Compare countries · Malaysia vs Singapore
Malaysia vs Singapore
Malaysia(Asia)·
Singapore(Asia)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Malaysia leads on 3, Singapore on 8, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Malaysia cheaper than Singapore?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Malaysia at 34.0 and Singapore at 87.7. Malaysia is about 61% cheaper overall.
Is Malaysia or Singapore safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Malaysia scores 1.51 and Singapore scores 1.44. Singapore ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Malaysia or Singapore?
On the UN Human Development Index, Malaysia scores 0.819 and Singapore scores 0.946. Singapore scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Malaysia compared to Singapore?
GNI per capita runs $12,380 in Malaysia against $81,760 in Singapore; people live 76.8 years on average against 83.3; Numbeo users rate healthcare 71 against 72. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Malaysia
34.0
Better than 71% of countries
Singapore
87.7
Worse than 97% of countries
Malaysia: 61% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Malaysia
9.2
Better than 78% of countries
Singapore
73.1
Worse than 99% of countries
Malaysia: 87% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Malaysia
1.51
Better than 93% of countries
Singapore
1.44
Better than 96% of countries
Singapore: more peaceful (1.44 vs 1.51).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Malaysia
52.0
Worse than 59% of countries
Singapore
77.5
Better than 94% of countries
Singapore: higher perceived safety (77.5 vs 52.0).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Malaysia
0.819
Better than 65% of countries
Singapore
0.946
Better than 93% of countries
Singapore: higher human development (0.946 vs 0.819).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Malaysia
$41,498
Better than 70% of countries
Singapore
$163,354
Better than 99% of countries
Singapore: 294% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Malaysia
76.8 yrs
Better than 64% of countries
Singapore
83.3 yrs
Better than 93% of countries
Singapore: 6.5 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Malaysia
70.7
Better than 69% of countries
Singapore
71.9
Better than 74% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Malaysia
166 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
Singapore
421 Mbps
Better than 99% of countries
Singapore: 153% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Malaysia
53/100
Around the global middle
Singapore
45/100
Worse than 69% of countries
Malaysia: freer press (53 vs 45 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Malaysia
6.00
Around the global middle
Singapore
6.58
Better than 76% of countries
Singapore: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.58 vs 6.00).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Malaysia
581
Better than 75% of countries
Singapore
700
Better than 94% of countries
Singapore: stronger English proficiency (700 vs 581).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Malaysia
58.1
Worse than 90% of countries
Singapore
57.5
Worse than 91% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between Malaysia and Singapore for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Malaysia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.