Malaysia vs North Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia North Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$652
$1595
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1575
$3883
🏠 One person rent
$299
$940
🏘️ Family rent
$517
$2056
🍽️ Food expenses
$246
$496
🚐 Transport expenses
$40.3
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$879
$401
💸 GDP per capita
$11379
$1700
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
1.4
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
73.6
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
15
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
0%
🎓 Higher education
79
18
😀 Quality of life
60
10
🏙️ Population
32.4M
26.4M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($652) is 59% less expensive than in North Korea ($1595). Malaysia ranked 154th vs 25th 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 1.3 months in Malaysia compared to 0.3 months in North Korea. Ranked 58th 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
$3.08
$8.47
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.2
$111
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.09
$5.03
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.68
$1.8
 Cappuccino
$2.61
$1.85
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.7
$0.52
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$329
$866
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$223
$788
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$627
$3091
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$402
$1573
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$28.2
$81.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$43.3
$125
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$26.5
$55.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.13%
12.05%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$1542
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$946
$936
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.69
$0.38
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.9
$47
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.96
$19.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.47
$0.89
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.69
$2.52
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.91
$2.62
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$2.64
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.97
$2.56
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.9
$9.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.06
$18.1
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.29
$6.84
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.62
$3.12
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$1.19
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$1.55
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$6.94
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1
$2.99
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$0.98
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.33
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.03
$2.16
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.2
$6.94
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.46
$2.69
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.92
$2.85
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.64
$3.57
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.48
$2.89
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.38
$1.53
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.57
$4.44
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.2
$23.5
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.12
$4.24
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$20.3
$15.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.62
$4.07
👖 Brand Jeans
$56.2
$28.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63.4
$62.1
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$179
$101
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6426
$3222

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
$810
1.98M
George Town
$620
794K
Shah Alam
$645
741K
Johor Bahru
$759
798K
Petaling Jaya
$701
639K
Ipoh
$628
867K
Klang
$670
878K
Subang Jaya
$714
708K
Kuantan
$529
608K
Malacca
$669
455K
Sandakan
$523
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$661
452K
Teluk Intan
$631
233K
Seremban
$604
420K
Kuching
$631
325K
Miri
$546
235K
Chukai
$565
256K
Alor Setar
$490
217K
Muar
$682
315K
Sungai Petani
$605
545K
Kluang
$679
205K
Taiping
$695
245K
Kota Bharu
$485
491K
Lahad Datu
$538
200K
Putrajaya
$532
109K
Sibu
$567
248K
Kuala Terengganu
$501
255K
Batu Pahat
$703
140K
Langkawi
$560
85.6K
Cyberjaya
$585
49.3K

In North Korea

City Cost of living Population
Pyongyang
$1675
2.86M
Hamhung
$1597
769K
Chongjin
$1590
668K
Sunchon
$1574
437K
Nampo
$1570
367K
Wonsan
$1568
363K
Sinuiju
$1572
359K
Tanchon
$1571
346K
Kaechon
$1565
320K
Kaesong
$1565
308K
Sariwon
$1561
308K
Haeju
$1550
273K
Kanggye
$1553
252K
Anju
$1554
240K
Tokchon
$1546
237K
Pyongsong
$1548
237K
Kimchaek
$1551
207K
Rason
$1472
197K
Kusong
$1549
197K
Hyesan
$1549
193K
Chongju
$1547
190K
Huichon
$1538
168K
Hoeryong
$1467
154K
Sinpo
$1537
153K