Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Malaysia Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Malaysia

Name: Malaysia
Address: MY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $391 in Pakistan versus $852 in Malaysia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $590 in Pakistan versus $1,295 in Malaysia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $788 in Pakistan versus $1,737 in Malaysia.

Living in Pakistan costs about 54% less than in Malaysia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 71% lower, Malaysia 36% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Malaysia: monthly costs span $656 to $1,069, compared to $294–$532 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Malaysia.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 PKR 484

$3.44 MYR 14.06

-49.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.15 PKR 3,371

$23.55 MYR 96.3

-48.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.31 PKR 1,196

$4.79 MYR 19.56

-10.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PKR 479

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 PKR 1,123

Cappuccino

$1.80 PKR 500

$2.77 MYR 11.32

-35.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PKR 94.0

$0.73 MYR 2.99

-53.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.1

$0.39 MYR 1.60

-41.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 MYR 14.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 MYR 19.32

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 PKR 211

$1.82 MYR 7.45

-58.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 PKR 151

$0.94 MYR 3.85

-41.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 PKR 327

$1.39 MYR 5.69

-15.11%

Eggs

$1.16 PKR 321

$2.03 MYR 8.29

-42.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 PKR 1,620

$13.72 MYR 56.1

-57.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 PKR 806

$4.11 MYR 16.80

-29.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.15 PKR 1,151

$8.41 MYR 34.37

-50.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PKR 294

$2.75 MYR 11.23

-61.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PKR 170

$1.50 MYR 6.14

-59.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 PKR 222

$2.66 MYR 10.85

-69.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 137

$1.51 MYR 6.19

-67.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 PKR 107

$1.08 MYR 4.40

-63.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.19 MYR 4.88

-57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 PKR 107

$1.04 MYR 4.26

-63.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.54 MYR 2.19

-27.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.98 PKR 549

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PKR 295

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PKR 559

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$4.25 MYR 17.39

-53.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.17 MYR 78.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 MYR 11.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 MYR 14.79

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.85

$0.69 MYR 2.84

-75.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.96 PKR 1,932

$11.71 MYR 47.84

-40.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.17 MYR 4.78

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 PKR 157

$0.75 MYR 3.07

-24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PKR 504

$4.98 MYR 20.35

-63.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$0.46 MYR 1.88

108.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.5K PKR 4.8M

$40.7K MYR 166.5K

-57.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K PKR 6.6M

$31.8K MYR 130.0K

-25.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$110 PKR 30.4K

$50.8 MYR 208

115.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.74 PKR 1,315

$10.17 MYR 41.57

-53.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.16 PKR 4,208

$26.54 MYR 108

-42.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.16 PKR 3,654

$36.11 MYR 148

-63.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.95 PKR 2,483

$6.60 MYR 26.98

35.61%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 PKR 1,145

$4.63 MYR 18.90

-11.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$39.53 PKR 11.0K

$183 MYR 747

-78.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,143 PKR 317.3K

$6,901 MYR 28.2K

-83.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.62 PKR 4,335

$60.0 MYR 245

-73.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.22 PKR 6,444

$32.80 MYR 134

-29.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 PKR 20.1K

$75.5 MYR 309

-4.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.81 PKR 9,106

$65.9 MYR 269

-50.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PKR 30.7K

$401 MYR 1,638

-72.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.8 PKR 18.8K

$276 MYR 1,128

-75.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 PKR 76.1K

$732 MYR 2,992

-62.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 PKR 45.3K

$469 MYR 1,918

-65.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$984 PKR 273.1K

$2,004 MYR 8,192

-50.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$502 PKR 139.2K

$1,139 MYR 4,657

-55.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$186 PKR 51.7K

$916 MYR 3,744

-79.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.97

4.2

351.67%

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

Last update for Pakistan: July 25, 2026

Last update for Malaysia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $78.0 in Pakistan, $366 in Malaysia. Capital cities: $197 in Islamabad vs $579 in Kuala Lumpur.

National salary averages: $181 in Pakistan, $899 in Malaysia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 369% higher in Malaysia.

Dining out costs 73% more in Malaysia.

Public transport is 86% more expensive in Malaysia.

Salaries are 397% higher in Malaysia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Malaysia.

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

Pakistan vs Malaysia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $863 per month in Malaysia and $413 in Pakistan, there's a 109% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in Malaysia is consistently higher than in Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Malaysia it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Pakistan wins on affordability; Malaysia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.