Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$694
$1134
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1625
$2805
🏠 One person rent
$319
$487
🏘️ Family rent
$511
$821
🍽️ Food expenses
$262
$443
🚐 Transport expenses
$41.5
$97.9
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$804
$1998
💸 GDP per capita
$11867
$33121
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
8.23
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
83.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
64
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
20%
🎓 Higher education
78
87
😀 Quality of life
63
85
🏙️ Population
35.6M
51.8M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($694) is 39% less expensive than in South Korea ($1134). Malaysia ranked 149th vs 74th 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 1.2 months in Malaysia compared to 1.8 months in South Korea. Ranked 61st and 24th 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

Share this infographic!

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
$3.21
$6.71
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.3
$35.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.3
$5.72
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.97
$3.29
 Cappuccino
$2.69
$3.56
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.73
$1.52
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$359
$483
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$237
$336
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$630
$1135
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$412
$721
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$29.8
$101
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$45.8
$154
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.9
$20.6
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.24%
4.18%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1684
$10906
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1051
$6575
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.76
$1.03
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$16.7
$44.6
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.77
$9.04
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$2.06
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.99
$2.83
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.3
$2.6
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.06
$3.1
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.6
$12.6
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.29
$7.76
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.88
$22.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$6.94
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.5
$3.14
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$5.93
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$5.15
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$3.67
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$2.63
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.37
$0.75
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.08
$2.23
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18.4
$15.5
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.81
$1.88
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.13
$3.11
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$4.39
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$4.78
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.47
$2.51
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.65
$1.68
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.8
$48.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.33
$9.93
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.1
$54.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.79
$9.46
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.6
$60.7
👟 Brand Sneakers
$69.7
$71.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$178
$351
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6210
$15508

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
$866
1.98M
Ipoh
$657
867K
Johor Bahru
$789
798K
Klang
$704
878K
George Town
$754
794K
Subang Jaya
$789
708K
Shah Alam
$681
741K
Petaling Jaya
$731
639K
Kuantan
$552
608K
Kota Bharu
$517
491K
Sandakan
$518
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$687
452K
Seremban
$643
420K
Sungai Petani
$653
545K
Alor Setar
$509
217K
Muar
$771
315K
Kuching
$642
325K
Teluk Intan
$654
233K
Malacca
$689
455K
Chukai
$598
256K
Miri
$658
235K
Kluang
$771
205K
Lahad Datu
$556
200K
Taiping
$552
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$534
255K
Sibu
$592
248K
Batu Pahat
$788
140K
Putrajaya
$584
109K
Tawau
$578
114K
Butterworth
$701
80.4K

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1383
9.67M
Busan
$1108
3.45M
Incheon
$1088
2.94M
Daegu
$1062
2.38M
Gwangju
$1081
1.49M
Suwon
$1066
1.23M
Daejeon
$959
1.48M
Ulsan
$1076
1.13M
Seongnam
$1435
919K
Yongin
$1120
1.08M
Cheongju
$924
852K
Hwaseong
$1098
941K
Changwon
$1084
1.01M
Namyangju
$1138
732K
Gimhae
$975
534K
Siheung
$1307
520K
Pyeongtaek
$1141
590K
Pohang
$1024
504K
Goyang
$1097
1.06M
Cheonan
$1153
657K
Bucheon
$1175
772K
Jeju Island
$1100
678K
Uijeongbu
$918
463K
Ansan
$1049
623K
Jeju
$1069
492K
Gwangju
$1196
397K
Paju
$1065
498K
Gunsan
$1020
275K
Hanam
$1178
330K
Sejong
$1020
386K