Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

Malaysia United Arab Emirates
🚶 Cost of living one person
$687
$1904
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1664
$4462
🏠 One person rent
$313
$1238
🏘️ Family rent
$549
$2399
🍽️ Food expenses
$261
$406
🚐 Transport expenses
$42.6
$127
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$948
$3280
💸 GDP per capita
$11649
$52977
😃 Human freedom index
6.66
5.73
❤️ Life expectancy
76.3
79.2
👮 Corruption perceptions index
50
68
🌐 English speaking %
57.3%
65%
🎓 Higher education
79
68
😀 Quality of life
60
78
🏙️ Population
32.4M
9.89M

The average cost of living in Malaysia ($687) is 64% less expensive than in the United Arab Emirates ($1904). Malaysia ranked 142nd vs 19th for the United Arab Emirates 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 1.7 months in the United Arab Emirates. Ranked 58th and 30th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates infographic

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Prices in Malaysia vs the United Arab Emirates

We calculate prices for Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates as a population-weighted mean of 34 and 9 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 United Arab Emirates
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.05
$8.86
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$20.7
$58.1
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.27
$8.96
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$4.19
$10.8
 Cappuccino
$2.77
$5.46
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.72
$1.11
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$332
$1420
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$230
$943
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$658
$2605
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$421
$2024
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$33.8
$110
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$52.1
$170
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$28.7
$89
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
3.94%
4.56%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1805
$5331
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$1030
$3494
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.7
$1.71
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$17.4
$59.8
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$7.23
$9.6
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$0.5
$0.81
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.8
$1.77
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$0.95
$1.35
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.37
$1.93
🥚 Eggs, x12
$2.09
$2.86
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$13.8
$9.76
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$4.28
$8.14
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$8.3
$9.89
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.72
$2.16
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.4
$1.73
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$2.8
$1.7
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.53
$1.43
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$1.08
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.21
$1.21
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.38
$0.38
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.09
$2.2
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$18
$12.5
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$2.74
$2.26
🚬 Cigarette pack
$4.33
$6.07
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$3.87
$7.01
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$3.63
$5.21
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.43
$3.18
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.66
$3.55
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$36.5
$76.2
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$4.1
$13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$21.6
$77.6
💇 Haircut, simple
$6.06
$9.01
👖 Brand Jeans
$59.9
$54.9
👟 Brand Sneakers
$68.2
$94.5
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$174
$614
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$6583
$10203

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in Malaysia vs the United Arab Emirates

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 the United Arab Emirates

City Cost of living Population
Dubai
$2309
3.33M
Abu Dhabi
$1802
1.48M
Al Ain
$1050
767K
Sharjah
$1503
1.25M
Ajman
$2084
490K
Ras al-Khaimah
$1603
116K
Fujairah
$1232
119K
Umm al-Quwain
$1768
44.4K
Madinat Zayed
$1630
29.1K