Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaysia and United States

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in Malaysia:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 118.1% higher than in Malaysia (without rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 168.1% higher than in Malaysia
Rent Prices in United States are 396.5% higher than in Malaysia
Restaurant Prices in United States are 212.7% higher than in Malaysia
Groceries Prices in United States are 91.5% higher than in Malaysia
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 77.9% higher than in Malaysia

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	15.00 RM (3.37 $)	88.90 RM (20.00 $)	+492.7 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	100.00 RM (22.50 $)	333.38 RM (75.00 $)	+233.4 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	18.00 RM (4.05 $)	48.90 RM (11.00 $)	+171.6 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	15.00 RM (3.37 $)	26.67 RM (6.00 $)	+77.8 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	20.00 RM (4.50 $)	31.12 RM (7.00 $)	+55.6 %
Cappuccino (regular)	11.75 RM (2.64 $)	23.21 RM (5.22 $)	+97.4 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.21 RM (0.72 $)	11.34 RM (2.55 $)	+253.4 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.78 RM (0.40 $)	9.23 RM (2.08 $)	+418.7 %
Markets	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	28.69 RM (6.45 $)	17.75 RM (3.99 $)	-38.1 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.62 RM (0.81 $)	14.62 RM (3.29 $)	+303.8 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.59 RM (0.58 $)	9.25 RM (2.08 $)	+257.2 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	8.57 RM (1.93 $)	18.19 RM (4.09 $)	+112.3 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	26.71 RM (6.01 $)	26.04 RM (5.86 $)	-2.5 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.68 RM (1.73 $)	24.45 RM (5.50 $)	+218.3 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	16.03 RM (3.61 $)	32.67 RM (7.35 $)	+103.8 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.41 RM (1.22 $)	10.62 RM (2.39 $)	+96.2 %
Banana (1 lb)	2.79 RM (0.63 $)	3.38 RM (0.76 $)	+21.1 %
Oranges (1 lb)	5.00 RM (1.12 $)	9.03 RM (2.03 $)	+80.8 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.86 RM (0.64 $)	9.88 RM (2.22 $)	+245.0 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.04 RM (0.46 $)	5.90 RM (1.33 $)	+189.1 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.29 RM (0.52 $)	6.19 RM (1.39 $)	+170.5 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.39 RM (0.99 $)	9.78 RM (2.20 $)	+122.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.39 RM (0.54 $)	9.88 RM (2.22 $)	+312.5 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	75.00 RM (16.87 $)	66.67 RM (15.00 $)	-11.1 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	11.98 RM (2.70 $)	8.61 RM (1.94 $)	-28.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.35 RM (3.45 $)	15.91 RM (3.58 $)	+3.6 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	18.00 RM (4.05 $)	44.45 RM (10.00 $)	+146.9 %
Transportation	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 RM (0.67 $)	11.11 RM (2.50 $)	+270.4 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	50.00 RM (11.25 $)	288.93 RM (65.00 $)	+477.9 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.00 RM (1.12 $)	16.67 RM (3.75 $)	+233.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	6.04 RM (1.36 $)	12.45 RM (2.80 $)	+106.2 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	20.00 RM (4.50 $)	133.35 RM (30.00 $)	+566.8 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	7.77 RM (1.75 $)	15.63 RM (3.52 $)	+101.1 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	167,500.00 RM (37,682.79 $)	133,350.00 RM (30,000.00 $)	-20.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	132,967.95 RM (29,914.05 $)	115,317.10 RM (25,943.11 $)	-13.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	212.02 RM (47.70 $)	923.91 RM (207.85 $)	+335.8 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	44.29 RM (9.96 $)	253.62 RM (57.06 $)	+472.6 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	113.59 RM (25.55 $)	317.07 RM (71.33 $)	+179.1 %
Sports And Leisure	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	155.64 RM (35.02 $)	207.02 RM (46.57 $)	+33.0 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	28.00 RM (6.30 $)	97.49 RM (21.93 $)	+248.2 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 RM (4.50 $)	62.23 RM (14.00 $)	+211.2 %
Childcare	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	763.00 RM (171.65 $)	6,107.57 RM (1,374.03 $)	+700.5 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	30,772.31 RM (6,922.90 $)	100,906.72 RM (22,701.17 $)	+227.9 %
Clothing And Shoes	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	252.63 RM (56.83 $)	230.91 RM (51.95 $)	-8.6 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	139.84 RM (31.46 $)	188.76 RM (42.47 $)	+35.0 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	318.57 RM (71.67 $)	396.89 RM (89.29 $)	+24.6 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	270.95 RM (60.96 $)	502.09 RM (112.96 $)	+85.3 %
Rent Per Month	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,628.70 RM (366.41 $)	7,734.40 RM (1,740.02 $)	+374.9 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,116.70 RM (251.23 $)	6,387.10 RM (1,436.92 $)	+472.0 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,921.94 RM (657.35 $)	12,909.10 RM (2,904.19 $)	+341.8 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,921.97 RM (432.39 $)	10,649.55 RM (2,395.85 $)	+454.1 %
Buy Apartment Price	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	832.50 RM (187.29 $)	1,334.31 RM (300.18 $)	+60.3 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	468.58 RM (105.42 $)	1,118.59 RM (251.65 $)	+138.7 %
Salaries And Financing	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,043.68 RM (909.72 $)	19,285.58 RM (4,338.71 $)	+376.9 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.19	6.57	+57.1 %
Last update:	March 2025	March 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	496	10070

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