Overall, both countries allocated the largest portion of their household budgets to housing and food, although the proportions varied. Japan spent more on housing, while food was a more significant expenditure for Malaysian households.
In Japan, housing accounted for the highest percentage at 29%, followed closely by transport at 24%. A significant portion, 20%, was spent on food, while health care and other goods and services took up 6% and 21%, respectively.
In contrast, Malaysia’s largest expenditure was food, which took up 34% of the household budget. The second largest expenditure in Malaysia was housing, at 26%, followed by transport with 27%. Health care expenditures were relatively low in both countries, but more so in Malaysia at 3%, compared to Japan’s 6%.
In conclusion, while both countries spent the most on housing, the major difference lies in the allocation to food and transport, with Malaysia prioritizing food and Japan allocating a larger share to transport.