We all know the feeling , you work hard all month, look at your payslip, and wonder, “How is this even enough?”
In Malaysia, the minimum wage has gone up to RM1,700 in 2025. But for many, especially in cities like KL or Johor Bahru, it’s still a stretch.
Rent, groceries, transport, by the time everything’s paid for, there’s barely anything left.
And while that’s tough, a recent chart that went viral shows that some workers around the world are surviving on even less, much less.
Hit a little too close to home
The data came from Velocity Global, a workforce management company, which listed the 10 countries with the lowest minimum wages in the world for 2025.
It started trending online after a social media user shared it and people couldn’t believe how low the numbers were.
One of the countries on the list? Indonesia, and what’s even more shocking is that Indonesians themselves admitted, “This is exactly what we’re earning.”
Here’s the full breakdown from the February 2025 report:
- India – $2.13 (≈RM9.44) per day, or $64 (≈RM283.68) per month.
- Nigeria – Around $42 (≈RM186.17) per month.
- Uzbekistan – $90 (≈RM398.93) per month.
- Pakistan – $115 (≈RM509.74) per month.
- Armenia – $193 (≈RM855.47) per month.
- Kazakhstan – $170 (≈RM753.53) per month.
- Philippines – Ranges from $121 (≈RM536.33) to $217 (≈RM961.85), depending on the region.
- Ukraine – $194 (≈RM855.47) per month.
- Vietnam –
- Public sector: $93 (≈RM412.22)
- Private sector: $137–$196 (≈RM607.25–RM868.77), depending on the area.
- Indonesia – Varies by province, from $128 (≈RM567.36) in Central Java to $318 (≈RM1,409.54) in Jakarta.
“That’s really what we earn”
For Indonesians reading the chart, it wasn’t just statistics, it was their everyday reality. Many shared that the listed salaries matched what they bring home each month.
In some cases, workers are expected to support entire families with that amount.
And it’s not just the pay, many regions in Indonesia also struggle with a lack of job opportunities, making things even harder for those trying to improve their lives.
Where does Malaysia stand?
With the new RM1,700 minimum wage in place, Malaysia might seem better off on paper. But Malaysians know all too well that the cost of living here isn’t kind either.
The comparison isn’t meant to say, “Be grateful.”
Instead, it highlights just how wide the wage gap is around the world and how many people, regardless of country, are stuck in the same cycle of working hard but barely getting by.
At the end of the day, this conversation is about more than just stats. It’s about dignity. About the value of time and labour. About being able to afford a decent life from honest work.
Because no one should have to work full-time and still struggle to afford the basics. Whether it’s RM283 or RM1,700 everyone deserves a wage that lets them live, not just survive.
