Malaysia vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$694
$1593
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1625
$3450
🏠 One person rent
$319
$937
🏘️ Family rent
$511
$1622
🍽️ Food expenses
$262
$495
🚐 Transport expenses
$41.5
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$804
$137
💸 GDP per capita
$11867
$1261
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
15
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
0%
🎓 Higher education
78
18
😀 Quality of life
63
12
🏙️ Population
35.6M
26.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($694) is 56% less expensive than in North Korea ($1593). Malaysia ranked 149th vs 33rd 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 1.2 months in Malaysia compared to 0.1 months in North Korea. Ranked 61st and 190th 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
$3.21
$8.45
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.3
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.3
$5.02
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.97
$1.85
 Cappuccino
$2.69
$1.89
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.73
$0.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$359
$866
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$237
$785
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$630
$3106
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$412
$1564
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$29.8
$81
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$45.8
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.9
$55.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.24%
12.59%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1684
$1543
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1051
$951
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.76
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$16.7
$47.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.77
$19.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.99
$2.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.3
$2.65
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.06
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.6
$9.46
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.29
$18
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.88
$6.92
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.5
$1.2
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$1.63
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$6.95
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$3
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$1.01
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.37
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.08
$2.17
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18.4
$6.96
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.81
$2.68
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.13
$2.84
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$3.39
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$2.83
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.47
$1.51
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.65
$4.43
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.8
$24.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.33
$4.32
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.1
$16.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.79
$3.5
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.6
$28.2
👟 Brand Sneakers
$69.7
$63.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$178
$95.1
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6210
$3364

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
$866
1.98M
Ipoh
$657
867K
Johor Bahru
$789
798K
Klang
$704
878K
George Town
$754
794K
Subang Jaya
$789
708K
Shah Alam
$681
741K
Petaling Jaya
$731
639K
Kuantan
$552
608K
Kota Bharu
$517
491K
Sandakan
$518
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$687
452K
Seremban
$643
420K
Sungai Petani
$653
545K
Alor Setar
$509
217K
Muar
$771
315K
Kuching
$642
325K
Teluk Intan
$654
233K
Malacca
$689
455K
Chukai
$598
256K
Miri
$658
235K
Kluang
$771
205K
Lahad Datu
$556
200K
Taiping
$552
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$534
255K
Sibu
$592
248K
Batu Pahat
$788
140K
Putrajaya
$584
109K
Tawau
$578
114K
Butterworth
$701
80.4K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1659
2.86M
Hamhung
$1607
769K
Chongjin
$1597
668K
Sunchon
$1573
437K
Nampo
$1565
367K
Wonsan
$1569
363K
Sinuiju
$1564
359K
Tanchon
$1570
346K
Kaechon
$1569
320K
Sariwon
$1560
308K
Kaesong
$1568
308K
Haeju
$1565
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1563
240K
Tokchon
$1555
237K
Pyongsong
$1550
237K
Kimchaek
$1556
207K
Kusong
$1544
197K
Rason
$1483
197K
Hyesan
$1550
193K
Chongju
$1553
190K
Huichon
$1544
168K
Sinpo
$1535
153K
Hoeryong
$1476
154K