Malaysia vs Philippines - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Philippines
🚶 Cost of living one person
$582
$614
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1414
$1558
🏠 One person rent
$262
$290
🏘️ Family rent
$465
$588
🍽️ Food expenses
$222
$232
🚐 Transport expenses
$36.6
$31.7
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$796
$364
💸 GDP per capita
$11993
$3499
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
6.46
❤️ Life expectancy
74.9
69.3
👮 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 ($582) is 5% less expensive than in the Philippines ($614). Malaysia ranked 159th vs 152nd 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 59th and 94th 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

Share this infographic!

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
$2.62
$3.72
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.4
$19.5
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$3.68
$3.19
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.34
$1.4
 Cappuccino
$2.43
$2.44
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.69
$0.72
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$276
$273
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$192
$165
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$573
$711
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$354
$379
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$27.6
$73.5
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$42.5
$113
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$25.1
$30.3
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
6.56%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$2360
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$927
$1293
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.64
$0.32
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.4
$12.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.92
$2.83
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.43
$1.2
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.47
$1.78
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.79
$1.17
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.06
$0.94
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.8
$1.99
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11
$7.4
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.87
$4.1
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.23
$6.66
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$2.8
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$1.49
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$2.57
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$1.46
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.75
$1.88
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$2.49
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$0.48
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$0.9
$1.47
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.6
$8.09
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$1.2
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.63
$2.63
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.42
$3.67
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$3.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.28
$1.38
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.35
$1.48
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$31.8
$35.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$3.59
$5.23
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$18
$13.7
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.34
$4.48
👖 Brand Jeans
$51
$34.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.3
$65.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$142
$174
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$5077
$4971

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
$743
1.98M
Shah Alam
$582
741K
Ipoh
$550
867K
Petaling Jaya
$645
639K
George Town
$566
708K
Kuantan
$482
608K
Subang Jaya
$644
708K
Johor Bahru
$623
798K
Klang
$553
878K
Malacca
$602
455K
Sandakan
$465
396K
Chukai
$512
256K
Kota Kinabalu
$574
452K
Teluk Intan
$565
233K
Seremban
$545
420K
Muar
$611
357K
Sungai Petani
$544
545K
Miri
$492
235K
Kuching
$537
325K
Taiping
$638
245K
Kota Bharu
$455
491K
Lahad Datu
$470
200K
Kluang
$610
170K
Kuala Terengganu
$465
255K
Alor Setar
$453
217K
Batu Pahat
$609
140K
Langkawi
$496
85.6K
Butterworth
$578
108K
Bintulu
$479
114K
Sibu
$495
248K

In the Philippines

City Cost of living Population
Quezon
$759
2.96M
Manila
$781
1.85M
Davao
$614
1.78M
Makati
$842
630K
Taguig
$860
887K
Caloocan
$804
1.66M
Valenzuela
$491
715K
Pasig
$817
803K
Cebu
$735
964K
Las Pinas
$590
606K
Paranaque
$640
690K
Muntinlupa
$681
543K
San Jose del Monte
$496
652K
La Union
$556
822K
Dasmarinas
$441
703K
Marikina
$519
456K
Pasay
$673
441K
Cagayan de Oro
$638
728K
Antipolo
$534
887K
General Trias
$523
451K
Zamboanga
$440
977K
Mandaluyong
$792
426K
Calamba
$483
540K
Imus
$568
497K
Bacoor
$550
665K
Palawan
$584
940K
General Santos
$449
697K
Lapu-Lapu
$651
498K
Angeles
$660
463K
Binan
$511
407K