Malaysia vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$1597
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$3888
🏠 One person rent
$313
$942
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$2057
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$410
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
17
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
0%
🎓 Higher education
79
18
😀 Quality of life
60
8
🏙️ Population
32.4M
25.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 57% less expensive than in North Korea ($1597). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 29th 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 0.3 months in North Korea. Ranked 58th 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
$3.05
$8.49
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$1.82
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$1.85
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$0.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$868
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$789
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$3099
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$1571
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$81.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$55.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
12.41%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$1567
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$874
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$0.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$47
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$19.1
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$2.53
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$2.55
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$9.45
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$6.74
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$3.13
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$1.22
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$1.64
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$6.94
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$2.99
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$1
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$2.16
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$6.93
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$2.81
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$3.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$2.93
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.56
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$4.44
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$23.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$4.26
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$15.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$4.17
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$28.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$64
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$102
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$3385

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
$892
1.98M
Shah Alam
$687
741K
George Town
$669
794K
Ipoh
$670
867K
Johor Bahru
$709
798K
Petaling Jaya
$738
639K
Subang Jaya
$732
708K
Kuantan
$518
608K
Klang
$729
878K
Malacca
$699
455K
Sandakan
$548
396K
Chukai
$579
256K
Kota Kinabalu
$673
452K
Teluk Intan
$673
233K
Seremban
$630
420K
Miri
$574
235K
Alor Setar
$523
217K
Muar
$752
315K
Kluang
$745
205K
Sungai Petani
$637
545K
Kuching
$629
325K
Taiping
$759
245K
Kota Bharu
$517
491K
Lahad Datu
$564
200K
Putrajaya
$571
109K
Sibu
$586
248K
Kuala Terengganu
$544
255K
Batu Pahat
$750
140K
Langkawi
$594
85.6K
Cyberjaya
$617
49.3K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1672
2.86M
Hamhung
$1603
769K
Chongjin
$1602
668K
Sunchon
$1576
437K
Nampo
$1574
367K
Wonsan
$1573
363K
Sinuiju
$1568
359K
Tanchon
$1568
346K
Kaechon
$1564
320K
Kaesong
$1567
308K
Sariwon
$1564
308K
Haeju
$1562
273K
Kanggye
$1562
252K
Anju
$1550
240K
Tokchon
$1553
237K
Pyongsong
$1555
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Rason
$1488
197K
Kusong
$1547
197K
Hyesan
$1552
193K
Chongju
$1555
190K
Huichon
$1545
168K
Hoeryong
$1479
154K
Sinpo
$1542
153K