Malaysia vs Philippines - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Philippines
🚶 Cost of living one person
$694
$607
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1625
$1445
🏠 One person rent
$319
$269
🏘️ Family rent
$511
$436
🍽️ Food expenses
$262
$240
🚐 Transport expenses
$41.5
$34.7
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$804
$318
💸 GDP per capita
$11867
$3985
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
6.54
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
69.8
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
33
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
63.7%
🎓 Higher education
78
57
😀 Quality of life
63
48
🏙️ Population
35.6M
116M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($694) is 14% more expensive than in the Philippines ($607). Malaysia ranked 149th vs 164th for the Philippines 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 0.5 months in the Philippines. Ranked 61st and 100th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs Philippines infographic

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Prices in Malaysia vs the Philippines

We calculate prices for Malaysia and the Philippines as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 86 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 Philippines
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.21
$3.86
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.3
$19.9
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.3
$3.34
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.97
$1.25
 Cappuccino
$2.69
$2.21
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.73
$0.72
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$359
$244
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$237
$153
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$630
$636
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$412
$355
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$29.8
$69.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$45.8
$106
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.9
$28.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.24%
7.32%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1684
$2439
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1051
$1269
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.76
$0.37
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$16.7
$16.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.77
$2.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.08
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$1.89
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.99
$1.24
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.3
$0.96
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.06
$2.01
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.6
$7.05
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.29
$4.2
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.88
$7.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$3
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.5
$1.45
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$2.69
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$1.5
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$2.17
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$2.75
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.37
$0.49
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.08
$1.35
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18.4
$7.37
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.81
$1.25
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.13
$2.83
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$4.04
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$3.05
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.47
$1.44
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.65
$1.45
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.8
$30.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.33
$5.83
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.1
$13
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.79
$4.22
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.6
$42.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$69.7
$73.5
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$178
$115
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6210
$6039

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs the Philippines

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 the Philippines

City Cost of living Population
Quezon
$717
2.96M
Manila
$790
1.85M
Taguig
$807
887K
Caloocan
$568
1.66M
Pasig
$642
803K
Davao
$633
1.78M
Antipolo
$570
887K
Paranaque
$651
690K
Cebu
$795
964K
San Jose del Monte
$511
652K
Mandaluyong
$742
426K
Pasay
$785
441K
Cagayan de Oro
$595
728K
Dasmarinas
$414
703K
La Union
$578
822K
Valenzuela
$432
715K
Marikina
$555
456K
Zamboanga
$514
977K
Bacoor
$540
665K
Las Pinas
$628
606K
Palawan
$638
940K
General Santos
$514
697K
Cainta
$760
377K
Lapu-Lapu
$720
498K
Muntinlupa
$692
543K
Calamba
$489
540K
Angeles
$624
463K
General Trias
$519
451K
Bacolod
$576
601K
San Fernando
$609
355K