Malaysia vs Philippines - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Philippines
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$615
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$1589
🏠 One person rent
$313
$282
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$579
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$241
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$31.6
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$392
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$3726
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
6.46
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
72.2
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
34
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
58.2%
🎓 Higher education
79
59
😀 Quality of life
60
46
🏙️ Population
32.4M
109M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 12% more expensive than in the Philippines ($615). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 161st 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 1.4 months in Malaysia compared to 0.6 months in the Philippines. Ranked 58th and 88th 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
$3.05
$3.88
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$20.6
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$3.21
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$1.25
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$2.32
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$0.74
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$258
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$153
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$671
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$369
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$75.9
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$117
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$31.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
7.17%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$2157
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$1135
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$0.36
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$12
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$2.84
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$1.83
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$1.2
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$0.95
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$2.01
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$7.05
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$4.25
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$7.04
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$2.95
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$1.5
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$2.75
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$1.51
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$2.19
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$2.84
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.51
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$1.49
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$7.28
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$1.24
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$2.85
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$3.82
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$3.13
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.49
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$1.46
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$30.1
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$5.79
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$13.4
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$4.55
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$36.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$70.2
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$176
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$5937

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
$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 the Philippines

City Cost of living Population
Quezon
$738
2.96M
Manila
$801
1.85M
Davao
$623
1.78M
Makati
$816
630K
Caloocan
$668
1.66M
Taguig
$820
887K
Cebu
$730
964K
Pasig
$705
803K
Valenzuela
$453
715K
Dasmarinas
$414
703K
Las Pinas
$633
606K
Paranaque
$650
690K
Cagayan de Oro
$636
728K
Muntinlupa
$725
543K
San Jose del Monte
$570
652K
La Union
$581
822K
Pasay
$650
441K
Antipolo
$590
887K
Marikina
$538
456K
Calamba
$518
540K
Imus
$614
497K
General Trias
$602
451K
Zamboanga
$501
977K
Bacoor
$564
665K
Mandaluyong
$770
426K
Palawan
$614
940K
General Santos
$463
697K
Angeles
$668
463K
Cainta
$717
377K
Binan
$579
407K