Cost of living comparison

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

Taiwan is 54.9% more expensive than Malaysia overall.

Restaurants
pay 38.5% more in Taiwan
Groceries
pay 65.2% more in Taiwan
Transportation
pay 69.1% more in Taiwan
Housing
pay 20.5% more in Taiwan
Childcare
pay 2.5 times more in Taiwan
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.5% more in Taiwan
Clothing
pay 22.2% more in Taiwan

The cost of childcare, transportation, groceries, restaurants, clothing, and housing in Taiwan are more expensive than in Malaysia. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Taiwan.

Taiwan vs. Malaysia Cost Breakdown

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

pay 38.5% more for restaurants

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $2.98
MYR12.81
$4.21
NT$127.25
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.23
MYR18.19
$4.80
NT$145.26
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.68
MYR2.92
$0.95
NT$28.68

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pay 65.2% more for groceries

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Bread
1 loaf
$0.91
MYR3.93
$1.76
NT$53.29
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.65
MYR32.91
$7.11
NT$215.18
Milk (1 gallon) $6.39
MYR27.48
$11.33
NT$342.75

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pay 69.1% more for transportation

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Gasoline (1 gallon) $1.77
MYR7.62
$3.59
NT$108.61
Monthly public transit pass $15.69
MYR67.48
$37.87
NT$1,145.79
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $34,330.57
MYR147,672.97
$33,524.98
NT$1,014,315.01

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pay 20.5% more for housing

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$26.31
MYR113.19
$18.76
NT$567.65
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $322.80
MYR1,388.53
$386.89
NT$11,705.66
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $212.35
MYR913.42
$269.95
NT$8,167.44

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pay 2.5 times more for childcare

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $163.68
MYR704.06
$472.11
NT$14,283.88
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,626.64
MYR28,504.49
$14,471.45
NT$437,840.89

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pay 15.5% more for entertainment and sports

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.66
MYR15.73
$1.82
NT$55.09
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.54
MYR10.92
$2.59
NT$78.37
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.07
MYR17.49
$4.00
NT$120.93

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pay 22.2% more for clothing

 
Malaysia
Taiwan
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$53.15
MYR228.62
$63.92
NT$1,934.04
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$30.13
MYR129.59
$28.11
NT$850.53
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$65.18
MYR280.36
$76.13
NT$2,303.32

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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: May 2025
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