Malaysia vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$694
$855
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1625
$2208
🏠 One person rent
$319
$379
🏘️ Family rent
$511
$654
🍽️ Food expenses
$262
$271
🚐 Transport expenses
$41.5
$111
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$804
$662
💸 GDP per capita
$11867
$7345
😃 Human freedom index
7.06
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
76.7
76.4
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
34
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
78
78
😀 Quality of life
63
58
🏙️ Population
35.6M
71.7M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($694) is 19% less expensive than in Thailand ($855). Malaysia ranked 149th vs 120th 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 1.2 months in Malaysia compared to 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 61st and 71st 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

Share this infographic!

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
$3.21
$2.92
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$19.3
$28.4
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.3
$6.53
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.97
$2.53
 Cappuccino
$2.69
$2.37
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.73
$0.77
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$359
$527
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$237
$254
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$630
$1542
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$412
$672
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$29.8
$52.9
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$45.8
$81.2
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$27.9
$17.5
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.24%
5.69%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1684
$4569
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1051
$2392
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.76
$1.06
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$16.7
$31.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$6.77
$11.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.78
$1.85
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.99
$1.44
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.3
$1.37
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.06
$2.23
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.6
$15.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.29
$3.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.88
$10.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$3.24
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.5
$1.57
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.74
$2.11
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$1.76
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$1.55
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$1.36
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.37
$0.35
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.08
$1.29
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18.4
$17.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.81
$1.78
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.13
$4.32
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.84
$2.48
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$3.95
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.47
$1.79
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.65
$1.81
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$33.8
$53.7
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.33
$7.26
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.1
$33.3
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.79
$7.39
👖 Brand Jeans
$60.6
$52.6
👟 Brand Sneakers
$69.7
$98.4
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$178
$514
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6210
$13266

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
$866
1.98M
Ipoh
$657
867K
Johor Bahru
$789
798K
Klang
$704
878K
George Town
$754
794K
Subang Jaya
$789
708K
Shah Alam
$681
741K
Petaling Jaya
$731
639K
Kuantan
$552
608K
Kota Bharu
$517
491K
Sandakan
$518
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$687
452K
Seremban
$643
420K
Sungai Petani
$653
545K
Alor Setar
$509
217K
Muar
$771
315K
Kuching
$642
325K
Teluk Intan
$654
233K
Malacca
$689
455K
Chukai
$598
256K
Miri
$658
235K
Kluang
$771
205K
Lahad Datu
$556
200K
Taiping
$552
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$534
255K
Sibu
$592
248K
Batu Pahat
$788
140K
Putrajaya
$584
109K
Tawau
$578
114K
Butterworth
$701
80.4K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$958
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$727
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$737
256K
Surat Thani
$593
131K
Pak Kret
$736
185K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$588
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$810
106K
Udon Thani
$578
130K
Hat Yai
$592
159K
Phuket
$1014
77.6K
Klaeng
$718
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$770
133K
Khon Kaen
$590
116K
Rangsit
$635
79.3K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$774
76.7K
Nakhon Pathom
$623
78.8K
Pattaya
$812
120K
Lat Luang
$774
73.9K
Ko Samui
$741
69K
Tha Khlong
$675
72.8K
Phitsanulok
$558
70.9K
Hua Hin
$724
59.4K
Nakhon Sawan
$680
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$779
77.8K
Krabi
$854
30.5K
Nong Prue
$787
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$603
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$558
79K
Ko Lanta
$807
33.4K
Ao Nang
$773
14K