Cost of living overseas vs Australia: how much cheaper are Thailand, Malaysia and Poland?

Thailand recorded the lowest household consumption price level among the three countries in 2021, at 30.3 per cent of Australia's, compared with 31.7 per cent in Malaysia and 38.1 per cent in Poland, according to the World Bank International Comparison Program (ICP)¹.

At 2021 exchange rates, household goods and services costing A$100 in Australia cost the equivalent of about A$30 in Thailand, A$32 in Malaysia and A$38 in Poland¹. This is an example based on the ICP price levels for household consumption.

Household consumption includes what households buy, as well as health, education and other services provided by governments and non-profit organisations².

Australia recorded the eighth-highest household consumption price level among the 176 economies covered by the ICP in 2021, at 177.4, compared with a world average of 100¹. Among the seven countries compared, the United States recorded 159.1, New Zealand 156.1 and the United Kingdom 153.0.

In 2017, Thailand's household consumption price level was also 30.3 per cent of Australia's, compared with 31.9 per cent in Malaysia and 38.6 per cent in Poland, according to the revised 2017 ICP results¹.

Malaysia recorded the lowest food and non-alcoholic drinks price level among the three countries in 2021, at 55.5 per cent of Australia's, compared with 57.2 per cent in Poland and 57.3 per cent in Thailand¹.

Transport prices ranged from 46.1 per cent of Australia's in Malaysia to 75.6 per cent in Poland, with Thailand at 50.3 per cent¹.

For transport services, excluding the cost of buying and running vehicles, prices were equivalent to 23.1 per cent of Australia's in Malaysia, 23.5 per cent in Thailand and 43.4 per cent in Poland¹.

The World Bank does not publish separate 2021 price figures for household electricity. Household power is counted in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category¹.

Restaurant and hotel prices were equivalent to 16.2 per cent of Australia's in Malaysia, compared with 22.2 per cent in Thailand and 52.3 per cent in Poland¹.

Clothing and footwear prices in Poland were equivalent to 102.5 per cent of Australia's¹.

Based on annual average exchange rates, the Australian dollar bought 16.5 per cent fewer Polish zloty, 11.8 per cent fewer Thai baht and 11.3 per cent fewer Malaysian ringgit in 2025 than in 2021, according to World Bank exchange-rate data⁵.

One Australian dollar bought 24.02 baht in 2021, compared with 21.19 baht in 2025⁵. Over the same period, it fell from 3.112 to 2.761 ringgit and from 2.901 to 2.423 zloty.

A$1 bought 17.7 per cent fewer baht, 5.9 per cent fewer ringgit and 14.4 per cent fewer zloty in 2025 than in 2015⁵.

Poland's price level for household purchases, which excludes government-funded services, rose from 43.8 per cent of Australia's in 2021 to an estimated 58.1 per cent in 2025, calculated from World Bank data⁶.

From 2021 to 2025, consumer prices rose 37.5 per cent in Poland and 19.5 per cent in Australia⁷.

Thailand's price level for household purchases rose from 32.4 per cent of Australia's in 2021 to an estimated 34.2 per cent in 2025, while Malaysia's rose from 33.2 per cent to an estimated 35.4 per cent⁶.

These annual figures measure household purchases and exclude services provided by governments and non-profit organisations. This is why Poland's 2021 figure of 43.8 per cent differs from the earlier comparison of 38.1 per cent, which includes those services⁶. Values after 2021 are estimates rather than direct international price comparisons⁸.

From 1990 to 2025, Thailand's price level for household purchases ranged from 24.5 per cent of Australia's in 2012 to 45.8 per cent in 1993, while Poland's ranged from 25.3 per cent in 1990 to 68.8 per cent in 2001⁶.