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Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malaysia Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Malaysia

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 110.1% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 213.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 113.9% more expensive than Malaysia without rent, and 197.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$3.64 MYR 14.77
455.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 $75.7
$23.91 MYR 97.1
216.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.47 $11.47
$4.62 MYR 18.77
148.27%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$2.83 MYR 11.47
81.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$0.76 MYR 3.08
243.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.40 MYR 1.60
435.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.57 MYR 14.49
72.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$4.80 MYR 19.48
47.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.80 MYR 7.30
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$0.95 MYR 3.85
293.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$1.35 MYR 5.47
238.52%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$2.01 MYR 8.16
108.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$13.98 MYR 56.8
-6.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.18 $12.18
$4.13 MYR 16.77
194.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.14 $16.14
$8.74 MYR 35.48
84.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.86 MYR 11.62
85.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.43 MYR 5.82
20.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.54 MYR 10.30
80.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$1.51 MYR 6.13
228.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.08 MYR 4.39
177.78%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.23 MYR 5.00
147.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.09 MYR 4.41
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.55 MYR 2.23
298.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$4.11 MYR 16.70
147.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$18.93 MYR 76.9
-19.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.90 MYR 11.79
-31.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.65 MYR 14.81
1.64%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Malaysia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.72 MYR 2.93
244.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$11.99 MYR 48.67
432.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.16 MYR 4.72
218.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.70 MYR 2.84
151.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.06 $30.06
$5.07 MYR 20.59
492.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$0.46 MYR 1.86
108.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$40.3K MYR 163.7K
-25.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$31.7K MYR 128.6K
-16.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$51.6 MYR 209
301.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.0 $57.0
$10.11 MYR 41.06
464.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$26.53 MYR 108
169.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.91 $45.91
$35.97 MYR 146
27.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$6.59 MYR 26.74
237.63%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$4.60 MYR 18.68
207.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,385 $1,385
$181 MYR 737
663.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K $22.2K
$6,965 MYR 28.3K
218.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$60.2 MYR 244
-13.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 $42.53
$34.03 MYR 138
24.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$75.5 MYR 307
19.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$64.5 MYR 262
77.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Malaysia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 $1,743
$403 MYR 1,635
332.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$267 MYR 1,084
432.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,821 $2,821
$722 MYR 2,930
290.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,370 $2,370
$467 MYR 1,898
406.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,338 $3,338
$2,096 MYR 8,510
59.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,615 $2,615
$1,187 MYR 4,821
120.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Malaysia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,230 $4,230
$943 MYR 3,830
348.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
4.2
55.00%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for Malaysia: January 12, 2026

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