Cost of living comparison
United States is 3.2 times more expensive than Malaysia.
If you lived in United States instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 4.7 times more for restaurants
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.36
RM11.27
|
$18.15
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.63
RM17.36
|
$9.28
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.63
RM3.03
|
$2.24
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.34
RM1.64
|
$1.77
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for groceries
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.85
RM4.05
|
$3.17
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.41
RM30.65
|
$5.93
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.71
RM27.31
|
$3.83
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.40
RM6.71
|
$4.01
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.88
RM8.99
|
$5.32
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.99
RM4.72
|
$2.19
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.52
RM2.47
|
$0.76
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.04
RM4.95
|
$1.93
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
RM2.62
|
$2.05
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.35
RM1.66
|
$1.29
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.48
RM2.32
|
$1.27
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for transportation
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.79
RM8.56
|
$3.72
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$18.01
RM86.16
|
$63.08
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,228.03
RM163,746.89
|
$25,096.27
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.07
RM24.25
|
$16.64
|
|
pay 4.3 times more for housing
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.77
RM128.05
|
$70.73
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$326.71
RM1,563.00
|
$1,528.07
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$217.05
RM1,038.37
|
$1,282.97
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$34.40
RM164.58
|
$138.81
|
|
pay 5.2 times more for childcare
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$144.81
RM692.77
|
$1,137.97
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,108.87
RM29,224.82
|
$15,943.15
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.43
RM16.39
|
$5.19
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.46
RM11.78
|
$4.51
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.06
RM19.41
|
$8.57
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.59
RM155.92
|
$42.79
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.62
RM17.33
|
$12.04
|
|
pay 42.5% more for clothing
Malaysia
|
United States
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.09
RM225.27
|
$45.40
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$24.30
RM116.25
|
$36.73
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$62.25
RM297.78
|
$79.51
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$56.25
RM269.08
|
$109.59
|
|
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