Cost of living comparison
Malaysia is 6.8% more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.4% more in Malaysia
- Groceries
-
pay 22.2% more in Malaysia
- Transportation
-
pay 16.0% more in Malaysia
- Housing
-
pay 27.0% more in Malaysia
- Childcare
-
pay 64.1% less in Malaysia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 39.8% more in Malaysia
- Clothing
-
pay 7.0% less in Malaysia
The cost of entertainment and sports, housing, groceries, transportation, and restaurants in Malaysia are more expensive than in China. Expenses including childcare and clothing are lower in Malaysia.
If you lived in Malaysia instead of China, you would:
pay 13.4% more for restaurants
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.66
|
$2.98
MYR13.24
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥36.67
|
$4.23
MYR18.80
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.54
|
$0.68
MYR3.02
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.17
|
$0.38
MYR1.70
|
|
pay 22.2% more for groceries
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.52
|
$0.91
MYR4.06
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥42.35
|
$7.65
MYR34.02
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥49.66
|
$6.39
MYR28.40
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.55
|
$1.97
MYR8.77
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.15
|
$1.83
MYR8.14
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.52
|
$1.17
MYR5.21
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.15
|
$0.57
MYR2.53
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.73
|
$1.21
MYR5.40
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.79
|
$0.63
MYR2.81
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.32
|
$0.43
MYR1.92
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.90
|
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
|
pay 16.0% more for transportation
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥32.17
|
$1.77
MYR7.87
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥162.65
|
$15.69
MYR69.75
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥138,053.11
|
$34,330.57
MYR152,650.90
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥28.77
|
$6.94
MYR30.85
|
|
pay 27.0% more for housing
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥84.66
|
$26.31
MYR117.01
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,376.69
|
$322.80
MYR1,435.34
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,489.58
|
$212.35
MYR944.21
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥292.87
|
$33.00
MYR146.73
|
|
pay 64.1% less for childcare
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,327.62
|
$163.68
MYR727.80
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥132,599.08
|
$6,626.64
MYR29,465.36
|
|
pay 39.8% more for entertainment and sports
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.89
|
$3.66
MYR16.26
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥22.20
|
$2.54
MYR11.29
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.40
|
$4.07
MYR18.08
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥299.74
|
$36.32
MYR161.50
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥42.89
|
$4.00
MYR17.78
|
|
pay 7.0% less for clothing
China
|
Malaysia
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥349.09
|
$53.15
MYR236.33
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥229.26
|
$30.13
MYR133.96
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥525.00
|
$65.18
MYR289.81
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥546.77
|
$57.93
MYR257.61
|
|
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