Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaysia and United States

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

City in Malaysia:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 114.8% higher than in Malaysia (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 163.6% higher than in Malaysia
Rent Prices in United States are 386.4% higher than in Malaysia
Restaurant Prices in United States are 206.4% higher than in Malaysia
Groceries Prices in United States are 88.6% higher than in Malaysia
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 78.1% higher than in Malaysia

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	15.00 RM (3.43 $)	87.48 RM (20.00 $)	+483.2 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	100.00 RM (22.86 $)	328.05 RM (75.00 $)	+228.1 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	19.00 RM (4.34 $)	49.21 RM (11.25 $)	+159.0 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	15.25 RM (3.49 $)	26.24 RM (6.00 $)	+72.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	20.00 RM (4.57 $)	30.62 RM (7.00 $)	+53.1 %
Cappuccino (regular)	11.66 RM (2.67 $)	22.88 RM (5.23 $)	+96.2 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.26 RM (0.74 $)	11.21 RM (2.56 $)	+244.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.76 RM (0.40 $)	9.14 RM (2.09 $)	+420.7 %
Markets	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	28.92 RM (6.61 $)	17.51 RM (4.00 $)	-39.5 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.68 RM (0.84 $)	14.40 RM (3.29 $)	+291.7 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.62 RM (0.60 $)	9.14 RM (2.09 $)	+248.6 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	8.69 RM (1.99 $)	18.51 RM (4.23 $)	+112.9 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	26.60 RM (6.08 $)	25.64 RM (5.86 $)	-3.6 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.77 RM (1.78 $)	24.14 RM (5.52 $)	+210.7 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	16.09 RM (3.68 $)	32.30 RM (7.38 $)	+100.8 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.37 RM (1.23 $)	10.48 RM (2.40 $)	+95.3 %
Banana (1 lb)	2.80 RM (0.64 $)	3.33 RM (0.76 $)	+18.6 %
Oranges (1 lb)	5.00 RM (1.14 $)	8.93 RM (2.04 $)	+78.5 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.88 RM (0.66 $)	9.75 RM (2.23 $)	+238.5 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.08 RM (0.47 $)	5.82 RM (1.33 $)	+180.5 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.33 RM (0.53 $)	6.11 RM (1.40 $)	+162.7 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.42 RM (1.01 $)	9.64 RM (2.20 $)	+118.3 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.39 RM (0.55 $)	9.75 RM (2.23 $)	+308.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	75.00 RM (17.15 $)	65.61 RM (15.00 $)	-12.5 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	11.96 RM (2.73 $)	8.53 RM (1.95 $)	-28.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.72 RM (3.60 $)	15.70 RM (3.59 $)	-0.2 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	18.00 RM (4.12 $)	43.74 RM (10.00 $)	+143.0 %
Transportation	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 RM (0.69 $)	10.93 RM (2.50 $)	+264.5 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	50.00 RM (11.43 $)	284.31 RM (65.00 $)	+468.6 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.00 RM (1.14 $)	16.40 RM (3.75 $)	+228.1 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	6.04 RM (1.38 $)	12.25 RM (2.80 $)	+102.9 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	23.50 RM (5.37 $)	131.22 RM (30.00 $)	+458.4 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	7.77 RM (1.78 $)	15.34 RM (3.51 $)	+97.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	167,500.00 RM (38,294.47 $)	131,220.00 RM (30,000.00 $)	-21.7 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	132,850.72 RM (30,372.82 $)	113,556.68 RM (25,961.75 $)	-14.5 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	212.74 RM (48.64 $)	911.35 RM (208.36 $)	+328.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	44.61 RM (10.20 $)	250.51 RM (57.27 $)	+461.6 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	114.06 RM (26.08 $)	312.75 RM (71.50 $)	+174.2 %
Sports And Leisure	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	155.31 RM (35.51 $)	203.66 RM (46.56 $)	+31.1 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	28.09 RM (6.42 $)	96.17 RM (21.99 $)	+242.4 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 RM (4.57 $)	62.83 RM (14.36 $)	+214.2 %
Childcare	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	754.42 RM (172.48 $)	6,023.41 RM (1,377.09 $)	+698.4 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	29,721.88 RM (6,795.12 $)	98,895.51 RM (22,609.86 $)	+232.7 %
Clothing And Shoes	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	254.48 RM (58.18 $)	227.97 RM (52.12 $)	-10.4 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	141.49 RM (32.35 $)	186.17 RM (42.56 $)	+31.6 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	319.07 RM (72.95 $)	392.21 RM (89.67 $)	+22.9 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	276.74 RM (63.27 $)	495.07 RM (113.19 $)	+78.9 %
Rent Per Month	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,637.11 RM (374.28 $)	7,617.87 RM (1,741.62 $)	+365.3 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,130.09 RM (258.37 $)	6,286.82 RM (1,437.32 $)	+456.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,917.82 RM (667.08 $)	12,693.43 RM (2,902.02 $)	+335.0 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,944.44 RM (444.54 $)	10,515.15 RM (2,404.01 $)	+440.8 %
Buy Apartment Price	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	810.95 RM (185.40 $)	1,318.34 RM (301.40 $)	+62.6 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	464.72 RM (106.25 $)	1,099.62 RM (251.40 $)	+136.6 %
Salaries And Financing	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,042.19 RM (924.14 $)	18,981.27 RM (4,339.57 $)	+369.6 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.17	6.51	+56.1 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	540	10779

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