Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$582
$1118
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1414
$3093
🏠 One person rent
$262
$471
🏘️ Family rent
$465
$1095
🍽️ Food expenses
$222
$454
🚐 Transport expenses
$36.6
$98.5
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$796
$2392
💸 GDP per capita
$11993
$32423
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
8.12
❤️ Life expectancy
74.9
83.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
63
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
20%
🎓 Higher education
79
87
😀 Quality of life
60
87
🏙️ Population
32.4M
51.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($582) is 48% less expensive than in South Korea ($1118). Malaysia ranked 159th vs 62nd 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 1.4 months in Malaysia compared to 2.1 months in South Korea. Ranked 59th and 20th 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
$2.62
$6.47
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.4
$35
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$3.68
$5.62
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.34
$3.31
 Cappuccino
$2.43
$3.63
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.69
$1.46
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$276
$466
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$192
$323
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$573
$1256
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$354
$839
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$27.6
$99.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$42.5
$153
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$25.1
$20.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
4.46%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$10104
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$927
$6925
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.64
$1.06
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.4
$44.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.92
$9.06
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.43
$1.24
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.47
$2.07
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.79
$2.86
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.06
$3.19
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.8
$3.26
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11
$11.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.87
$8.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.23
$31.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$6.08
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$3.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$5.58
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$5.12
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.75
$3.6
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$2.97
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$0.68
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$0.9
$2.53
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.6
$15.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$2.1
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.63
$3.35
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.42
$4.94
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$5.38
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.28
$2.37
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.35
$2.13
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$31.8
$51.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$3.59
$9.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$18
$28.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.34
$8.02
👖 Brand Jeans
$51
$62.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.3
$78
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$142
$385
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$5077
$17694

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
$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 South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1444
9.67M
Busan
$1029
3.45M
Incheon
$1020
2.94M
Daegu
$1113
2.44M
Daejeon
$924
1.48M
Gwangju
$1147
1.49M
Suwon
$987
1.23M
Ulsan
$1078
1.15M
Seongnam
$1121
949K
Changwon
$1073
1.05M
Cheongju
$903
849K
Yongin
$1256
971K
Jeju Island
$1056
678K
Goyang
$1144
1.06M
Hwaseong
$1088
904K
Namyangju
$1106
713K
Bucheon
$1152
793K
Gimhae
$907
534K
Jeju
$1003
435K
Cheonan
$940
652K
Ansan
$1127
653K
Siheung
$1081
425K
Uijeongbu
$986
463K
Anyang
$1097
548K
Gunsan
$975
275K
Pohang
$989
504K
Masan
$1006
430K
Jeonju
$787
653K
Pyeongtaek
$924
458K
Paju
$1072
415K