Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Malaysia and Melbourne
For one person, living is cheaper in Malaysia: $908 a month against $2,852 in Melbourne, rent and utilities included – about $23,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more -
Melbourne Living Index137Cost of Living Index in MelbourneLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Malaysia is 52.5% cheaper than Melbourne without rent, and 68.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Malaysia is 55% cheaper than Melbourne without rent, and 68.1% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.68 MYR 15.03
$17.75 A$25.40
-79.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.24 MYR 78.5
$84.8 A$121
-77.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.82 MYR 19.69
$12.16 A$17.40
-60.36%
Cappuccino
$2.87 MYR 11.70
$3.93 A$5.62
-26.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MYR 3.30
$3.14 A$4.49
-74.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MYR 1.67
$2.43 A$3.47
-83.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 MYR 15.32
$9.90 A$14.17
-62.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 MYR 19.45
$8.29 A$11.86
-42.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 MYR 7.74
$1.55 A$2.21
22.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 MYR 4.32
$3.01 A$4.31
-64.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MYR 6.05
$2.88 A$4.12
-48.61%
Eggs
$2.16 MYR 8.83
$5.44 A$7.79
-60.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 MYR 54.2
$10.59 A$15.16
25.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 MYR 16.60
$9.61 A$13.76
-57.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.71 MYR 35.56
$14.99 A$21.46
-41.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 MYR 12.40
$4.15 A$5.94
-26.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.80
$3.05 A$4.37
-45.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 MYR 10.59
$3.30 A$4.72
-21.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 MYR 6.46
$4.76 A$6.81
-66.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 MYR 4.99
$3.04 A$4.34
-59.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.23
$2.55 A$3.65
-49.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 MYR 4.77
$2.48 A$3.55
-52.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MYR 2.27
$1.63 A$2.33
-65.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 MYR 18.41
$44.07 A$63.1
-89.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.23 MYR 78.5
$12.43 A$17.79
54.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 MYR 12.13
$5.33 A$7.63
-44.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 MYR 16.51
$5.16 A$7.38
-21.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.94
$3.84 A$5.50
-81.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.43 MYR 50.8
$142 A$203
-91.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 MYR 4.86
$4.40 A$6.29
-72.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.95 MYR 3.88
$1.40 A$2.01
-32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 MYR 24.92
$29.83 A$42.69
-79.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 MYR 2.69
$1.46 A$2.09
-54.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
$28.1K A$40.3K
45.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
$25.9K A$37.1K
33.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 MYR 226
$233 A$333
-76.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.14 MYR 41.40
$27.28 A$39.04
-62.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.39 MYR 112
$57.0 A$81.6
-51.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.46 MYR 153
$52.7 A$75.4
-28.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 MYR 29.39
$22.62 A$32.37
-68.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.01 MYR 20.44
$17.10 A$24.48
-70.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$191 MYR 778
$2,373 A$3,397
-91.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
$30.5K A$43.6K
-73.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 MYR 258
$78.2 A$112
-19.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.41 MYR 136
$50.5 A$72.2
-33.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MYR 327
$121 A$172
-33.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 MYR 294
$133 A$191
-46.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 MYR 1,636
$1,713 A$2,451
-76.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 MYR 1,112
$1,402 A$2,006
-80.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$705 MYR 2,880
$3,339 A$4,778
-78.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,909
$2,529 A$3,619
-81.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,042 MYR 8,337
$7,018 A$10.0K
-70.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,181 MYR 4,822
$6,767 A$9,685
-82.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaysia
Melbourne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$917 MYR 3,745
$4,228 A$6,051
-78.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
5.9
-28.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaysia: October 4, 2026
Last update for Melbourne: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Malaysia $272 29.9%
Melbourne $1.4K 49.3% 415% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Malaysia $253 27.8%
Melbourne $385 13.5% 52.4% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia $112 12.3%
Melbourne $172 6.1% 53.9% $60
Eating Out
Malaysia $111 12.3%
Melbourne $314 11% 182% $202
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia $93 10.2%
Melbourne $317 11.1% 241% $224
Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia $47 5.2%
Melbourne $87 3.1% 83% $39
Getting Around
Malaysia $21 2.3%
Melbourne $168 5.9% 692% $147
Accommodation & Living
Malaysia $467 25.5%
Melbourne $2.5K 44.3% 441% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Malaysia $559 30.5%
Melbourne $875 15.3% 56.5% $316
Clothing & Footwear
Malaysia $249 13.5%
Melbourne $382 6.7% 53.9% $134
Eating Out
Malaysia $312 17%
Melbourne $1K 18.3% 235% $733
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaysia $103 5.6%
Melbourne $344 6% 234% $241
Sport & Entertainment
Malaysia $102 5.6%
Melbourne $196 3.4% 92.3% $94
Getting Around
Malaysia $44 2.4%
Melbourne $344 6% 684% $300
Good to know
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇦🇺 Melbourne
Weather
Population
32,447,385
5,031,195
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Malaysia Melbourne 6,370 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
- Malaysia
- Melbourne
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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