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 115.9% higher than in Malaysia (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 165.0% higher than in Malaysia
Rent Prices in United States are 389.1% higher than in Malaysia
Restaurant Prices in United States are 205.6% higher than in Malaysia
Groceries Prices in United States are 89.8% higher than in Malaysia
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 78.7% 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 (3.40 $)	88.15 RM (20.00 $)	+487.7 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	100.00 RM (22.69 $)	330.56 RM (75.00 $)	+230.6 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	20.00 RM (4.54 $)	48.48 RM (11.00 $)	+142.4 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	15.00 RM (3.40 $)	26.44 RM (6.00 $)	+76.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	20.00 RM (4.54 $)	30.85 RM (7.00 $)	+54.3 %
Cappuccino (regular)	11.66 RM (2.65 $)	23.02 RM (5.22 $)	+97.5 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.26 RM (0.74 $)	11.28 RM (2.56 $)	+246.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	1.77 RM (0.40 $)	9.19 RM (2.08 $)	+419.4 %
Markets	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	28.90 RM (6.56 $)	17.62 RM (4.00 $)	-39.0 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	3.67 RM (0.83 $)	14.49 RM (3.29 $)	+294.9 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	2.63 RM (0.60 $)	9.20 RM (2.09 $)	+249.7 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	8.71 RM (1.98 $)	18.58 RM (4.21 $)	+113.2 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	26.60 RM (6.03 $)	25.85 RM (5.86 $)	-2.8 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	7.79 RM (1.77 $)	24.29 RM (5.51 $)	+211.9 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	16.06 RM (3.64 $)	32.52 RM (7.38 $)	+102.5 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.41 RM (1.23 $)	10.55 RM (2.39 $)	+95.1 %
Banana (1 lb)	2.79 RM (0.63 $)	3.35 RM (0.76 $)	+19.9 %
Oranges (1 lb)	4.99 RM (1.13 $)	8.98 RM (2.04 $)	+79.9 %
Tomato (1 lb)	2.87 RM (0.65 $)	9.81 RM (2.23 $)	+242.4 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.07 RM (0.47 $)	5.85 RM (1.33 $)	+182.3 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.33 RM (0.53 $)	6.15 RM (1.40 $)	+164.5 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.42 RM (1.00 $)	9.71 RM (2.20 $)	+119.7 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	2.40 RM (0.54 $)	9.81 RM (2.23 $)	+309.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	75.00 RM (17.02 $)	66.11 RM (15.00 $)	-11.9 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	11.91 RM (2.70 $)	8.59 RM (1.95 $)	-27.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.65 RM (3.55 $)	15.83 RM (3.59 $)	+1.1 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	18.00 RM (4.08 $)	44.07 RM (10.00 $)	+144.9 %
Transportation	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 RM (0.68 $)	11.02 RM (2.50 $)	+267.3 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	50.00 RM (11.34 $)	286.49 RM (65.00 $)	+473.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	5.00 RM (1.13 $)	16.53 RM (3.75 $)	+230.6 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	6.44 RM (1.46 $)	12.34 RM (2.80 $)	+91.7 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	22.00 RM (4.99 $)	132.22 RM (30.00 $)	+501.0 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	7.77 RM (1.76 $)	15.46 RM (3.51 $)	+98.9 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	165,000.00 RM (37,436.19 $)	132,225.00 RM (30,000.00 $)	-19.9 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	132,893.27 RM (30,151.62 $)	114,439.67 RM (25,964.76 $)	-13.9 %
Utilities (Monthly)	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	212.59 RM (48.23 $)	917.44 RM (208.15 $)	+331.5 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	44.50 RM (10.10 $)	251.96 RM (57.17 $)	+466.2 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	113.64 RM (25.78 $)	314.94 RM (71.46 $)	+177.1 %
Sports And Leisure	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	155.15 RM (35.20 $)	204.70 RM (46.44 $)	+31.9 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	27.88 RM (6.33 $)	96.62 RM (21.92 $)	+246.5 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	20.00 RM (4.54 $)	62.54 RM (14.19 $)	+212.7 %
Childcare	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	758.48 RM (172.09 $)	6,071.04 RM (1,377.43 $)	+700.4 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	29,876.19 RM (6,778.49 $)	99,947.62 RM (22,676.72 $)	+234.5 %
Clothing And Shoes	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	254.21 RM (57.68 $)	229.38 RM (52.04 $)	-9.8 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	141.66 RM (32.14 $)	187.53 RM (42.55 $)	+32.4 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	320.78 RM (72.78 $)	395.10 RM (89.64 $)	+23.2 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	276.38 RM (62.71 $)	498.85 RM (113.18 $)	+80.5 %
Rent Per Month	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	1,643.61 RM (372.91 $)	7,666.92 RM (1,739.52 $)	+366.5 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,131.55 RM (256.73 $)	6,334.40 RM (1,437.19 $)	+459.8 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	2,924.43 RM (663.51 $)	12,781.40 RM (2,899.92 $)	+337.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	1,942.12 RM (440.64 $)	10,590.18 RM (2,402.76 $)	+445.3 %
Buy Apartment Price	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	817.02 RM (185.37 $)	1,326.81 RM (301.03 $)	+62.4 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	468.10 RM (106.21 $)	1,107.49 RM (251.28 $)	+136.6 %
Salaries And Financing	Malaysia Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	4,034.30 RM (915.33 $)	19,109.54 RM (4,335.69 $)	+373.7 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.17	6.51	+56.1 %
Last update:	April 2025	April 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	528	10649

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