Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Malaysia 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Malaysia is 1.8% lower than in South Africa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Malaysia is 6.7% lower than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Malaysia are 23.8% lower than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Malaysia are 24.3% lower than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Malaysia are 35.0% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Malaysia is 24.8% lower than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
160.00 R (37.94 RM) |
63.27 R (15.00 RM) |
-60.5 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
700.00 R (165.97 RM) |
421.77 R (100.00 RM) |
-39.7 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
90.00 R (21.34 RM) |
84.35 R (20.00 RM) |
-6.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
40.00 R (9.48 RM) |
67.48 R (16.00 RM) |
+68.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
45.00 R (10.67 RM) |
84.35 R (20.00 RM) |
+87.5 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
35.81 R (8.49 RM) |
49.27 R (11.68 RM) |
+37.6 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
17.66 R (4.19 RM) |
13.71 R (3.25 RM) |
-22.4 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
13.80 R (3.27 RM) |
7.46 R (1.77 RM) |
-46.0 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
73.62 R (17.46 RM) |
121.94 R (28.91 RM) |
+65.6 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
16.03 R (3.80 RM) |
15.60 R (3.70 RM) |
-2.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
12.82 R (3.04 RM) |
11.06 R (2.62 RM) |
-13.7 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
40.81 R (9.68 RM) |
36.69 R (8.70 RM) |
-10.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
62.04 R (14.71 RM) |
111.95 R (26.54 RM) |
+80.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
37.03 R (8.78 RM) |
33.10 R (7.85 RM) |
-10.6 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
54.59 R (12.94 RM) |
68.28 R (16.19 RM) |
+25.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.47 R (2.96 RM) |
22.88 R (5.42 RM) |
+83.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
11.59 R (2.75 RM) |
11.84 R (2.81 RM) |
+2.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
12.02 R (2.85 RM) |
21.02 R (4.98 RM) |
+74.9 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
12.37 R (2.93 RM) |
12.10 R (2.87 RM) |
-2.2 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
9.92 R (2.35 RM) |
8.78 R (2.08 RM) |
-11.4 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
10.49 R (2.49 RM) |
9.85 R (2.34 RM) |
-6.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
18.72 R (4.44 RM) |
18.78 R (4.45 RM) |
+0.3 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
17.00 R (4.03 RM) |
10.10 R (2.40 RM) |
-40.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
85.00 R (20.15 RM) |
316.33 R (75.00 RM) |
+272.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
23.98 R (5.69 RM) |
50.99 R (12.09 RM) |
+112.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
30.36 R (7.20 RM) |
66.61 R (15.79 RM) |
+119.4 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
52.00 R (12.33 RM) |
75.92 R (18.00 RM) |
+46.0 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (7.11 RM) |
12.65 R (3.00 RM) |
-57.8 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
800.00 R (189.68 RM) |
210.89 R (50.00 RM) |
-73.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
20.00 R (4.74 RM) |
21.09 R (5.00 RM) |
+5.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
32.19 R (7.63 RM) |
25.45 R (6.04 RM) |
-20.9 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
85.00 R (20.15 RM) |
105.44 R (25.00 RM) |
+24.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
86.61 R (20.53 RM) |
32.78 R (7.77 RM) |
-62.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
370,000.00 R (87,725.19 RM) |
706,467.57 R (167,500.00 RM) |
+90.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
423,636.28 R (100,442.09 RM) |
560,220.07 R (132,825.43 RM) |
+32.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
2,011.18 R (476.84 RM) |
907.88 R (215.25 RM) |
-54.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
572.17 R (135.66 RM) |
185.83 R (44.06 RM) |
-67.5 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
732.43 R (173.66 RM) |
481.34 R (114.12 RM) |
-34.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
560.05 R (132.78 RM) |
655.20 R (155.34 RM) |
+17.0 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
174.01 R (41.26 RM) |
120.16 R (28.49 RM) |
-30.9 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
120.00 R (28.45 RM) |
84.35 R (20.00 RM) |
-29.7 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,404.72 R (807.24 RM) |
3,238.96 R (767.94 RM) |
-4.9 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
80,482.84 R (19,082.09 RM) |
123,605.46 R (29,306.25 RM) |
+53.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
873.96 R (207.21 RM) |
1,072.68 R (254.33 RM) |
+22.7 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
552.15 R (130.91 RM) |
597.01 R (141.55 RM) |
+8.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,644.16 R (389.82 RM) |
1,359.77 R (322.39 RM) |
-17.3 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
1,425.52 R (337.98 RM) |
1,173.19 R (278.16 RM) |
-17.7 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
7,984.76 R (1,893.15 RM) |
7,049.76 R (1,671.46 RM) |
-11.7 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
6,550.27 R (1,553.04 RM) |
4,804.05 R (1,139.02 RM) |
-26.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
16,002.14 R (3,794.03 RM) |
12,851.49 R (3,047.02 RM) |
-19.7 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
12,809.44 R (3,037.06 RM) |
8,335.86 R (1,976.39 RM) |
-34.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,658.95 R (393.33 RM) |
3,354.59 R (795.36 RM) |
+102.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,278.84 R (303.21 RM) |
1,966.00 R (466.13 RM) |
+53.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
23,571.99 R (5,588.80 RM) |
16,545.56 R (3,922.87 RM) |
-29.8 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.55 | 4.20 | -63.6 % |
| Last update: | 23 May 2025 | 23 May 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 707 | 544 |
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