52 $ (2.47 RM)	-75.0 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	3.72 $ (17.79 RM)	1.80 $ (8.58 RM)	-51.7 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	5.84 $ (27.89 RM)	5.49 $ (26.25 RM)	-5.9 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	5.51 $ (26.32 RM)	1.67 $ (8.00 RM)	-69.6 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	7.29 $ (34.85 RM)	3.34 $ (15.95 RM)	-54.2 %
Apples (1 lb)	2.41 $ (11.51 RM)	1.04 $ (4.97 RM)	-56.8 %
Banana (1 lb)	0.76 $ (3.64 RM)	0.52 $ (2.50 RM)	-31.3 %
Oranges (1 lb)	2.04 $ (9.74 RM)	1.08 $ (5.15 RM)	-47.1 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.22 $ (10.63 RM)	0.54 $ (2.60 RM)	-75.5 %
Potato (1 lb)	1.37 $ (6.54 RM)	0.36 $ (1.71 RM)	-73.9 %
Onion (1 lb)	1.38 $ (6.60 RM)	0.43 $ (2.03 RM)	-69.2 %
Lettuce (1 head)	2.16 $ (10.32 RM)	0.89 $ (4.27 RM)	-58.7 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.19 $ (10.46 RM)	0.52 $ (2.49 RM)	-76.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	15.00 $ (71.70 RM)	14.64 $ (70.00 RM)	-2.4 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.77 $ (8.47 RM)	2.32 $ (11.08 RM)	+30.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	3.56 $ (17.02 RM)	3.25 $ (15.53 RM)	-8.7 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	10.00 $ (47.80 RM)	3.77 $ (18.00 RM)	-62.3 %
Transportation	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	2.50 $ (11.95 RM)	0.63 $ (3.00 RM)	-74.9 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	72.00 $ (344.16 RM)	10.46 $ (50.00 RM)	-85.5 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.75 $ (17.92 RM)	0.84 $ (4.00 RM)	-77.7 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	2.80 $ (13.38 RM)	1.01 $ (4.83 RM)	-63.9 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	30.00 $ (143.40 RM)	4.18 $ (20.00 RM)	-86.1 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	3.66 $ (17.47 RM)	1.62 $ (7.77 RM)	-55.6 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	33,000.00 $ (157,740.00 RM)	33,487.34 $ (160,069.50 RM)	+1.5 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	26,088.28 $ (124,701.98 RM)	27,074.64 $ (129,416.77 RM)	+3.8 %
Utilities (Monthly)	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	206.31 $ (986.16 RM)	44.22 $ (211.39 RM)	-78.6 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	52.52 $ (251.03 RM)	8.82 $ (42.18 RM)	-83.2 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	71.09 $ (339.83 RM)	24.59 $ (117.53 RM)	-65.4 %
Sports And Leisure	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	47.70 $ (228.01 RM)	32.69 $ (156.25 RM)	-31.5 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	22.55 $ (107.77 RM)	5.98 $ (28.58 RM)	-73.5 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	14.00 $ (66.92 RM)	3.77 $ (18.00 RM)	-73.1 %
Childcare	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	1,375.24 $ (6,573.63 RM)	150.95 $ (721.55 RM)	-89.0 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	22,930.60 $ (109,608.27 RM)	5,784.33 $ (27,649.12 RM)	-74.8 %
Clothing And Shoes	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	52.51 $ (251.00 RM)	50.00 $ (239.00 RM)	-4.8 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	43.64 $ (208.59 RM)	27.07 $ (129.40 RM)	-38.0 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	89.07 $ (425.74 RM)	63.68 $ (304.39 RM)	-28.5 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	115.40 $ (551.60 RM)	56.20 $ (268.65 RM)	-51.3 %
Rent Per Month	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,784.83 $ (8,531.47 RM)	327.43 $ (1,565.14 RM)	-81.7 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,466.45 $ (7,009.65 RM)	236.24 $ (1,129.21 RM)	-83.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,989.39 $ (14,289.26 RM)	594.74 $ (2,842.86 RM)	-80.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	2,426.38 $ (11,598.10 RM)	395.44 $ (1,890.22 RM)	-83.7 %
Buy Apartment Price	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	351.78 $ (1,681.51 RM)	168.11 $ (803.57 RM)	-52.2 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	273.69 $ (1,308.23 RM)	94.08 $ (449.69 RM)	-65.6 %
Salaries And Financing	United States Edit	Malaysia Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,564.45 $ (21,818.06 RM)	850.40 $ (4,064.93 RM)	-81.4 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	6.57	4.04	-38.5 %
Last update:	April 2024	April 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:	11328	583

Moving to United States? Explore:

Moving to Malaysia? Explore:

Other comparisons United States vs Malaysia:

About In the News Newsletter API