in Malaysia, cars are barely affordable but an absolute necessity because of lack of last mile in our public transport system. the average monthly individual income in 2023 is MYR4300 (about 915 USD per month or 10980 USD per annum) while the most basic new car (model/brand : Saga Proton) cost MYR43000 (about 9150 USD). That means Malaysia need to fork more than 2/3 of their annual salary to buy a car. unfortunately, a lot of Malaysian regard car as a status symbol. Many consider buying a honda a necessity and willing to pay about 25% or more of their monthly salary for car installment.

how about your country?

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I think Indnesia also has similar situation. Cars are tertiary necessity for a lot of people. Only the fortunate one (upper class economy - rich people) who can easily afford it. Citizens who are in middle-upper class economy can afford car only if they take debt to creditor/bank and pay monthly debt with high credit rate. Middle-entry class economy citizens usually have barely enough income to cover their monthly cost.

*Indonesia

and because of that i believe our citizens opt for the second best transport : motorcycle.

but because of our weather + ever increasing traffic jam riding motorcycle carry its own risk.

Yes, full of motorcycle fill the road 😅

Well, the motorcycle rider either have to face the rain or the hot sunny day.

Also, road accidents are often happened to motorcycle rider. Most of the times are happened because of 'wild behaviour' of riding motorcycle. They force their own way even in crowded road, take dangerous manouvers like 'GP rider' in the public road. At least this what happened in big city of Indonesia (Banjar area included) 😅

Here in Australia, the cheapest new car is about 1/4 the average income. So much easier for us to buy a car.

But the yearly registration fees, taxes and compulsory insurance here are much higher than in Malaysia, or even the USA. The cost of maintainence and repair is more expensive still. And the cost of government inspections of a car after you repair it before you can drive it on the road again... Too much. Cheaper to buy another car.

If you live in a rural area here, you must have a car - the distances are so much more than in Malaysia, it can be 50 km to the nearest supermarket, and there are no minibus services.

But I now live in a city with good public transport and bicycle paths. My e-bike can get me anywhere nearly as quickly as my car.

I haven't been to Malaysia in many years, but my impression of even KL is that it is designed for road traffic only. Even in the city centre, the footpaths are not useful for walking far.

all you said is true 🥲😞