An influencer from Aceh, Indonesia, Syakya Meirizal, highlighted the stark differences in living costs between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly when it comes to fuel prices.
“In Malaysia, RON95 petrol is sold at RM1.99 per litre, while in Indonesia, people can only afford RON90 at around RM2.50 per litre. RON92 costs RM3.20 and RON98 goes for RM3.50. Clearly, petrol is much more expensive in Indonesia,” he said in a TikTok post recently.
Syakya also pointed out that vehicle taxes are significantly higher in Indonesia. “In Malaysia, owners of motorcycles 150cc and below pay only about RM2 per year. In Indonesia, owners of 125cc or 150cc motorcycles must pay between RM70 and RM100. Car taxes show the same trend — for a 1,500cc vehicle, Indonesians pay over RM1,000, while in Malaysia it’s around RM200.”
He added that higher wages and a stronger economy in Malaysia contribute to a better standard of living. “Malaysian workers earn more, and infrastructure such as roads is far better — smooth and well-maintained even in rural areas. In Indonesia, many village roads remain damaged or full of potholes, creating additional burdens for residents.”
Syakya concluded by urging Indonesians to recognize the differences and Malaysians to appreciate the government’s efforts. “This shows that Malaysians are fortunate to have a government that truly cares about the wellbeing of its people,” he said.
