Malaysia vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$876
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$2537
🏠 One person rent
$313
$377
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$922
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$286
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$119
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$696
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$7172
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
79.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
35
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
79
78
😀 Quality of life
60
56
🏙️ Population
32.4M
66.2M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 22% less expensive than in Thailand ($876). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 106th 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 58th 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
$3.05
$3.4
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$27.9
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$6.35
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$2.82
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$2.54
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$0.66
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$503
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$256
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$1332
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$694
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$55.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$84.8
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$16.1
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
5.85%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$4556
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$2354
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$1.05
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$36.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$11.7
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.23
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$1.91
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$1.63
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$1.5
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$2.36
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$20.5
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$3.26
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$10.8
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$3.09
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$1.53
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$2.16
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$2.01
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$1.64
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$1.37
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$1.28
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$19
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$1.85
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$4.33
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$2.52
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$4.39
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$1.82
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$1.99
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$52.5
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$6.87
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$35.5
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$7.88
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$54.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$94.8
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$554
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$13110

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
$892
1.98M
Shah Alam
$687
741K
George Town
$669
794K
Ipoh
$670
867K
Johor Bahru
$709
798K
Petaling Jaya
$738
639K
Subang Jaya
$732
708K
Kuantan
$518
608K
Klang
$729
878K
Malacca
$699
455K
Sandakan
$548
396K
Chukai
$579
256K
Kota Kinabalu
$673
452K
Teluk Intan
$673
233K
Seremban
$630
420K
Miri
$574
235K
Alor Setar
$523
217K
Muar
$752
315K
Kluang
$745
205K
Sungai Petani
$637
545K
Kuching
$629
325K
Taiping
$759
245K
Kota Bharu
$517
491K
Lahad Datu
$564
200K
Putrajaya
$571
109K
Sibu
$586
248K
Kuala Terengganu
$544
255K
Batu Pahat
$750
140K
Langkawi
$594
85.6K
Cyberjaya
$617
49.3K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$994
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$742
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$759
256K
Pak Kret
$739
185K
Surat Thani
$635
131K
Nakhon Pathom
$564
78.8K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$795
106K
Klaeng
$703
130K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$564
134K
Hat Yai
$561
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$758
133K
Udon Thani
$555
130K
Rangsit
$613
79.3K
Phuket
$985
77.6K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$786
76.7K
Ko Samui
$745
69K
Pattaya
$800
120K
Tha Khlong
$664
72.8K
Lat Luang
$787
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$608
116K
Nakhon Sawan
$674
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$769
77.8K
Hua Hin
$676
59.4K
Nong Prue
$773
70.6K
Krabi
$807
30.5K
Phitsanulok
$559
70.9K
Ko Lanta
$799
33.4K
Ubon Ratchathani
$561
79K
Chiang Rai
$513
70.6K
Ao Nang
$822
14K