Malaysia vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$824
$1102
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1956
$2487
🏠 One person rent
$386
$568
🏘️ Family rent
$637
$919
🍽️ Food expenses
$292
$316
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.6
$124
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$917
$1286
💸 GDP per capita
$11874
$6267
😃 Human freedom index
7.11
7.07
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
66.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
52
41
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
31%
🎓 Higher education
78
82
😀 Quality of life
68
42
🏙️ Population
35.6M
64M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($824) is 25% less expensive than in South Africa ($1102). Malaysia ranked 128th vs 81st for South Africa in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.1 months in Malaysia compared to 1.2 months in South Africa. Ranked 55th and 124th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

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Prices in Malaysia vs South Africa

We calculate prices for Malaysia and South Africa as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 36 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 South Africa
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.69
$10.5
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$22.3
$40.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.83
$5.34
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.5
$2.57
 Cappuccino
$3.1
$2.32
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.83
$1.2
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$415
$579
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$274
$416
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$726
$1083
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$470
$849
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$34
$84.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$53.1
$130
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.1
$39.4
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.32%
11.19%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1946
$1265
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1201
$951
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.87
$1.95
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$53.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.84
$9.1
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.57
$1.35
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.04
$1.29
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.09
$1.12
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.47
$1.79
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.37
$2.59
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$14.4
$8.89
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.81
$5.51
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.41
$7.92
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$1.83
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.72
$1.75
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$1.83
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$1.81
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$1.54
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.52
$1.58
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.42
$0.76
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.15
$1.56
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.3
$6.03
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.05
$1.56
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.47
$3.29
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.08
$5.69
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.89
$4.01
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.68
$2.13
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.92
$1.42
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.8
$36
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.78
$7.67
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.9
$31.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.68
$7.36
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$57
👟 Brand Sneakers
$79.9
$104
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$203
$227
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$7160
$5433

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs South Africa

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$981
9M
Ipoh
$696
867K
Klang
$762
878K
George Town
$792
794K
Subang Jaya
$831
708K
Johor Bahru
$838
798K
Shah Alam
$750
741K
Petaling Jaya
$813
639K
Kuantan
$588
608K
Kota Bharu
$551
491K
Sandakan
$562
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$734
452K
Seremban
$678
420K
Kluang
$770
324K
Sungai Petani
$663
545K
Alor Setar
$564
217K
Chukai
$640
256K
Teluk Intan
$701
233K
Muar
$788
315K
Malacca
$736
455K
Kuching
$709
325K
Miri
$711
235K
Lahad Datu
$600
200K
Taiping
$572
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$572
255K
Sibu
$627
248K
Batu Pahat
$780
140K
Putrajaya
$627
109K
Tawau
$621
114K
Butterworth
$740
80.4K

In South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1171
4.8M
Soweto
$1057
1.27M
Cape Town
$1366
3.78M
Pretoria
$1049
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$716
839K
Rustenburg
$1017
550K
Durban
$948
595K
Sandton
$1089
222K
Centurion
$967
237K
East London
$795
267K
Kimberley
$927
225K
Benoni
$892
159K
Randburg
$958
337K
George
$927
157K
Kroonstad
$875
169K
Springs
$792
122K
Klerksdorp
$826
187K
Potchefstroom
$791
149K
Vereeniging
$765
99.8K
Paarl
$1345
112K
Uitenhage
$980
104K
Middelburg
$899
87.3K
Port Elizabeth
$1036
312K
Komani
$1050
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$865
95.8K
Mthatha
$952
96.1K
Upington
$811
121K
Bloemfontein
$763
256K
Makhanda
$874
67.3K
Worcester
$718
97.1K