Malaysia vs Taiwan - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Taiwan
🚶 Cost of living one person
$688
$1101
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1617
$2873
🏠 One person rent
$313
$447
🏘️ Family rent
$503
$769
🍽️ Food expenses
$263
$428
🚐 Transport expenses
$41.4
$108
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$908
$1626
💸 GDP per capita
$11379
$24828
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
8.61
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
79.1
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
67
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
30%
🎓 Higher education
79
89
😀 Quality of life
61
79
🏙️ Population
32.4M
23.4M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($688) is 38% less expensive than in Taiwan ($1101). Malaysia ranked 149th vs 81st for Taiwan 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 1.5 months in Taiwan. Ranked 59th and 33rd best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs Taiwan infographic

Share this infographic!

Prices in Malaysia vs Taiwan

We calculate prices for Malaysia and Taiwan as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 17 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 Taiwan
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.19
$5.35
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.1
$33.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.3
$5.7
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.96
$2.31
 Cappuccino
$2.67
$3.22
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.74
$1.12
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$348
$475
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$231
$339
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$644
$1232
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$412
$867
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$30.1
$56.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$46.4
$86.9
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.1
$24
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.1%
2.11%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1658
$9285
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1002
$5419
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.76
$0.8
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$16.5
$35.2
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.83
$10.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.06
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$3.43
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1
$1.91
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.34
$3.01
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.08
$2.87
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$17
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.3
$8.81
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.66
$19.1
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.94
$4.89
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.48
$2.48
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.87
$2.73
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$3.84
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$2.61
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$2.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.36
$0.81
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.12
$1.93
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18.2
$13.9
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.78
$1.77
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.12
$4.59
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.85
$11.7
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.62
$7.65
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.46
$2.02
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.65
$2.78
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$34.4
$40.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.31
$11.2
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.8
$43.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.77
$15.1
👖 Brand Jeans
$60
$77.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.7
$93.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$178
$519
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6251
$16473

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs Taiwan

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$871
1.98M
George Town
$680
794K
Shah Alam
$685
741K
Johor Bahru
$792
798K
Petaling Jaya
$729
639K
Ipoh
$655
867K
Subang Jaya
$795
708K
Klang
$707
878K
Kuantan
$556
608K
Sandakan
$526
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$691
452K
Teluk Intan
$651
233K
Seremban
$633
420K
Kuching
$609
325K
Miri
$566
235K
Sungai Petani
$623
545K
Chukai
$597
256K
Alor Setar
$517
217K
Muar
$764
315K
Malacca
$691
455K
Kluang
$779
205K
Kota Bharu
$529
491K
Lahad Datu
$559
200K
Putrajaya
$588
109K
Taiping
$552
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$538
255K
Sibu
$576
248K
Langkawi
$569
85.6K
Batu Pahat
$782
140K
Cyberjaya
$612
49.3K

In Taiwan

City Cost of living Population
New Taipei
$1235
4.04M
Taichung
$1025
3.03M
Taipei
$1353
2.6M
Kaohsiung
$1060
2.73M
Tainan
$935
1.87M
Taoyuan
$995
2.33M
Hsinchu
$1000
499K
Keelung
$1082
367K
Zhubei
$942
218K
Chiayi
$961
252K
Changhua
$940
225K
Kinmen
$940
144K
Miaoli
$739
86.2K
Douliu
$932
109K
Nantou
$927
97.3K
Yilan
$845
95K
Taitung
$893
103K