Reddit Post On Ramly Burgers Sparks Debate On Wages And Cost Of Living

Samuel Chua

23rd September 2025 - 3 min read

A Malaysian Reddit post has gone viral for turning food into a yardstick of economic reality. The post compared graduate salaries with the prices of local favourites like Ramly burgers, nasi lemak, and teh tarik, showing how much less Malaysians can buy today compared to 2010.

The numbers struck a chord because they are easy to grasp. In 2010, a fresh graduate earning RM2,000 could afford around 664 Ramly burgers a month. In 2025, with starting salaries between RM3,000 and RM3,500, the number falls to 524. The math suggests that even as salaries inch up, purchasing power is slipping away.

“We Are Severely Underpaid”

The post triggered an outpouring of comments from Malaysians who said the numbers reflect their daily struggles. One redditor summed it up bluntly: “We are severely underpaid.” Another added that if wages had kept up with inflation since 2010, they would be earning double what they do today.

Others chimed in with a mix of humour and frustration. A commenter joked, “Forget the Big Mac Index, we need the Ramly Burger Index,” while another lamented, “Rip cendol and satay.”

More Than Just Burgers

Beyond the jokes, the thread opened up wider conversations about wage stagnation, the rising cost of living, and the uneven reality of graduate salaries. Some users pointed out that while graduates in certain fields like tech and oil and gas can start at RM4,000 or more, many others remain stuck at RM2,500 to RM3,000.

One user observed that fast food was once considered premium, but today even street food feels like a luxury. Another admitted the post gave them “numbers and facts to self-reflect in this brutal economy.”

Official Data Backs The Feeling

The frustration captured in the Reddit post is also reflected in official statistics. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, overall inflation in August 2025 was 1.3% year-on-year. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 2.0%, while the cost of eating out increased by 4.3%. Prices for items such as satay, cooked beef, and rice with side dishes were among those still climbing.

While the inflation rate may look modest on paper, the continued rise in food costs, especially meals outside the home, helps explain why so many Malaysians feel their salaries are not keeping up.

A Conversation That Hits Home

What made the post resonate is how it took a complex issue and made it personal. Food is more than sustenance in Malaysia. It is culture, comfort, and community. When ordinary meals like roti canai, mee goreng, or banana leaf rice start to feel out of reach, it becomes a powerful reminder of how rising prices affect everyday life.

The Reddit thread may have started with burgers and nasi lemak, but it tapped into a bigger truth about wages and rising costs that many Malaysians feel every day.

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