Malaysia vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$582
$790
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1414
$2327
🏠 One person rent
$262
$352
🏘️ Family rent
$465
$908
🍽️ Food expenses
$222
$249
🚐 Transport expenses
$36.6
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$796
$608
💸 GDP per capita
$11993
$6910
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
74.9
78.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
35
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
79
78
😀 Quality of life
60
58
🏙️ Population
32.4M
66.2M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($582) is 26% less expensive than in Thailand ($790). Malaysia ranked 159th vs 114th 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 1.4 months in Malaysia compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 59th and 66th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs Thailand infographic

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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
$2.62
$2.43
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.4
$22.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$3.68
$5.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.34
$2.11
 Cappuccino
$2.43
$2.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.69
$0.58
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$276
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$192
$230
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$573
$1228
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$354
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$27.6
$51.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$42.5
$80.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$25.1
$15.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
5.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1609
$4099
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$927
$2095
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.64
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$15.4
$31.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$5.92
$9.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.43
$1.11
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.47
$1.65
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.79
$1.49
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.06
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.8
$2.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11
$17.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.87
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.23
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.17
$2.76
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.17
$1.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.52
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.23
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.75
$1.44
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$1.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.34
$0.3
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$0.9
$1.22
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.6
$17.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.22
$1.67
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.63
$4.02
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.42
$2.26
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.13
$3.82
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.28
$1.6
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.35
$1.76
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$31.8
$49
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$3.59
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$18
$28.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.34
$7.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$51
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$61.3
$88.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$142
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$5077
$11420

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs Thailand

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In Malaysia

City Cost of living Population
Kuala Lumpur
$743
1.98M
Shah Alam
$582
741K
Ipoh
$550
867K
Petaling Jaya
$645
639K
George Town
$566
708K
Kuantan
$482
608K
Subang Jaya
$644
708K
Johor Bahru
$623
798K
Klang
$553
878K
Malacca
$602
455K
Sandakan
$465
396K
Chukai
$512
256K
Kota Kinabalu
$574
452K
Teluk Intan
$565
233K
Seremban
$545
420K
Muar
$611
357K
Sungai Petani
$544
545K
Miri
$492
235K
Kuching
$537
325K
Taiping
$638
245K
Kota Bharu
$455
491K
Lahad Datu
$470
200K
Kluang
$610
170K
Kuala Terengganu
$465
255K
Alor Setar
$453
217K
Batu Pahat
$609
140K
Langkawi
$496
85.6K
Butterworth
$578
108K
Bintulu
$479
114K
Sibu
$495
248K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$902
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$659
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$704
256K
Pak Kret
$677
185K
Nakhon Pathom
$481
78.8K
Surat Thani
$554
131K
Klaeng
$619
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$647
133K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$518
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$642
106K
Udon Thani
$500
130K
Hat Yai
$520
159K
Rangsit
$594
79.3K
Pattaya
$665
116K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$714
76.7K
Tha Khlong
$617
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$615
86.4K
Lat Luang
$716
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$532
116K
Phuket
$870
77.6K
Ko Samui
$642
69K
Laem Chabang
$648
77.8K
Hua Hin
$614
59.4K
Nong Prue
$653
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$534
79K
Phitsanulok
$496
70.9K
Chiang Rai
$462
70.6K
Krabi
$739
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$697
33.4K
Ao Nang
$653
14K