Malaysia : Cost of Living by City
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Malaysia?
Malaysia is a huge country, so it’s a bit tricky to state the definite cost of living there because it varies greatly depending on the part of Malaysia you want to stay in, plus it depends on whether you’re single or with a family.
You can get by and have a reasonably comfortable life here for 600$ a month.
However, with this amount of money, you will not live in a fancy apartment or eat in Western chain restaurants three times a week.
However, you can live in a decent place with air-conditioning, and satellite TV and not worry at all about money.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Malaysia
RESTAURANTS
You can spend around 30$ per person for a meal with wine at a nice, fancy restaurant, but if you want to save some money – Malaysia is very budget-friendly.
You can get a meal at a local food stall for less than a dollar and there are plenty of US-originated restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, etc. with low prices.
Dining in a hotel’s restaurant always costs more.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $2.59 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $3.53 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.35 |
MARKETS
A trip to the local grocery store can cost anywhere from 12$ to 70$ a week.
Depends on who you live with and how you want to feed yourself.
The good news is you can always shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at street markets (and we mean the exotic, enticing fruit) that are sold for very low prices.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.65 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.82 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.52 |
TRANSPORTATION
Having your own car might be your best option price-wise in Malaysia.
Going anywhere by taxi is very expensive.
Even though in most of Malaysia transportation is pretty badly organized, it’s still cheap.
You can buy a monthly pass for public transport for only 25$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.71 |
| Monthly Pass | $23.56 |
| Gasoline | $0.49 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Monthly utilities in Malaysia are very cheap.
Depending on the size of the apartment you want to rent and the place you’ll be located, utilities can move anywhere from 20$ to 50$.
For an apartment that has 85m2 all basic utilities, like electricity, gas, garbage services, and cooling will cost less than 50$.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $47.59 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $28.03 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Like everything else, prices in Malaysia for sports and pastime activities are low too.
If you want a gym or a fitness club membership, the price you’ll pay is only about 34$.
If you want to go cinema, the prices of tickets aren’t high either – that is, if you don’t live and earn your salary in Malaysia – they only cost about 4$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $34.02 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $5.59 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.01 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Compared to other prices in Malaysia, shopping isn’t really cheap, so if you get enticed by any of Malaysia’s great malls, think twice because the same clothes can be cheaper in your home town.
For example, quality jeans will cost you around 50$, while a pair of Nike running shoes can cost as much as 70$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $51.72 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $26.03 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $64.93 |
RENT PER MONTH
The most expensive thing about living in Malaysia is the rent.
Of course, the price of rent depends on what you want from a home: a room, an apartment, a house, furnished, un-furnished, the number of rooms.
It also highly depends on your location.
If you want a one-bedroom apartment in the center of one of the major cities, that will cost you around 380$.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $381.01 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $258.73 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $689.92 |
HEALTHCARE
Malaysia has a public healthcare system with low-cost services funded through taxes, supplemented by a large private sector.
Private health insurance typically costs 50 to 120 USD per month.
Out-of-pocket spending averages around 200 to 400 USD per person per year for medications, private visits, and hospital care.
With average monthly salaries near 1,000 USD, healthcare costs are generally affordable, though private care increases expenses.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary schools are tuition-free, though families pay for uniforms, books, and school supplies, usually totaling $100 to $400 per year.
Private and international schools charge tuition ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 per year.
Public universities charge tuition for domestic students of roughly $1,000 to $3,000 per year, while private universities can cost $4,000 to $10,000 annually.
Students also cover housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is about $1,200, so private schooling and university expenses are a significant share of household income.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Malaysia?
A vast percentage of an average Malaysian person’s salary gets spent on food – like in most countries.
Another quite big expense for the people of Malaysia is the rent since the prices are pretty high for the average salary in Malaysia.
Transportation is third on the list: even though it’s not too expensive it is an everyday necessity and it basically sends money down the drain each day.
Restaurants are also quite an expense, and the least of all expenses in Malaysia is clothing.
Average Costs Breakdown
Malaysia: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Considering their monthly salaries, the people of Malaysia might find it hard to make ends meet sometimes, though the situation is not dire.
Their minimum monthly wage is, shockingly, around 359.3$, which is definitely a small amount of money.
With their average monthly net salaries, however, people can cover most of their expenses, even if they’re renting, though rent is a huge financial burden.
If you want to travel to Malaysia, the optimal amount of money for you is around 1000$ – and that’s if you want to live like a king.
Malaysia Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Malaysia Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Malaysia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Johor Bahru |
42.59 |
| Kota Kinabalu |
42.15 |
| Kuala Lumpur |
35.0 |
| Kuching |
42.15 |
| Penang |
43.98 |
| Petaling Jaya |
44.31 |
| Selangor |
44.53 |
With USD600 (approx. RM2.8k) living in a slum area with full of rats and roaches yes you can survive. But, if you are a freaking expat or a business man you will live like a king.
So for 600 bucks a month, I can live comfortably but can’t indulge in my three-times-a-week avocado toast habit? Sounds like a compromise I’m totally ready to make!
So, basically, you can live comfortably for $600 a month but skip the fancy stuff. Sounds like a steal, if you enjoy the thrill of being broke in style.
Ah yes, only $600 a month for a “reasonably comfortable” life in Malaysia. Because who doesn’t want to choose between air-conditioning and satellite TV or just settle for a decent place without the joys of those thrilling Western chain restaurants? Sounds like a real dream come true.
It’s interesting to think about how much lifestyle can vary based on location and budget. Living comfortably for $600 a month sounds amazing, but I wonder how many people manage to find that balance between comfort and enjoying their favorite foods or activities. I guess priorities really shape our experiences in different places.
It’s interesting how much flexibility there is in the cost of living over there. For just $600 a month, it sounds like you can still enjoy a pretty good lifestyle, but it’s all about adjusting expectations. I guess living the simple life can be quite satisfying after all!
Seems low to me; $600 might cover rent and basics in a smaller town, but in KL or if you want any decent food or healthcare the costs balloon quickly. I get the appeal, but I’d be worried about surprise expenses and inflation eating into that budget.