Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malaysia Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Malaysia

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 13.9% cheaper than Malaysia without rent, and 6.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 8.6% cheaper than Malaysia without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$3.49 MYR 14.72
-18.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$23.21 MYR 97.9
3.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$4.73 MYR 19.96
4.86%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$2.71 MYR 11.43
15.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.79 MYR 3.33
-44.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.43 MYR 1.81
-32.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$3.6 MYR 15.19
-73.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$4.65 MYR 19.61
-53.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.85 MYR 7.81
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$1.01 MYR 4.26
66.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$1.4 MYR 5.88
-32.14%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.07 MYR 8.74
-25.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$13.84 MYR 58.4
-4.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$3.96 MYR 16.7
-17.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$8.38 MYR 35.34
29.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.9 MYR 12.23
-38.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.42 MYR 6
-11.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.58 MYR 10.88
-41.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.53 MYR 6.45
-22.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.09 MYR 4.59
-31.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.19 MYR 5.03
-27.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.09 MYR 4.59
-44.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.54 MYR 2.29
7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$4.28 MYR 18.06
-19.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$18.12 MYR 76.4
-37.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$2.81 MYR 11.83
-70.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$3.67 MYR 15.47
-54.22%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.68 MYR 2.85
-41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$11.97 MYR 50.5
74.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$1.16 MYR 4.9
17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.75 MYR 3.16
-53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$4.9 MYR 20.67
38.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.49 MYR 2.08
128.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$39.3K MYR 165.8K
-51.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$31K MYR 130.8K
-46.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$51.1 MYR 215
0.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$10.1 MYR 42.57
-3.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$26.48 MYR 112
-57.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$35.9 MYR 151
10.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$6.63 MYR 27.98
124.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$4.63 MYR 19.52
34.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$180 MYR 758
131.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$6,794 MYR 28.6K
160.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$61.2 MYR 258
-25.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$33.88 MYR 143
-1.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$75.1 MYR 317
-4.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$65.5 MYR 276
11.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$401 MYR 1,691
11.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$266 MYR 1,122
-4.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$715 MYR 3,017
27.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$456 MYR 1,922
19.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$2,049 MYR 8,640
199.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,222 MYR 5,154
134.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$895 MYR 3,775
5.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
4.2
-3.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Malaysia: October 29, 2025

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