Cost of living comparison
Alabama is 2.8 times more expensive than Malaysia.
If you lived in Alabama instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 4.6 times more for restaurants
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.36
RM11.16
|
$16.44
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.63
RM17.19
|
$8.87
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.63
RM3.00
|
$2.09
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
RM1.62
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for groceries
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.85
RM4.01
|
$2.95
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.41
RM30.36
|
$5.25
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.71
RM27.04
|
$3.66
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.40
RM6.65
|
$3.75
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.88
RM8.90
|
$5.04
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.99
RM4.67
|
$2.42
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.52
RM2.45
|
$0.66
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.04
RM4.91
|
$2.02
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
RM2.60
|
$1.68
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.35
RM1.65
|
$1.26
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.48
RM2.30
|
$1.23
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for transportation
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.79
RM8.47
|
$3.17
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$18.01
RM85.32
|
$70.00
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,228.03
RM162,155.29
|
$24,359.72
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.07
RM24.01
|
$16.48
|
|
pay 3.2 times more for housing
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.77
RM126.80
|
$62.65
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$326.71
RM1,547.81
|
$980.09
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$217.05
RM1,028.27
|
$719.33
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$34.40
RM162.98
|
$142.47
|
|
pay 4.1 times more for childcare
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$144.81
RM686.03
|
$886.04
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,108.87
RM28,940.75
|
$12,933.33
|
|
pay 81.1% more for entertainment and sports
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.43
RM16.23
|
$4.55
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.46
RM11.67
|
$4.63
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.06
RM19.22
|
$6.93
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.59
RM154.40
|
$32.01
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.62
RM17.16
|
$11.42
|
|
pay 39.4% more for clothing
Malaysia
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.09
RM223.08
|
$40.87
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$24.30
RM115.12
|
$32.78
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$62.25
RM294.89
|
$83.92
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$56.25
RM266.47
|
$113.04
|
|
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