Travel budget in Malaysia

Malaysia: calculate your travel budget

Malaysia: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Malaysia for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 19 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 5 per person
  • $ 2.6 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 470* (2226 MYR)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 44 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 13 per person
  • $ 5.1 per person
  • $ 3.8 per person

Total budget:

$ 1215* (5740 MYR)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 60 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 22 per person
  • $ 10 per person
  • $ 7.6 per person

Total budget:

$ 1910* (9030 MYR)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Malaysia in 2024

Cost of living: Malaysia VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Malaysia in 2024 is 57% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Malaysia by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Malaysia compared to the national average.

Cities /Malaysia View Details
Kuala Lumpur 15% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Kuala Lumpur
Malacca 13% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Malacca
Kluang 11% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Kluang
Kota Kinabalu 10% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Kota Kinabalu
Ipoh 9% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Ipoh
Johor Bahru 8% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Johor Bahru
Penang 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Penang

Show all cities (13 more)




Local prices in Malaysia by expense type

Malaysia: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Malaysia costs 60% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 2.7/person
($ 1.8 to $ 5.3)

86% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 11/person
($ 6.4 to $ 22)

72% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 3.8/person
($ 3.1 to $ 4.2)

63% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 3.1 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5.3)

47% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 3.2 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 5.3)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 2.5/cup
($ 1.3 to $ 3.8)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)

72% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

80% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Malaysia: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Malaysia costs 70% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 32/night
($ 8.7 to $ 215)

78% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 144
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 36/night
($ 16 to $ 161)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 144
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 52/night
($ 22 to $ 213)

74% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 207
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 68/night
($ 36 to $ 217)

77% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 295
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 102/night
($ 57 to $ 258)

79% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 508
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 28/month
($ 10 to $ 174)

81% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 143
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 86/month
($ 39 to $ 271)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 207
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 84/month
($ 39 to $ 250)

56% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 190
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 65/month
($ 30 to $ 231)

71% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226
Family room
Family room
$ 86/month
($ 38 to $ 284)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 194

Malaysia: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Malaysia costs 56% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.9)

43% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 0.8/500g
($ 0.6 to $ 1.7)

77% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Rice
Rice
$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.2)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6
Eggs
Eggs
$ 1.8/12 eggs
($ 1.1 to $ 2.5)

52% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 3.7/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 6)

69% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13
Apples
Apples
$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 3.8)

56% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.9)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 1.6)

73% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Malaysia: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Malaysia costs 46% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 0.6/ticket
($ 0.4 to $ 1.1)

74% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 0.5/km
($ 0.2 to $ 1.1)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 0.4/litre
($ 0.4 to $ 0.4)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 0.9
($ 0.6 to $ 1.3)

77% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8
Car hire
Car hire
$ 45/24hrs
($ 31 to $ 93)

42% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 32

Malaysia: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Malaysia costs 72% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 3.8/ticket
($ 2.9 to $ 5.3)

72% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15
Tennis
Tennis
$ 6.2/hr
($ 3.1 to $ 11)

73% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Malaysia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Malaysia costs 35% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 3.8/pack
($ 3.7 to $ 4.7)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 51
($ 22 to $ 77)

4% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 29
($ 13 to $ 54)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Kuala Lumpur
Melbourne → Kuala Lumpur
Melbourne → Kuala Lumpur
$ 532
(fair price: $ 424)
Sydney → Kuala Lumpur
Sydney → Kuala Lumpur
Sydney → Kuala Lumpur
$ 568
(fair price: $ 448)
London → Kuala Lumpur
London → Kuala Lumpur
London → Kuala Lumpur
$ 867
(fair price: $ 752)
Manchester → Kuala Lumpur
Manchester → Kuala Lumpur
Manchester → Kuala Lumpur
$ 921
(fair price: $ 781)
New York City → Kuala Lumpur
New York City → Kuala Lumpur
New York City → Kuala Lumpur
$ 1091
(fair price: $ 845)
Dublin → Kuala Lumpur
Dublin → Kuala Lumpur
Dublin → Kuala Lumpur
$ 861
(fair price: $ 700)

Book a flight Flight prices to Malaysia




About the information on the cost of living in Malaysia

The information about the cost of living in Malaysia shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Malaysia updated on 28-03-2024.

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