Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne and Malaysia
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.
-
Melbourne Living Index137Cost of Living Index in MelbourneLearn more -
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Melbourne is 110.5% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 213.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Melbourne is 122.3% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 213.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 A$25.40
$3.68 MYR 15.03
382.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8 A$121
$19.24 MYR 78.5
340.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.16 A$17.40
$4.82 MYR 19.69
152.28%
Cappuccino
$3.93 A$5.62
$2.87 MYR 11.70
36.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 A$4.49
$0.81 MYR 3.30
287.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 A$3.47
$0.41 MYR 1.67
492.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.90 A$14.17
$3.75 MYR 15.32
164.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.29 A$11.86
$4.76 MYR 19.45
74.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 A$2.21
$1.90 MYR 7.74
-18.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.01 A$4.31
$1.06 MYR 4.32
183.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 A$4.12
$1.48 MYR 6.05
94.59%
Eggs
$5.44 A$7.79
$2.16 MYR 8.83
151.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.59 A$15.16
$13.27 MYR 54.2
-20.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.61 A$13.76
$4.07 MYR 16.60
136.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.99 A$21.46
$8.71 MYR 35.56
72.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 A$5.94
$3.04 MYR 12.40
36.51%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 A$4.37
$1.66 MYR 6.80
83.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 A$4.72
$2.59 MYR 10.59
27.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 A$6.81
$1.58 MYR 6.46
201.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.04 A$4.34
$1.22 MYR 4.99
149.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 A$3.65
$1.28 MYR 5.23
99.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 A$3.55
$1.17 MYR 4.77
111.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.33
$0.56 MYR 2.27
191.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.07 A$63.1
$4.51 MYR 18.41
877.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.43 A$17.79
$19.23 MYR 78.5
-35.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.33 A$7.63
$2.97 MYR 12.13
79.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.38
$4.04 MYR 16.51
27.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.84 A$5.50
$0.72 MYR 2.94
433.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$142 A$203
$12.43 MYR 50.8
1038.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.40 A$6.29
$1.19 MYR 4.86
269.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 A$2.01
$0.95 MYR 3.88
47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.83 A$42.69
$6.10 MYR 24.92
389.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 A$2.09
$0.66 MYR 2.69
121.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K A$40.3K
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
-31.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K A$37.1K
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
-24.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 A$333
$55.4 MYR 226
320.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28 A$39.04
$10.14 MYR 41.40
169.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0 A$81.6
$27.39 MYR 112
108.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 A$75.4
$37.46 MYR 153
40.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.62 A$32.37
$7.20 MYR 29.39
214.17%
Cinema Ticket
$17.10 A$24.48
$5.01 MYR 20.44
241.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,373 A$3,397
$191 MYR 778
1145.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K A$43.6K
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
270.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.2 A$112
$63.2 MYR 258
23.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 A$72.2
$33.41 MYR 136
51.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$172
$80.0 MYR 327
50.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 A$191
$71.9 MYR 294
85.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 A$2,451
$401 MYR 1,636
327.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 A$2,006
$272 MYR 1,112
414.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,339 A$4,778
$705 MYR 2,880
373.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,529 A$3,619
$467 MYR 1,909
440.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,018 A$10.0K
$2,042 MYR 8,337
243.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,767 A$9,685
$1,181 MYR 4,822
473.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,228 A$6,051
$917 MYR 3,745
360.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
4.23
39.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Melbourne: October 6, 2026
Last update for Malaysia: October 4, 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
Melbourne $1.4K 49.3%
Malaysia $272 29.9% 80.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne $385 13.5%
Malaysia $253 27.8% 34.4% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne $317 11.1%
Malaysia $93 10.2% 70.7% $224
Eating Out
Melbourne $314 11%
Malaysia $111 12.3% 64.5% $202
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne $172 6.1%
Malaysia $112 12.3% 35% $60
Getting Around
Melbourne $168 5.9%
Malaysia $21 2.3% 87.4% $147
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne $87 3.1%
Malaysia $47 5.2% 45.4% $39
Accommodation & Living
Melbourne $2.5K 44.3%
Malaysia $467 25.5% 81.5% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
Melbourne $875 15.3%
Malaysia $559 30.5% 36.1% $316
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne $344 6%
Malaysia $103 5.6% 70.1% $241
Eating Out
Melbourne $1K 18.3%
Malaysia $312 17% 70.2% $733
Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne $382 6.7%
Malaysia $249 13.5% 35% $134
Getting Around
Melbourne $344 6%
Malaysia $44 2.4% 87.2% $300
Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne $196 3.4%
Malaysia $102 5.6% 48% $94
Good to know
🇦🇺 Melbourne
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Weather
Population
5,031,195
32,447,385
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Melbourne Malaysia 6,370 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
- Melbourne
- Malaysia
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
Melbourne vs other spots: cost of living compared
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,854
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Munich
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,650
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Melbourne
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,852
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Similar cities
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
139
Cost of Living Index in Dubai
Learn more
Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
144
Cost of Living Index in Hong Kong
Learn more
Munich
🇩🇪 Germany
131
Cost of Living Index in Munich
Learn more
Houston, TX
🇺🇸 United States
132
Cost of Living Index in Houston, TX
Learn more
Dallas, TX
🇺🇸 United States
141
Cost of Living Index in Dallas, TX
Learn more
Las Vegas, NV
🇺🇸 United States
140
Cost of Living Index in Las Vegas, NV
Learn more
Phoenix, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
143
Cost of Living Index in Phoenix, AZ
Learn more
Limassol
🇨🇾 Cyprus
131
Cost of Living Index in Limassol
Learn more