Malaysia vs South Africa - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Africa
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$972
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$2272
🏠 One person rent
$313
$492
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$860
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$276
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$121
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$1527
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$6253
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
6.92
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
61.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
41
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
31%
🎓 Higher education
79
83
😀 Quality of life
60
37
🏙️ Population
32.4M
62M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 29% less expensive than in South Africa ($972). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 90th 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 1.4 months in Malaysia compared to 1.6 months in South Africa. Ranked 58th and 124th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs South Africa infographic

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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
$3.05
$8.2
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$35.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$4.71
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$2.23
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$2.03
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$0.98
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$491
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$357
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$867
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$678
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$66.3
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$102
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$41.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
11.47%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$1199
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$888
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$1.77
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$53.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$9.36
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.32
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$1.12
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$0.99
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$1.45
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$8.56
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$5.09
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$6.88
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$1.57
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$1.5
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$1.59
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$1.39
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.64
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$1.37
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$5.62
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$1.37
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$2.94
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$4.76
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$3.55
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.85
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$1.31
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$30.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$29.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$6.65
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$50.4
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$91.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$203
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$4974

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
$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 South Africa

City Cost of living Population
Johannesburg
$1079
4.43M
Cape Town
$1120
3.78M
Soweto
$971
1.27M
Pretoria
$909
742K
Pietermaritzburg
$674
839K
Rustenburg
$943
550K
Durban
$834
595K
Randburg
$874
337K
Centurion
$838
237K
East London
$703
267K
Sandton
$997
222K
Port Elizabeth
$970
312K
Benoni
$822
159K
Kroonstad
$788
169K
Springs
$696
122K
Klerksdorp
$689
187K
Kimberley
$859
225K
Bloemfontein
$696
256K
Paarl
$850
112K
Vereeniging
$717
99K
Vanderbijlpark
$768
95.8K
Mthatha
$862
96.1K
Potchefstroom
$717
149K
Uitenhage
$901
104K
Komani
$953
68.9K
George
$790
157K
Middelburg
$841
87.3K
Bethal
$819
60.8K
Upington
$741
121K
Brits
$848
53.5K