A viral Threads post by sparks debate on how a RM20k single-income household still struggles to match the take-home pay of a dual-income couple earning RM8k each.
A post by user @steffihazman on Threads has gone viral after she compared the take-home pay of dual-income and single-income households in Malaysia.
She wrote that a salary of RM8,000 gives a net pay of around RM6,600, while a couple earning RM8,000 each would take home about RM13,200 combined.
In contrast, a single breadwinner earning RM20,000 would only bring home roughly RM13,800 after deductions.
She noted that for one partner to quit their job and maintain the same take-home pay, the breadwinner would need a 150% salary increase.
The post sparked a wave of discussion among Malaysians about financial realities, family structure and the rising cost of living.
User @napeenasir pointed out that a single-income household could still save on childcare, car costs and daily expenses since one parent stays home.
Steffi agreed, saying there are many perspectives to consider.
@encik_ahmad_zariff added that being in the T20 group doesn’t mean life is easy, especially for families with children.
He said people often accuse them of not being grateful, even though expenses rise with responsibilities.
She responded that the bigger the income, the bigger the spending.
Another commenter, @kedaikuruscantik, disagreed with Steffi’s numbers, arguing that only the provider’s income should count.
Others highlighted how higher salaries come with heavier taxation and EPF deductions.
She admitted that “the tax part really hurts.”
What began as a simple salary comparison ended up exposing a wider truth — in Malaysia, even a RM20,000 salary doesn’t stretch as far as many assume.
