Malaysia vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$818
$1596
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1932
$3476
🏠 One person rent
$385
$941
🏘️ Family rent
$618
$1634
🍽️ Food expenses
$288
$497
🚐 Transport expenses
$65.3
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$919
$142
💸 GDP per capita
$11874
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
7.11
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
52
15
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
0%
🎓 Higher education
78
17
😀 Quality of life
68
10
🏙️ Population
35.6M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($818) is 49% less expensive than in North Korea ($1596). Malaysia ranked 127th vs 36th 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 1.1 months in Malaysia compared to 0.1 months in North Korea. Ranked 55th and 190th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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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
$3.74
$8.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$23.3
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.73
$5.03
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.35
$1.84
 Cappuccino
$3.06
$1.93
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.77
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$474
$864
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$288
$790
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$830
$3092
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$483
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.5
$80.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.1
$55.8
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.27%
12.65%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2250
$1437
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1191
$818
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.81
$0.31
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.2
$46.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.29
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.64
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.03
$2.53
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.12
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.33
$2.57
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.7
$9.51
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.94
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.24
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$3.14
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.78
$1.18
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$1.59
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.54
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.34
$3.03
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$0.96
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.39
$0.34
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.14
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.2
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.98
$2.7
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.36
$3.17
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4
$3.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.8
$2.86
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.64
$1.52
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.94
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$40.8
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.8
$4.14
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$24.6
$15.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.71
$3.82
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$28
👟 Brand Sneakers
$80.7
$61.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$233
$122
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$8255
$4247

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
$992
9M
Shah Alam
$741
741K
Johor Bahru
$843
798K
George Town
$762
794K
Ipoh
$677
867K
Klang
$743
878K
Subang Jaya
$798
708K
Petaling Jaya
$783
639K
Kuantan
$576
608K
Sandakan
$583
396K
Kota Bharu
$531
491K
Seremban
$617
420K
Sungai Petani
$637
545K
Kota Kinabalu
$718
452K
Chukai
$621
256K
Muar
$759
357K
Teluk Intan
$678
233K
Malacca
$707
455K
Kuching
$698
325K
Miri
$688
235K
Kluang
$717
205K
Lahad Datu
$620
200K
Alor Setar
$545
217K
Taiping
$555
245K
Putrajaya
$610
109K
Kuala Terengganu
$550
255K
Sibu
$614
248K
Batu Pahat
$737
140K
Butterworth
$720
80.4K
Bintulu
$588
114K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1669
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1600
668K
Sunchon
$1579
437K
Nampo
$1572
367K
Wonsan
$1570
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1569
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1557
308K
Sariwon
$1569
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1556
252K
Anju
$1559
240K
Pyongsong
$1560
237K
Tokchon
$1563
237K
Kimchaek
$1548
207K
Kusong
$1550
197K
Rason
$1485
197K
Hyesan
$1547
193K
Chongju
$1544
190K
Huichon
$1547
168K
Hoeryong
$1477
154K
Sinpo
$1535
153K