Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$1139
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$3162
🏠 One person rent
$313
$478
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$1088
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$463
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$101
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$2364
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$33121
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
8.12
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
82.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
63
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
20%
🎓 Higher education
79
87
😀 Quality of life
60
85
🏙️ Population
32.4M
51.5M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 40% less expensive than in South Korea ($1139). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 67th 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 58th and 22nd 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
$3.05
$6.98
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$34.6
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$5.9
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$3.27
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$3.63
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$1.53
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$328
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$1283
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$827
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$97.5
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$150
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$19.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
4.19%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$10513
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$7053
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$1.1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$45.5
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$9.17
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.24
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$2.14
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$2.92
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$2.82
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$3.24
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$12.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$8.02
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$25.1
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$7.3
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$3.62
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$5.97
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$5.27
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$3.43
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$2.82
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.79
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$2.56
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$17
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$2.22
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$3.38
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$5
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$5.39
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$2.39
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$2.16
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$50.5
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$10.8
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$27.9
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$8.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$64
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$80.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$392
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$21622

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
$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 Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1461
9.67M
Busan
$1122
3.45M
Incheon
$1067
2.94M
Daegu
$1114
2.38M
Daejeon
$975
1.48M
Suwon
$970
1.23M
Gwangju
$1178
1.49M
Ulsan
$1099
1.13M
Cheongju
$997
852K
Seongnam
$1127
919K
Yongin
$1142
971K
Changwon
$1083
1.01M
Hwaseong
$1049
941K
Goyang
$1008
1.06M
Namyangju
$1084
732K
Bucheon
$1068
781K
Gimhae
$901
534K
Siheung
$1087
520K
Jeju Island
$1165
678K
Pyeongtaek
$1053
590K
Cheonan
$1222
652K
Pohang
$1000
504K
Ansan
$990
653K
Uijeongbu
$936
463K
Anyang
$1025
548K
Paju
$1020
498K
Jeju
$1157
492K
Sejong
$1043
386K
Hanam
$1074
330K
Gunsan
$1007
275K