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 107.3% higher than in Malaysia (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 153.3% higher than in Malaysia
Rent Prices in United States are 358.3% higher than in Malaysia
Restaurant Prices in United States are 193.9% higher than in Malaysia
Groceries Prices in United States are 82.2% higher than in Malaysia
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 84.3% 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 (3.55 $)	84.62 RM (20.00 $)	+464.1 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	100.00 RM (23.64 $)	317.32 RM (75.00 $)	+217.3 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	20.00 RM (4.73 $)	48.66 RM (11.50 $)	+143.3 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	16.00 RM (3.78 $)	25.39 RM (6.00 $)	+58.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	20.00 RM (4.73 $)	29.62 RM (7.00 $)	+48.1 %
Cappuccino (regular)	11.68 RM (2.76 $)	22.15 RM (5.24 $)	+89.7 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.25 RM (0.77 $)	10.85 RM (2.56 $)	+233.8 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.77 RM (0.42 $)	8.85 RM (2.09 $)	+400.3 %
Markets	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	28.91 RM (6.83 $)	16.95 RM (4.01 $)	-41.4 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.70 RM (0.87 $)	13.94 RM (3.29 $)	+276.8 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.62 RM (0.62 $)	8.84 RM (2.09 $)	+237.2 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	8.70 RM (2.06 $)	18.14 RM (4.29 $)	+108.6 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	26.54 RM (6.27 $)	24.80 RM (5.86 $)	-6.6 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.85 RM (1.86 $)	23.41 RM (5.53 $)	+198.2 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	16.19 RM (3.83 $)	31.29 RM (7.40 $)	+93.3 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.42 RM (1.28 $)	10.13 RM (2.40 $)	+86.9 %
Banana (1 lb)	2.81 RM (0.66 $)	3.23 RM (0.76 $)	+15.0 %
Oranges (1 lb)	4.98 RM (1.18 $)	8.64 RM (2.04 $)	+73.3 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.87 RM (0.68 $)	9.43 RM (2.23 $)	+228.6 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.08 RM (0.49 $)	5.64 RM (1.33 $)	+170.7 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.34 RM (0.55 $)	5.90 RM (1.39 $)	+152.6 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.45 RM (1.05 $)	9.32 RM (2.20 $)	+109.2 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.40 RM (0.57 $)	9.44 RM (2.23 $)	+294.0 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	75.00 RM (17.73 $)	63.46 RM (15.00 $)	-15.4 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	12.09 RM (2.86 $)	8.28 RM (1.96 $)	-31.5 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.79 RM (3.73 $)	15.21 RM (3.60 $)	-3.7 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	18.00 RM (4.25 $)	42.31 RM (10.00 $)	+135.1 %
Transportation	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 RM (0.71 $)	10.58 RM (2.50 $)	+252.6 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	50.00 RM (11.82 $)	275.01 RM (65.00 $)	+450.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.00 RM (1.18 $)	15.87 RM (3.75 $)	+217.3 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	6.04 RM (1.43 $)	11.85 RM (2.80 $)	+96.3 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	25.00 RM (5.91 $)	126.93 RM (30.00 $)	+407.7 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	7.77 RM (1.84 $)	14.81 RM (3.50 $)	+90.6 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	167,500.00 RM (39,588.75 $)	126,930.00 RM (30,000.00 $)	-24.2 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	132,825.43 RM (31,393.39 $)	109,911.93 RM (25,977.77 $)	-17.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	215.25 RM (50.88 $)	882.38 RM (208.55 $)	+309.9 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	44.06 RM (10.41 $)	242.48 RM (57.31 $)	+450.3 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	114.12 RM (26.97 $)	303.06 RM (71.63 $)	+165.6 %
Sports And Leisure	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	155.34 RM (36.72 $)	195.39 RM (46.18 $)	+25.8 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	28.49 RM (6.73 $)	92.89 RM (21.95 $)	+226.0 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 RM (4.73 $)	60.78 RM (14.36 $)	+203.9 %
Childcare	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	767.94 RM (181.50 $)	5,808.00 RM (1,372.73 $)	+656.3 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	29,306.25 RM (6,926.55 $)	95,249.06 RM (22,512.19 $)	+225.0 %
Clothing And Shoes	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	254.33 RM (60.11 $)	220.78 RM (52.18 $)	-13.2 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	141.55 RM (33.46 $)	179.97 RM (42.54 $)	+27.1 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	322.39 RM (76.20 $)	380.49 RM (89.93 $)	+18.0 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	278.16 RM (65.74 $)	480.38 RM (113.54 $)	+72.7 %
Rent Per Month	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,671.46 RM (395.05 $)	7,386.90 RM (1,745.90 $)	+341.9 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,139.02 RM (269.21 $)	6,092.41 RM (1,439.94 $)	+434.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	3,047.02 RM (720.17 $)	12,254.58 RM (2,896.38 $)	+302.2 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,976.39 RM (467.12 $)	10,167.55 RM (2,403.11 $)	+414.5 %
Buy Apartment Price	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	795.36 RM (187.98 $)	1,270.11 RM (300.19 $)	+59.7 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	466.13 RM (110.17 $)	1,067.35 RM (252.27 $)	+129.0 %
Salaries And Financing	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	3,922.87 RM (927.17 $)	18,318.67 RM (4,329.63 $)	+367.0 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.20	6.51	+55.0 %
Last update:	23 May 2025	24 May 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	544	11218

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