Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$818
$1074
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1932
$2688
🏠 One person rent
$385
$470
🏘️ Family rent
$618
$787
🍽️ Food expenses
$288
$417
🚐 Transport expenses
$65.3
$89.7
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$919
$2138
💸 GDP per capita
$11874
$36239
😃 Human freedom index
7.11
8.15
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
83.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
52
63
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
20%
🎓 Higher education
78
87
😀 Quality of life
68
87
🏙️ Population
35.6M
51.8M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($818) is 24% less expensive than in South Korea ($1074). Malaysia ranked 127th vs 86th for South Korea 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 2 months in South Korea. Ranked 55th and 23rd 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 Korea

We calculate prices for Malaysia and South Korea as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 87 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 Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.74
$6.41
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$23.3
$35.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.73
$5.45
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.35
$3.16
 Cappuccino
$3.06
$3.29
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.77
$1.41
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$474
$486
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$288
$319
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$830
$1137
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$483
$698
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.5
$98.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52
$152
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.1
$19.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.27%
4.19%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2250
$11577
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1191
$6055
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.81
$0.99
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.2
$40.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.29
$8.06
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.64
$1.14
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.03
$1.88
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.12
$2.54
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$2.51
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.33
$2.65
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.7
$11.9
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.94
$7.7
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.24
$17.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$6.64
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.78
$3.08
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$5.66
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.54
$4.93
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.34
$3
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$2.35
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.39
$0.69
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.14
$2.03
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.2
$15.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.98
$1.9
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.36
$2.95
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4
$4.01
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.8
$4.25
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.64
$2.09
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.94
$1.52
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$40.8
$45.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.8
$9.37
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$24.6
$45.2
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.71
$8.07
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$57
👟 Brand Sneakers
$80.7
$68.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$233
$465
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$8255
$18682

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs South Korea

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$992
9M
Shah Alam
$741
741K
Johor Bahru
$843
798K
George Town
$762
794K
Ipoh
$677
867K
Klang
$743
878K
Subang Jaya
$798
708K
Petaling Jaya
$783
639K
Kuantan
$576
608K
Sandakan
$583
396K
Kota Bharu
$531
491K
Seremban
$617
420K
Sungai Petani
$637
545K
Kota Kinabalu
$718
452K
Chukai
$621
256K
Muar
$759
357K
Teluk Intan
$678
233K
Malacca
$707
455K
Kuching
$698
325K
Miri
$688
235K
Kluang
$717
205K
Lahad Datu
$620
200K
Alor Setar
$545
217K
Taiping
$555
245K
Putrajaya
$610
109K
Kuala Terengganu
$550
255K
Sibu
$614
248K
Batu Pahat
$737
140K
Butterworth
$720
80.4K
Bintulu
$588
114K

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1296
9.67M
Busan
$1084
3.45M
Incheon
$1032
3.05M
Daegu
$992
2.38M
Gwangju
$957
1.41M
Daejeon
$905
1.48M
Suwon
$985
1.23M
Ulsan
$957
1.13M
Goyang
$1052
1.06M
Yongin
$1061
1.08M
Cheongju
$865
848K
Seongnam
$1455
919K
Hwaseong
$1045
1M
Changwon
$1013
1.01M
Namyangju
$1094
732K
Gimhae
$1014
534K
Jeju
$1020
698K
Pyeongtaek
$1048
607K
Pohang
$989
504K
Jeju Island
$1037
666K
Cheonan
$1128
657K
Bucheon
$1090
772K
Uijeongbu
$868
463K
Siheung
$1313
514K
Paju
$1010
498K
Ansan
$1001
623K
Gwangju
$1179
397K
Jeonju
$771
342K
Gunsan
$964
275K
Sejong
$971
392K