Malaysia vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

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Livingcost

Malaysia Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$824
$914
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1956
$2348
🏠 One person rent
$386
$414
🏘️ Family rent
$637
$715
🍽️ Food expenses
$292
$288
🚐 Transport expenses
$67.6
$112
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$917
$561
💸 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
56
🏙️ Population
35.6M
71.7M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($824) is 10% less expensive than in Thailand ($914). Malaysia ranked 128th vs 110th 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 0.6 months in Thailand. Ranked 55th and 78th 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
$3.69
$3.07
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$22.3
$30.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.83
$6.83
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.5
$2.86
 Cappuccino
$3.1
$2.62
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.83
$0.78
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$415
$553
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$274
$283
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$726
$1776
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$470
$717
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$34
$58.7
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$53.1
$90.6
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.1
$20.2
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.32%
5.72%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1946
$4946
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1201
$2732
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.87
$1.09
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$35.7
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.84
$11.2
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.57
$1.25
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$2.04
$1.92
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.09
$1.67
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.47
$1.43
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.37
$2.48
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$14.4
$16.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.81
$3.37
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$9.41
$11.3
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.13
$3.45
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.72
$1.72
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.81
$2.19
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.58
$1.99
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.31
$1.68
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.52
$1.42
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.42
$0.39
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.15
$1.31
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$19.3
$16.8
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$3.05
$1.88
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.47
$4.64
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.08
$2.56
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.89
$4.07
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.68
$1.8
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.92
$1.87
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.8
$62.4
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.78
$7.78
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$22.9
$34
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.68
$7.35
👖 Brand Jeans
$62.6
$58
👟 Brand Sneakers
$79.9
$102
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$203
$590
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$7160
$15181

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
$981
9M
Ipoh
$696
867K
Klang
$762
878K
George Town
$792
794K
Subang Jaya
$831
708K
Johor Bahru
$838
798K
Shah Alam
$750
741K
Petaling Jaya
$813
639K
Kuantan
$588
608K
Kota Bharu
$551
491K
Sandakan
$562
396K
Kota Kinabalu
$734
452K
Seremban
$678
420K
Kluang
$770
324K
Sungai Petani
$663
545K
Alor Setar
$564
217K
Chukai
$640
256K
Teluk Intan
$701
233K
Muar
$788
315K
Malacca
$736
455K
Kuching
$709
325K
Miri
$711
235K
Lahad Datu
$600
200K
Taiping
$572
245K
Kuala Terengganu
$572
255K
Sibu
$627
248K
Batu Pahat
$780
140K
Putrajaya
$627
109K
Tawau
$621
114K
Butterworth
$740
80.4K

In Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$1027
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$780
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$789
256K
Pak Kret
$788
190K
Surat Thani
$612
131K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$610
134K
Udon Thani
$581
130K
Hat Yai
$622
159K
Chaophraya Surasak
$823
133K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$834
106K
Khon Kaen
$621
116K
Klaeng
$768
130K
Phuket
$1059
77.6K
Rangsit
$656
79.3K
Pattaya
$874
120K
Lat Luang
$833
73.9K
Nakhon Pathom
$658
78.8K
Tha Khlong
$710
72.8K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$829
76.7K
Ko Samui
$782
69K
Nakhon Sawan
$730
86.4K
Laem Chabang
$838
77.8K
Phitsanulok
$585
70.9K
Hua Hin
$784
59.4K
Krabi
$891
30.5K
Nong Prue
$846
70.6K
Chiang Rai
$626
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$583
79K
Ko Lanta
$846
33.4K
Ao Nang
$808
14K