Malaysia vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$818
$882
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1932
$2288
🏠 One person rent
$385
$390
🏘️ Family rent
$618
$673
🍽️ Food expenses
$288
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$65.3
$107
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$919
$620
💸 GDP per capita
$11874
$7347
😃 Human freedom index
7.11
6.79
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
52
33
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
78
78
😀 Quality of life
68
57
🏙️ Population
35.6M
71.7M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($818) is 7% less expensive than in Thailand ($882). Malaysia ranked 127th vs 117th for Thailand 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 0.7 months in Thailand. Ranked 55th and 77th 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 Thailand

We calculate prices for Malaysia and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 35 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 Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.74
$3.11
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$23.3
$32.2
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.73
$6.93
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.35
$2.72
 Cappuccino
$3.06
$2.58
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.77
$0.67
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$474
$519
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$288
$264
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$830
$1698
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$483
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.5
$55
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52
$84.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.1
$18.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.27%
5.55%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2250
$4955
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1191
$2717
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.81
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.2
$34.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$8.29
$10.3
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.64
$1.34
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.03
$1.91
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.12
$1.54
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.33
$2.46
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.7
$17.1
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.94
$3.41
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.24
$12.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$3.49
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.78
$1.56
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.65
$2.23
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.54
$2.06
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.34
$1.65
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.51
$1.41
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.39
$0.36
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.14
$1.25
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.2
$16
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.98
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.36
$4.47
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4
$2.18
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.8
$3.92
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.64
$1.74
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.94
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$40.8
$57.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.8
$7.23
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$24.6
$33
💇 Haircut, simple
$7.71
$7.36
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$63.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$80.7
$95.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$233
$559
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$8255
$15039

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs Thailand

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Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$992
9M
Shah Alam
$741
741K
Johor Bahru
$843
798K
George Town
$762
794K
Ipoh
$677
867K
Klang
$743
878K
Subang Jaya
$798
708K
Petaling Jaya
$783
639K
Kuantan
$576
608K
Sandakan
$583
396K
Kota Bharu
$531
491K
Seremban
$617
420K
Sungai Petani
$637
545K
Kota Kinabalu
$718
452K
Chukai
$621
256K
Muar
$759
357K
Teluk Intan
$678
233K
Malacca
$707
455K
Kuching
$698
325K
Miri
$688
235K
Kluang
$717
205K
Lahad Datu
$620
200K
Alor Setar
$545
217K
Taiping
$555
245K
Putrajaya
$610
109K
Kuala Terengganu
$550
255K
Sibu
$614
248K
Batu Pahat
$737
140K
Butterworth
$720
80.4K
Bintulu
$588
114K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$996
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$750
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$761
256K
Pak Kret
$762
190K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$586
134K
Udon Thani
$564
130K
Surat Thani
$582
131K
Hat Yai
$588
159K
Klaeng
$724
130K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Chaophraya Surasak
$784
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$788
106K
Pattaya
$839
120K
Rangsit
$616
79.3K
Nakhon Pathom
$603
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$671
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$789
76.7K
Lat Luang
$794
73.9K
Chiang Rai
$581
70.6K
Nakhon Sawan
$707
86.4K
Ko Samui
$735
69K
Phuket
$1010
77.6K
Laem Chabang
$799
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$554
70.9K
Nong Prue
$809
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$543
79K
Hua Hin
$787
59.4K
Krabi
$836
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$806
33.4K
Ao Nang
$784
14K