Malaysia vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$824
$1114
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1956
$2777
🏠 One person rent
$386
$477
🏘️ Family rent
$637
$804
🍽️ Food expenses
$292
$437
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.6
$94.8
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$917
$2268
💸 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 ($824) is 26% less expensive than in South Korea ($1114). Malaysia ranked 128th vs 80th 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
$3.69
$6.72
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$22.3
$36.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.83
$5.73
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.5
$3.31
 Cappuccino
$3.1
$3.51
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.83
$1.48
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$415
$495
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$274
$325
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$726
$1123
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$470
$705
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$34
$98.9
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$53.1
$153
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.1
$19.8
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.32%
4.17%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1946
$11512
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1201
$6605
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.87
$1.03
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$43.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.84
$8.65
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.57
$1.15
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.04
$2
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.09
$2.71
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.47
$2.62
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.37
$2.96
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$14.4
$13.9
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.81
$7.68
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.41
$20
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$6.24
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.72
$3.17
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$5.72
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$5.38
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$3.24
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.52
$2.31
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.42
$0.76
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.15
$2.19
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.3
$15.5
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.05
$1.9
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.47
$3.07
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.08
$4.3
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.89
$4.54
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.68
$2.44
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.92
$1.64
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.8
$47.6
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.78
$9.68
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.9
$53.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.68
$9.42
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$57.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$79.9
$72.6
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$203
$404
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$7160
$17691

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
$981
9M
Ipoh
$696
867K
Klang
$762
878K
George Town
$792
794K
Subang Jaya
$831
708K
Johor Bahru
$838
798K
Shah Alam
$750
741K
Petaling Jaya
$813
639K
Kuantan
$588
608K
Kota Bharu
$551
491K
Sandakan
$562
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$734
452K
Seremban
$678
420K
Kluang
$770
324K
Sungai Petani
$663
545K
Alor Setar
$564
217K
Chukai
$640
256K
Teluk Intan
$701
233K
Muar
$788
315K
Malacca
$736
455K
Kuching
$709
325K
Miri
$711
235K
Lahad Datu
$600
200K
Taiping
$572
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$572
255K
Sibu
$627
248K
Batu Pahat
$780
140K
Putrajaya
$627
109K
Tawau
$621
114K
Butterworth
$740
80.4K

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1363
9.67M
Busan
$1114
3.45M
Incheon
$1057
3.05M
Daegu
$1043
2.38M
Gwangju
$1062
1.41M
Daejeon
$922
1.48M
Ulsan
$1020
1.13M
Suwon
$1030
1.23M
Seongnam
$1425
919K
Yongin
$1102
1.08M
Cheongju
$903
848K
Hwaseong
$1076
1M
Changwon
$1032
1.01M
Namyangju
$1120
732K
Goyang
$1092
1.06M
Gimhae
$946
534K
Jeju
$1064
698K
Siheung
$1292
514K
Pyeongtaek
$1095
607K
Pohang
$1030
504K
Cheonan
$1121
657K
Bucheon
$1167
772K
Uijeongbu
$913
463K
Jeju Island
$1079
666K
Paju
$1049
498K
Ansan
$1044
623K
Gwangju
$1179
397K
Hanam
$1162
330K
Gunsan
$1002
275K
Sejong
$986
392K