Cost of living comparison

 Malaysia
compared to
 Maldives
Maldives vs. Malaysia Cost of Living Summary

Maldives is 72.6% more expensive than Malaysia overall.

Restaurants
pay 66.8% more in Maldives
Groceries
pay 53.3% more in Maldives
Transportation
pay 77.6% more in Maldives
Housing
pay 3.2 times more in Maldives
Childcare
pay 23.2% less in Maldives
Entertainment and Sports
pay 68.5% more in Maldives
Clothing
pay 48.8% more in Maldives

The cost of housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in Maldives are more expensive than in Malaysia. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Maldives.

Maldives vs. Malaysia Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Maldives instead of Malaysia, you would:

pay 66.8% more for restaurants

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $2.98
MYR13.32
$5.50
MVR84.72
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.23
MYR18.91
$9.71
MVR149.51
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.68
MYR3.03
$1.21
MVR18.69

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pay 53.3% more for groceries

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Bread
1 loaf
$0.91
MYR4.08
$1.54
MVR23.67
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.65
MYR34.21
$5.65
MVR87.05
Milk (1 gallon) $6.39
MYR28.56
$6.78
MVR104.47

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pay 77.6% more for transportation

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Gasoline (1 gallon) $1.77
MYR7.92
$3.56
MVR54.78
Monthly public transit pass $15.69
MYR70.15
$22.65
MVR348.87
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $34,330.57
MYR153,509.17
$38,834.95
MVR598,058.25

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pay 3.2 times more for housing

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$26.31
MYR117.67
$65.94
MVR1,015.45
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $322.80
MYR1,443.41
$1,098.53
MVR16,917.30
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $212.35
MYR949.52
$829.29
MVR12,771.04

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pay 23.2% less for childcare

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $163.68
MYR731.89
$172.53
MVR2,657.00
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,626.64
MYR29,631.02
$3,198.06
MVR49,250.10

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pay 68.5% more for entertainment and sports

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.66
MYR16.36
$4.69
MVR72.27
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.54
MYR11.36
$3.24
MVR49.84
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.07
MYR18.18
$7.12
MVR109.64

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pay 48.8% more for clothing

 
Malaysia
Maldives
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$53.15
MYR237.65
$55.89
MVR860.71
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$30.13
MYR134.71
$58.79
MVR905.39
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$65.18
MYR291.44
$101.13
MVR1,557.44

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: January 2025
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