RM3500 Salary Doesn’t Guarantee a Comfortable Life

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12, 2026: Malaysia’s target of achieving a median monthly salary of RM3,500 by 2030 should not be used as the sole measure of whether citizens are enjoying a decent quality of life, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said.

He said the real value of income depends on several factors, including location, household size, housing costs, transportation expenses and other financial commitments. While RM3,500 may be sufficient for a single individual in a smaller town, it may not adequately support a family with several children living in Kuala Lumpur.

RM3500 Salary

To address this, the government is also focusing on the Decent Living Expenditure (PAKW) measure, which considers the actual cost of maintaining a reasonable standard of living based on household circumstances and location.

Akmal said median salary remains an important indicator of labour market progress, but does not reflect differences in living costs across households. He stressed that wage growth, worker compensation and PAKW should be assessed together to ensure Malaysians enjoy meaningful improvements in living standards.

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Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, median salary, RM3,500, cost of living, PAKW, Economy Ministry