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 115.4% higher than in Malaysia (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 164.3% higher than in Malaysia
Rent Prices in United States are 386.2% higher than in Malaysia
Restaurant Prices in United States are 207.3% higher than in Malaysia
Groceries Prices in United States are 89.2% higher than in Malaysia
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 78.5% 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 (3.42 $)	87.78 RM (20.00 $)	+485.2 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	100.00 RM (22.78 $)	329.18 RM (75.00 $)	+229.2 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	19.00 RM (4.33 $)	49.20 RM (11.21 $)	+159.0 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	15.25 RM (3.47 $)	26.33 RM (6.00 $)	+72.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	20.00 RM (4.56 $)	30.72 RM (7.00 $)	+53.6 %
Cappuccino (regular)	11.66 RM (2.66 $)	22.95 RM (5.23 $)	+96.8 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.26 RM (0.74 $)	11.24 RM (2.56 $)	+245.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.76 RM (0.40 $)	9.17 RM (2.09 $)	+422.5 %
Markets	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	28.92 RM (6.59 $)	17.56 RM (4.00 $)	-39.3 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.68 RM (0.84 $)	14.45 RM (3.29 $)	+293.1 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.62 RM (0.60 $)	9.18 RM (2.09 $)	+250.0 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	8.69 RM (1.98 $)	18.56 RM (4.23 $)	+113.5 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	26.60 RM (6.06 $)	25.72 RM (5.86 $)	-3.3 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.77 RM (1.77 $)	24.22 RM (5.52 $)	+211.7 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	16.09 RM (3.66 $)	32.40 RM (7.38 $)	+101.4 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.37 RM (1.22 $)	10.51 RM (2.39 $)	+95.9 %
Banana (1 lb)	2.80 RM (0.64 $)	3.34 RM (0.76 $)	+19.0 %
Oranges (1 lb)	5.00 RM (1.14 $)	8.96 RM (2.04 $)	+79.1 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.88 RM (0.66 $)	9.78 RM (2.23 $)	+239.7 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.08 RM (0.47 $)	5.84 RM (1.33 $)	+181.4 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.33 RM (0.53 $)	6.13 RM (1.40 $)	+163.7 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.42 RM (1.01 $)	9.67 RM (2.20 $)	+119.0 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.39 RM (0.54 $)	9.78 RM (2.23 $)	+309.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	75.00 RM (17.09 $)	65.84 RM (15.00 $)	-12.2 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	11.96 RM (2.72 $)	8.56 RM (1.95 $)	-28.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.72 RM (3.58 $)	15.76 RM (3.59 $)	+0.2 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	18.00 RM (4.10 $)	43.89 RM (10.00 $)	+143.8 %
Transportation	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 RM (0.68 $)	10.97 RM (2.50 $)	+265.8 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	50.00 RM (11.39 $)	285.29 RM (65.00 $)	+470.6 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.00 RM (1.14 $)	16.46 RM (3.75 $)	+229.2 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	6.04 RM (1.38 $)	12.29 RM (2.80 $)	+103.6 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	23.50 RM (5.35 $)	131.67 RM (30.00 $)	+460.3 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	7.77 RM (1.77 $)	15.39 RM (3.51 $)	+98.0 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	167,500.00 RM (38,163.59 $)	131,670.00 RM (30,000.00 $)	-21.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	132,850.72 RM (30,269.02 $)	113,952.73 RM (25,963.26 $)	-14.2 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	212.26 RM (48.36 $)	913.25 RM (208.08 $)	+330.3 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	44.64 RM (10.17 $)	251.18 RM (57.23 $)	+462.7 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	114.06 RM (25.99 $)	313.75 RM (71.49 $)	+175.1 %
Sports And Leisure	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	155.31 RM (35.39 $)	204.11 RM (46.50 $)	+31.4 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	28.09 RM (6.40 $)	96.16 RM (21.91 $)	+242.3 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 RM (4.56 $)	63.05 RM (14.36 $)	+215.2 %
Childcare	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	757.64 RM (172.62 $)	6,042.05 RM (1,376.64 $)	+697.5 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	29,721.88 RM (6,771.90 $)	99,211.35 RM (22,604.54 $)	+233.8 %
Clothing And Shoes	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	254.50 RM (57.98 $)	228.75 RM (52.12 $)	-10.1 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	141.49 RM (32.24 $)	186.83 RM (42.57 $)	+32.0 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	319.07 RM (72.70 $)	393.34 RM (89.62 $)	+23.3 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	276.75 RM (63.06 $)	496.71 RM (113.17 $)	+79.5 %
Rent Per Month	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,644.92 RM (374.78 $)	7,650.00 RM (1,742.99 $)	+365.1 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,134.86 RM (258.57 $)	6,315.11 RM (1,438.85 $)	+456.5 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,941.57 RM (670.22 $)	12,757.73 RM (2,906.75 $)	+333.7 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,947.99 RM (443.83 $)	10,565.28 RM (2,407.22 $)	+442.4 %
Buy Apartment Price	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	817.02 RM (186.15 $)	1,328.65 RM (302.72 $)	+62.6 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	468.10 RM (106.65 $)	1,105.91 RM (251.97 $)	+136.3 %
Salaries And Financing	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,033.65 RM (919.04 $)	19,033.49 RM (4,336.64 $)	+371.9 %
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:	537	10759

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