Cost of Living Comparison Between South Africa and Malaysia 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Malaysia is 3.1% lower than in South Africa (without rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Malaysia is 8.7% lower than in South Africa | |
| Rent Prices in Malaysia are 27.8% lower than in South Africa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Malaysia are 26.2% lower than in South Africa | |
| Groceries Prices in Malaysia are 33.4% higher than in South Africa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Malaysia is 21.3% lower than in South Africa | |
Restaurants | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
160.00 R (38.46 RM) |
62.40 R (15.00 RM) |
-61.0 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
700.00 R (168.28 RM) |
415.97 R (100.00 RM) |
-40.6 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
89.99 R (21.63 RM) |
79.03 R (19.00 RM) |
-12.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
40.00 R (9.62 RM) |
62.40 R (15.00 RM) |
+56.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
45.00 R (10.82 RM) |
83.19 R (20.00 RM) |
+84.9 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
35.56 R (8.55 RM) |
48.55 R (11.67 RM) |
+36.5 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
17.46 R (4.20 RM) |
13.41 R (3.22 RM) |
-23.2 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
13.58 R (3.27 RM) |
7.35 R (1.77 RM) |
-45.9 % |
Markets | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
73.61 R (17.70 RM) |
119.76 R (28.79 RM) |
+62.7 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
16.04 R (3.86 RM) |
15.17 R (3.65 RM) |
-5.4 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
12.74 R (3.06 RM) |
10.98 R (2.64 RM) |
-13.8 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
40.49 R (9.73 RM) |
35.77 R (8.60 RM) |
-11.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
61.62 R (14.81 RM) |
111.11 R (26.71 RM) |
+80.3 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
36.99 R (8.89 RM) |
32.25 R (7.75 RM) |
-12.8 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
54.36 R (13.07 RM) |
66.81 R (16.06 RM) |
+22.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
12.35 R (2.97 RM) |
22.58 R (5.43 RM) |
+82.8 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
11.54 R (2.77 RM) |
11.69 R (2.81 RM) |
+1.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
11.98 R (2.88 RM) |
20.85 R (5.01 RM) |
+74.0 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
12.28 R (2.95 RM) |
11.99 R (2.88 RM) |
-2.4 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
9.90 R (2.38 RM) |
8.54 R (2.05 RM) |
-13.7 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
10.52 R (2.53 RM) |
9.72 R (2.34 RM) |
-7.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
18.60 R (4.47 RM) |
18.40 R (4.42 RM) |
-1.1 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
16.93 R (4.07 RM) |
9.93 R (2.39 RM) |
-41.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
85.00 R (20.43 RM) |
311.98 R (75.00 RM) |
+267.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
23.97 R (5.76 RM) |
49.81 R (11.97 RM) |
+107.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
30.70 R (7.38 RM) |
65.12 R (15.65 RM) |
+112.1 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
52.00 R (12.50 RM) |
74.87 R (18.00 RM) |
+44.0 % |
Transportation | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
30.00 R (7.21 RM) |
12.48 R (3.00 RM) |
-58.4 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
800.00 R (192.32 RM) |
207.98 R (50.00 RM) |
-74.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
20.00 R (4.81 RM) |
20.80 R (5.00 RM) |
+4.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
32.19 R (7.74 RM) |
26.78 R (6.44 RM) |
-16.8 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
85.00 R (20.43 RM) |
91.51 R (22.00 RM) |
+7.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
86.78 R (20.86 RM) |
32.32 R (7.77 RM) |
-62.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
370,000.00 R (88,949.13 RM) |
696,746.58 R (167,500.00 RM) |
+88.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
419,697.49 R (100,896.56 RM) |
554,866.73 R (133,391.65 RM) |
+32.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
2,005.78 R (482.20 RM) |
880.60 R (211.70 RM) |
-56.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
564.47 R (135.70 RM) |
184.44 R (44.34 RM) |
-67.3 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
735.09 R (176.72 RM) |
473.54 R (113.84 RM) |
-35.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
561.62 R (135.01 RM) |
644.99 R (155.06 RM) |
+14.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
180.96 R (43.50 RM) |
119.37 R (28.70 RM) |
-34.0 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
120.00 R (28.85 RM) |
83.19 R (20.00 RM) |
-30.7 % |
Childcare | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
3,428.30 R (824.17 RM) |
3,155.06 R (758.48 RM) |
-8.0 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
81,293.82 R (19,543.28 RM) |
124,275.42 R (29,876.19 RM) |
+52.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
871.92 R (209.61 RM) |
1,057.78 R (254.29 RM) |
+21.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
551.94 R (132.69 RM) |
594.99 R (143.04 RM) |
+7.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,635.55 R (393.19 RM) |
1,335.22 R (320.99 RM) |
-18.4 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
1,412.01 R (339.45 RM) |
1,149.82 R (276.42 RM) |
-18.6 % |
Rent Per Month | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
8,058.38 R (1,937.26 RM) |
6,748.02 R (1,622.24 RM) |
-16.3 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
6,554.79 R (1,575.79 RM) |
4,652.23 R (1,118.41 RM) |
-29.0 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
16,175.35 R (3,888.60 RM) |
12,006.60 R (2,886.42 RM) |
-25.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
12,769.83 R (3,069.91 RM) |
8,029.61 R (1,930.34 RM) |
-37.1 % |
Buy Apartment Price | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,691.76 R (406.70 RM) |
3,423.83 R (823.10 RM) |
+102.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,278.79 R (307.43 RM) |
1,947.16 R (468.10 RM) |
+52.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | South Africa Edit |
Malaysia Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
23,480.03 R (5,644.67 RM) |
16,872.33 R (4,056.16 RM) |
-28.1 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 11.56 | 4.17 | -63.9 % |
| Last update: | April 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 663 | 508 |
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