Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Seoul and Malaysia
For one person, living is cheaper in Malaysia: $908 a month against $1,822 in Seoul, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Seoul Living Index87Cost of Living Index in SeoulLearn more -
Malaysia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in MalaysiaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Seoul is 71.3% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 100.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seoul is 86.4% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 111.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.10 ₩12.2K
$3.68 MYR 15.03
147.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.0 ₩89.8K
$19.24 MYR 78.5
248.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 ₩9,941
$4.82 MYR 19.69
53.94%
Cappuccino
$4.08 ₩5,470
$2.87 MYR 11.70
42.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₩2,141
$0.81 MYR 3.30
97.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₩1,078
$0.41 MYR 1.67
95.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 ₩4,886
$3.75 MYR 15.32
-2.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 ₩7,956
$4.76 MYR 19.45
24.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₩2,742
$1.90 MYR 7.74
7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 ₩4,130
$1.06 MYR 4.32
190.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.21 ₩5,646
$1.48 MYR 6.05
184.46%
Eggs
$3.57 ₩4,784
$2.16 MYR 8.83
65.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.95 ₩24.1K
$13.27 MYR 54.2
35.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.64 ₩14.3K
$4.07 MYR 16.60
161.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.44 ₩35.4K
$8.71 MYR 35.56
203.56%
Apples (1kg)
$7.42 ₩9,946
$3.04 MYR 12.40
144.08%
Banana (1kg)
$3.53 ₩4,732
$1.66 MYR 6.80
112.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.87 ₩7,866
$2.59 MYR 10.59
126.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.37 ₩8,534
$1.58 MYR 6.46
303.16%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 ₩5,028
$1.22 MYR 4.99
207.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 ₩3,337
$1.28 MYR 5.23
94.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.92 ₩3,911
$1.17 MYR 4.77
149.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₩1,542
$0.56 MYR 2.27
105.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 ₩4,408
$4.51 MYR 18.41
-27.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.49 ₩24.8K
$19.23 MYR 78.5
-3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₩3,057
$2.97 MYR 12.13
-23.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 ₩4,398
$4.04 MYR 16.51
-18.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,526
$0.72 MYR 2.94
58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.47 ₩60.9K
$12.43 MYR 50.8
265.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 ₩4,663
$1.19 MYR 4.86
192.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₩803
$0.95 MYR 3.88
-36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.70 ₩11.7K
$6.10 MYR 24.92
42.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₩2,004
$0.66 MYR 2.69
127.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K ₩39.0M
$41.1K MYR 167.7K
-29.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K ₩37.8M
$34.5K MYR 141.0K
-18.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 ₩279.9K
$55.4 MYR 226
277.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.13 ₩47.1K
$10.14 MYR 41.40
246.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.18 ₩28.4K
$27.39 MYR 112
-22.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.3 ₩76.8K
$37.46 MYR 153
53.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.89 ₩21.3K
$7.20 MYR 29.39
120.69%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 ₩15.2K
$5.01 MYR 20.44
126.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,902 ₩2.5M
$191 MYR 778
898.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.5K ₩30.2M
$8,217 MYR 33.5K
174.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 ₩78.9K
$63.2 MYR 258
-6.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.12 ₩43.0K
$33.41 MYR 136
-3.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.1 ₩94.0K
$80.0 MYR 327
-12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5 ₩110.5K
$71.9 MYR 294
14.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₩1.2M
$401 MYR 1,636
120.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$624 ₩835.5K
$272 MYR 1,112
128.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,494 ₩3.3M
$705 MYR 2,880
253.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 ₩1.7M
$467 MYR 1,909
172.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.8K ₩40.0M
$2,042 MYR 8,337
1361.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.8K ₩15.9M
$1,181 MYR 4,822
903.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seoul
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,649 ₩4.9M
$917 MYR 3,745
297.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
4.23
-3.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seoul: October 4, 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
Seoul $624 34.7%
Malaysia $272 29.9% 56.3% $351
Groceries & Markets
Seoul $479 26.7%
Malaysia $253 27.8% 47.2% $226
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul $265 14.8%
Malaysia $93 10.2% 65% $172
Eating Out
Seoul $184 10.2%
Malaysia $111 12.3% 39.3% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul $110 6.1%
Malaysia $112 12.3% 2% $2.2
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul $80 4.5%
Malaysia $47 5.2% 40.7% $33
Getting Around
Seoul $57 3.1%
Malaysia $21 2.3% 62.4% $35
Accommodation & Living
Seoul $1.3K 32.5%
Malaysia $467 25.5% 63.3% $807
Groceries & Markets
Seoul $1.1K 28.4%
Malaysia $559 30.5% 49.9% $557
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seoul $300 7.7%
Malaysia $103 5.6% 65.7% $197
Eating Out
Seoul $701 17.9%
Malaysia $312 17% 55.6% $390
Clothing & Footwear
Seoul $244 6.2%
Malaysia $249 13.5% 2% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Seoul $176 4.5%
Malaysia $102 5.6% 41.9% $74
Getting Around
Seoul $115 2.9%
Malaysia $44 2.4% 61.9% $71
Good to know
🇰🇷 Seoul
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Weather
Population
9,509,458 Capital
32,447,385
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Seoul Malaysia 4,610 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- Seoul
- 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
Seoul vs other spots: cost of living compared
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Tbilisi
🇬🇪 Georgia
$1,242
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Dubai
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,854
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Bangalore
🇮🇳 India
$535
/mo nomad
Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,822
/mo nomad
Taipei
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,395
/mo nomad
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