Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$652
$1116
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1575
$3042
🏠 One person rent
$299
$466
🏘️ Family rent
$517
$1019
🍽️ Food expenses
$246
$454
🚐 Transport expenses
$40.3
$93.9
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$879
$2217
💸 GDP per capita
$11379
$33121
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
8.23
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
82.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
64
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
20%
🎓 Higher education
79
87
😀 Quality of life
60
84
🏙️ Population
32.4M
51.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($652) is 42% less expensive than in South Korea ($1116). Malaysia ranked 154th vs 64th 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 1.3 months in Malaysia compared to 2 months in South Korea. Ranked 58th and 23rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs South Korea infographic

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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
$3.08
$6.8
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.2
$35.8
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.09
$5.46
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.68
$3.21
 Cappuccino
$2.61
$3.5
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.7
$1.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$329
$484
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$223
$320
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$627
$1204
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$402
$767
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$28.2
$93.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$43.3
$145
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$26.5
$20.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.13%
4.52%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$10274
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$946
$6790
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.69
$1.02
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.9
$42
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.96
$8.77
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.47
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.69
$2.01
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.91
$2.89
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$2.8
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.97
$3.01
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.9
$11.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.06
$8.28
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.29
$26.5
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.62
$6.94
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$3.23
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$5.68
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$5.28
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1
$3.8
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.19
$2.78
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.72
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.03
$2.32
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$16.2
$16.7
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.46
$2.03
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.92
$3.12
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.64
$4.67
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.48
$5.24
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.38
$2.2
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.57
$2.07
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.2
$48.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.12
$9.93
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$20.3
$42.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.62
$7.71
👖 Brand Jeans
$56.2
$64.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$63.4
$78.9
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$179
$407
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6426
$18055

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
$810
1.98M
George Town
$620
794K
Shah Alam
$645
741K
Johor Bahru
$759
798K
Petaling Jaya
$701
639K
Ipoh
$628
867K
Klang
$670
878K
Subang Jaya
$714
708K
Kuantan
$529
608K
Malacca
$669
455K
Sandakan
$523
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$661
452K
Teluk Intan
$631
233K
Seremban
$604
420K
Kuching
$631
325K
Miri
$546
235K
Chukai
$565
256K
Alor Setar
$490
217K
Muar
$682
315K
Sungai Petani
$605
545K
Kluang
$679
205K
Taiping
$695
245K
Kota Bharu
$485
491K
Lahad Datu
$538
200K
Putrajaya
$532
109K
Sibu
$567
248K
Kuala Terengganu
$501
255K
Batu Pahat
$703
140K
Langkawi
$560
85.6K
Cyberjaya
$585
49.3K

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1334
9.67M
Busan
$1060
3.45M
Incheon
$1092
2.94M
Daegu
$995
2.38M
Suwon
$1022
1.23M
Daejeon
$992
1.48M
Gwangju
$1101
1.49M
Ulsan
$1059
1.13M
Cheongju
$936
852K
Seongnam
$1400
919K
Yongin
$1127
1.08M
Changwon
$1075
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1089
941K
Goyang
$1171
1.06M
Namyangju
$1129
732K
Gimhae
$959
534K
Siheung
$1283
520K
Jeju Island
$1080
678K
Bucheon
$1163
772K
Pyeongtaek
$984
590K
Cheonan
$1151
657K
Pohang
$988
504K
Uijeongbu
$955
463K
Ansan
$1070
623K
Paju
$1075
498K
Gwangju
$1165
397K
Jeju
$1037
492K
Hanam
$1161
330K
Sejong
$1019
386K
Gunsan
$1005
275K