The primary reason why most Malaysians move overseas is simple: To build a better life for themselves and enhance the quality for future generations to come. But sometimes, it’s hard to imagine just how worthwhile some instances may be for our fellow Malaysians overseas – until someone comes along to show us the stark differences that can exist between our home and another country.
Malaysian content creator and digital marketer Zatul Iffah is known for sharing content about her life in Melbourne, Australia, where she currently resides with her family. Taking to her TikTok page @zatul.iffah, Iffah recently shared a video that has caught the attention of many, by showing viewers the amount of groceries she is able to purchase with just AUD50 (approximately RM155).
Listing the full list of items in the video, Iffah was able to purchase a mountain’s worth of groceries using that amount of money. Her items purchased included:
- One bag of turmeric – AUD1
- One bag of grapes – AUD1
- One kilogram of ground beef – AUD10
- Two kilograms of fish – AUD10
- Peaches – AUD1.80
- One bunch of bananas – AUD1.50
- Six kiwis – AUD2.40
- Sweet potatoes – AUD1
- One bottle of oyster sauce – AUD7.80
- Half a cabbage – AUD1
- Spinach – AUD1
- Salad leaves – AUD2
- One packet of kuey teow – AUD3.50
- One bottle of tom yam paste – AUD4.70
In total, Iffah revealed that she spent just AUD49.70 for the various items she purchased from her local supermarket.
Receiving massive attention online, various users were in awe over how affordable it was to buy certain groceries in Melbourne with just AUD50, with some saying that it would be nearly impossible to get the same amount of groceries using RM50 in Malaysia.
“In Malaysia, RM50 will get you a bag of rice and scrambled eggs,” jokingly wrote one user.
However, multiple individuals also stated that the difference may seem stark until one converts it to Malaysian Ringgit. One user specifically mentioned that when using RM150, which is the equivalent of AUD50 after conversion, it is possible to get as much if not more groceries than what Iffah purchased.
Nevertheless, many Malaysians spoke against this idea, saying there was no point in converting the amount as Iffah intended to show the difference in terms of buying groceries under the principle of purchasing power. In terms of definition, purchasing power refers to the amount of goods and services that can be purchased within a unit of currency.
“Some of you don’t understand the concept of money. Here, there is an intent to compare what you can get with AUD50 when buying items in Australia, so you have to contrast it with what you could get with RM50. Don’t convert the Australian Dollar to Malaysian Ringgit,” stated one user.
Watch the full TikTok video below:
@zatul.iffah Jom habiskan $50 dengan sayaaaa. #migrate #australia Korang suka pergi pasar ?
How much of groceries do you think you could get with RM50 here in Malaysia? Let us know!
Also read: M’sian Studying in Norway Shares Prices of Groceries & We’re Crying Over Our Currency
