Malaysia vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$582
$1592
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1414
$3890
🏠 One person rent
$262
$939
🏘️ Family rent
$465
$2067
🍽️ Food expenses
$222
$494
🚐 Transport expenses
$36.6
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$796
$380
💸 GDP per capita
$11993
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
74.9
73.3
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
17
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
0%
🎓 Higher education
79
18
😀 Quality of life
60
10
🏙️ Population
32.4M
25.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($582) is 63% less expensive than in North Korea ($1592). Malaysia ranked 159th vs 26th for North Korea in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.4 months in Malaysia compared to 0.2 months in North Korea. Ranked 59th and 191st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs North Korea infographic

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Prices in Malaysia vs North Korea

We calculate prices for Malaysia and North Korea as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 24 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.

Malaysia North Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$2.62
$8.42
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.4
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$3.68
$4.99
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.34
$1.77
 Cappuccino
$2.43
$1.77
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.69
$0.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$276
$870
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$192
$785
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$573
$3116
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$354
$1578
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$27.6
$81.5
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$42.5
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$25.1
$55.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
10.73%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$1461
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$927
$818
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.64
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.4
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.92
$19.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.43
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.47
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.79
$2.65
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.06
$2.63
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.8
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11
$9.48
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.87
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.23
$6.27
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$1.15
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$1.55
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.75
$3.01
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$0.93
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$0.9
$2.15
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.6
$6.94
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.63
$2.77
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.42
$3.59
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$3
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.28
$1.53
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.35
$4.41
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$31.8
$21.8
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$3.59
$4.25
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$18
$16
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.34
$4.27
👖 Brand Jeans
$51
$28.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.3
$59.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$142
$102
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$5077
$3251

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs North Korea

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

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

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1663
2.86M
Hamhung
$1596
769K
Chongjin
$1590
668K
Sunchon
$1583
437K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1574
359K
Tanchon
$1565
346K
Kaechon
$1562
320K
Nampo
$1571
311K
Sariwon
$1557
308K
Kanggye
$1555
252K
Haeju
$1560
242K
Anju
$1551
240K
Tokchon
$1558
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1544
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1489
197K
Hyesan
$1546
193K
Kaesong
$1542
193K
Chongju
$1538
190K
Huichon
$1546
168K
Hoeryong
$1469
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K