China vs Malaysia - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

China Malaysia
🚶 Cost of living one person
$679
$582
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1883
$1414
🏠 One person rent
$287
$262
🏘️ Family rent
$532
$465
🍽️ Food expenses
$238
$222
🚐 Transport expenses
$72.6
$36.6
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$826
$796
💸 GDP per capita
$12720
$11993
😃 Human freedom index
5.15
6.66
❤️ Life expectancy
78.2
74.9
👮 Corruption perceptions index
42
50
🌐 English speaking %
0.7%
57.3%
🎓 Higher education
91
79
😀 Quality of life
50
60
🏙️ Population
1.44B
32.4M

The average cost of living in China ($679) is 17% more expensive than in Malaysia ($582). China ranked 138th vs 159th for Malaysia in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.2 months in China compared to 1.4 months in Malaysia. Ranked 83rd and 59th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in China vs Malaysia infographic

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Prices in China vs Malaysia

We calculate prices for China and Malaysia as a population-weighted mean of 544 and 34 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

China Malaysia
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.65
$2.62
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$21.9
$19.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.05
$3.68
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.34
$3.34
 Cappuccino
$3.3
$2.43
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.48
$0.69
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$334
$276
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$214
$192
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$653
$573
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$416
$354
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$36.8
$27.6
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$56.6
$42.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$12.8
$25.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.73%
3.94%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5178
$1609
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2803
$927
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.37
$0.64
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$21.7
$15.4
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.1
$5.92
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.16
$0.43
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.87
$1.47
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.52
$0.79
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.04
$1.06
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.71
$1.8
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.2
$11
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.69
$3.87
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$8.23
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.67
$2.17
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.28
$1.17
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$2.52
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$1.23
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.8
$0.75
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$0.92
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.4
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.19
$0.9
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$12.5
$13.6
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.82
$2.22
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.23
$3.63
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.83
$3.42
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.55
$3.13
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.45
$1.28
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.64
$1.35
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.3
$31.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$5.98
$3.59
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.7
$18
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.51
$5.34
👖 Brand Jeans
$53.1
$51
👟 Brand Sneakers
$75.9
$61.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$444
$142
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$16225
$5077

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in China vs Malaysia

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In China

City Cost of living Population
Beijing
$1065
21.9M
Shanghai
$1190
24.9M
Hong Kong
$2614
7.41M
Shenzhen
$939
17.5M
Chongqing
$712
32.1M
Guangzhou
$742
18.7M
Chengdu
$643
20.9M
Tianjin
$688
13.9M
Xi'an
$632
13M
Suzhou
$1020
12.7M
Hangzhou
$831
11.9M
Baoding
$466
11.5M
Wuhan
$646
12.3M
Wuxi
$687
7.46M
Foshan
$575
9.5M
Nanjing
$740
9.31M
Bijie
$606
6.9M
Dongguan
$589
10.5M
Hefei
$707
9.37M
Ganzhou
$812
8.97M
Changchun
$612
9.07M
Nantong
$651
7.73M
Qingdao
$653
10.1M
Jieyang
$716
6.09M
Changsha
$533
10M
Yantai
$749
7.1M
Zhengzhou
$506
12.6M
Guiyang
$564
5.99M
Ningbo
$677
9.4M
Kunming
$609
8.46M

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$743
1.98M
Shah Alam
$582
741K
Ipoh
$550
867K
Petaling Jaya
$645
639K
George Town
$566
708K
Kuantan
$482
608K
Subang Jaya
$644
708K
Johor Bahru
$623
798K
Klang
$553
878K
Malacca
$602
455K
Sandakan
$465
396K
Chukai
$512
256K
Kota Kinabalu
$574
452K
Teluk Intan
$565
233K
Seremban
$545
420K
Muar
$611
357K
Sungai Petani
$544
545K
Miri
$492
235K
Kuching
$537
325K
Taiping
$638
245K
Kota Bharu
$455
491K
Lahad Datu
$470
200K
Kluang
$610
170K
Kuala Terengganu
$465
255K
Alor Setar
$453
217K
Batu Pahat
$609
140K
Langkawi
$496
85.6K
Butterworth
$578
108K
Bintulu
$479
114K
Sibu
$495
248K