Cost of Living in Malaysia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Malaysia
Address: MY

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $569 (excluding rent), and $883 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,308 (excluding rent), and $1,807 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 MYR 14.03

$2.14 MYR 8.40

$5.94 MYR 23.34

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 MYR 91.0

$13.89 MYR 54.6

$46.31 MYR 182

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 MYR 18.86

$3.84 MYR 15.09

$4.80 MYR 18.86

Cappuccino

$2.72 MYR 10.70

$1.17 MYR 4.59

$3.73 MYR 14.67

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 MYR 3.12

$0.59 MYR 2.31

$1.22 MYR 4.78

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.67

$0.29 MYR 1.14

$0.74 MYR 2.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 MYR 13.68

$1.86 MYR 7.30

$6.03 MYR 23.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 MYR 18.56

$3.55 MYR 13.95

$7.09 MYR 27.86

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.30

$1.45 MYR 5.69

$2.42 MYR 9.52

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 3.98

$0.74 MYR 2.91

$1.97 MYR 7.76

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 MYR 5.38

$0.60 MYR 2.38

$2.34 MYR 9.19

Eggs

$2.07 MYR 8.12

$1.14 MYR 4.48

$3.23 MYR 12.68

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 MYR 54.2

$5.87 MYR 23.08

$33.14 MYR 130

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.08 MYR 16.02

$2.14 MYR 8.41

$6.64 MYR 26.10

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 MYR 33.76

$4.29 MYR 16.86

$14.31 MYR 56.2

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 MYR 11.40

$1.45 MYR 5.70

$4.36 MYR 17.14

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 5.85

$0.94 MYR 3.69

$2.41 MYR 9.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 MYR 10.48

$1.21 MYR 4.76

$5.06 MYR 19.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.91

$0.71 MYR 2.78

$2.38 MYR 9.37

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$0.48 MYR 1.87

$2.12 MYR 8.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$0.57 MYR 2.25

$2.06 MYR 8.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 MYR 4.27

$0.61 MYR 2.38

$1.94 MYR 7.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.24

$0.36 MYR 1.40

$0.92 MYR 3.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MYR 16.36

$4.02 MYR 15.82

$4.98 MYR 19.56

Wine (Bottle)

$19.80 MYR 77.8

$8.89 MYR 34.92

$30.46 MYR 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 MYR 10.84

$1.37 MYR 5.38

$3.92 MYR 15.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 14.61

$1.88 MYR 7.40

$5.87 MYR 23.07

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.91

$0.49 MYR 1.93

$1.23 MYR 4.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.71 MYR 46.00

$23.42 MYR 92.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$0.72 MYR 2.84

$1.44 MYR 5.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.96

$0.29 MYR 1.13

$1.15 MYR 4.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 MYR 19.12

$3.48 MYR 13.68

$9.08 MYR 35.69

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.96

$0.61 MYR 2.41

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$39.9K MYR 156.7K

$34.2K MYR 134.6K

$44.3K MYR 174.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.4K MYR 123.5K

$28.2K MYR 110.9K

$34.8K MYR 136.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.4 MYR 202

$27.10 MYR 106

$83.7 MYR 329

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.89 MYR 38.87

$5.78 MYR 22.71

$18.49 MYR 72.7

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.97 MYR 106

$21.25 MYR 83.5

$36.59 MYR 144

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.92 MYR 145

$16.72 MYR 65.7

$57.3 MYR 225

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.72 MYR 26.39

$3.50 MYR 13.76

$10.49 MYR 41.24

Cinema Ticket

$4.74 MYR 18.63

$3.56 MYR 14.00

$7.12 MYR 27.97

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$182 MYR 716

$119 MYR 466

$356 MYR 1,398

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,909 MYR 27.2K

$3,528 MYR 13.9K

$14.1K MYR 55.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 239

$23.81 MYR 93.6

$95.2 MYR 374

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.56 MYR 132

$14.22 MYR 55.9

$59.3 MYR 233

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 MYR 300

$47.79 MYR 188

$108 MYR 424

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 MYR 262

$35.90 MYR 141

$108 MYR 423

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 MYR 1,546

$234 MYR 918

$701 MYR 2,754

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MYR 1,059

$141 MYR 552

$468 MYR 1,841

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 MYR 2,851

$355 MYR 1,394

$1,229 MYR 4,832

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 MYR 1,831

$285 MYR 1,119

$831 MYR 3,265

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 MYR 8,625

$1,320 MYR 5,188

$4,097 MYR 16.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,239 MYR 4,871

$776 MYR 3,051

$1,682 MYR 6,610

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$926 MYR 3,640

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

3.1

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 2, 2026

By City in Malaysia

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Alor Setar	423868	33	$400	$653	$890	$1,404	265.88	174.31
2	Ampang Jaya	531904	43	$462	$867	$1,360	$1,687	125.84	256.39
3	Bangi	-	43	$614	$858	$1,179	$1,558	15.61	217.31
4	Batu Kawan	-	47	$586	$951	$1,504	$1,962	148.57	210.8
5	Batu Pahat	401210	47	$620	$940	$1,190	$1,852	354.83	190.46
6	Bayan Lepas	217600	40	$473	$810	$1,353	$1,825	173.18	244.07
7	Bintulu	240172	40	$502	$804	$1,424	$1,706	41.12	236.94
8	Bukit Mertajam	-	33	$590	$639	$1,208	$1,779	23.92	220.9
9	Butterworth	339132	43	$587	$853	$1,423	$1,741	37.19	230.16
10	Cheras	440000	42	$603	$846	$1,323	$1,727	95.72	251.69
11	Cyberjaya, Selangor	-	40	$526	$816	$963	$1,603	35.53	248.56
12	George Town	794313	42	$469	$830	$1,277	$1,810	118.2	243.98
13	Gombak	-	41	$504	$817	$1,197	$1,674	26.47	246.11
14	Ipoh	759952	43	$528	$856	$1,361	$1,747	254.74	229.68
15	Johor Bahru	858118	48	$515	$962	$1,172	$1,787	133.77	279.01
16	Kajang, Selangor	1047356	46	$643	$936	$1,296	$1,846	171.59	242.76
17	Kampar	98878	42	$577	$852	$1,141	$1,678	15.56	180.48
18	Kangar, Perlis	284853	44	$631	$881	$1,201	$1,813	66.96	150.02
19	Kedah	-	43	$499	$864	$1,135	$1,793	60.19	174.31
20	Kemaman	215582	48	$517	$953	$1,239	$1,855	44.61	166.25
21	Kepong	-	38	$524	$751	$1,081	$1,718	60.65	257.01
22	Klang	902025	44	$597	$881	$1,168	$1,726	142.74	238.83
23	Kluang	235715	50	$599	$992	$1,513	$1,919	77.75	196.69
24	Kota Bharu	-	33	$520	$648	$1,061	$1,565	95.49	161.76
25	Kota Damansara	-	46	$603	$900	$1,280	$1,827	127.09	267.95
26	Kota Kinabalu	500425	43	$601	$877	$1,299	$1,852	38.46	219.86
27	Kuala Lipis	20000	43	$580	$859	$1,291	$1,760	83.14	130.73
28	Kuala Lumpur	1982112	53	$630	$1,054	$1,448	$2,158	23.84	257.01
29	Kuala Terengganu	375424	36	$598	$715	$1,372	$1,545	114.75	164.28
30	Kuantan	548014	39	$421	$777	$1,065	$1,557	27.87	217.81
31	Kuching	349147	40	$539	$790	$1,238	$1,655	86.91	223.66
32	Kulim	319056	50	$729	$978	$1,395	$2,041	32.24	216.88
33	Labuan	95120	45	$633	$905	$1,165	$1,838	16.27	192.32
34	Langkawi	-	41	$492	$821	$1,049	$1,670	87.56	136.09
35	Lumut, Perak	-	47	$520	$952	$1,195	$1,850	306.63	189.58
36	Malacca	-	38	$499	$772	$1,124	$1,525	79.6	234.51
37	Miri	248877	35	$454	$708	$1,052	$1,531	91.22	223.34
38	Muar	314776	50	$571	$995	$1,262	$1,985	93.72	207.23
39	Nilai	38612	44	$575	$886	$1,183	$1,754	25.28	220.53
40	Penang	-	43	$597	$861	$1,334	$1,873	77.32	232.83
41	Petaling Jaya	771687	46	$516	$896	$1,184	$1,790	83.07	267.95
42	Puchong	400000	41	$604	$819	$1,251	$1,709	104.48	256.7
43	Putra Heights	-	44	$565	$887	$1,309	$1,799	67.02	256.7
44	Putrajaya	109202	40	$519	$785	$1,036	$1,595	124.87	244.33
45	Rawang	50000	43	$554	$868	$1,336	$1,796	187.29	246.11
46	Sandakan, Sabah	-	42	$555	$854	$1,129	$1,720	131.64	191.46
47	Sarawak	-	45	$596	$907	$1,353	$1,663	13.76	223.66
48	Selangor	281717	50	$592	$986	$1,470	$1,840	44.65	189.13
49	Semenyih	45000	45	$514	$884	$1,206	$1,795	33.17	242.76
50	Sentul	-	42	$580	$816	$1,091	$1,707	83.63	257.01

Malaysia Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Malaysia - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Malaysia is generally approachable for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. In key cities you get reliable services, a wide range of housing options, and tasty, affordable food, with prices that scale gently by neighborhood. Outside the big metros, daily expenses can drop further while still offering modern amenities. Public transport is improving, and coworking spaces are common in urban centers. Tip: Map out a two or three neighborhood shortlist near transit to balance convenience and cost.

Daily life in Malaysia blends convenience with variety. In cities you can find a spectrum of housing from compact apartments to family homes, with rents varying by district and proximity to transit. Food is a standout, from hawker stalls to modern cafes, offering ample choices for any budget. Public transport includes rail and bus networks, plus ride hailing and short commutes in smaller towns. The Malaysia living cost is shaped by your locale and routines, so a pragmatic search can save you both time and money. Tip: Start with a 2 week trial in your top neighborhood.

Quality of life in Malaysia is heightened when you tailor routines to your budget and preferences. Use a simple framework: secure a comfortable base in a transit-friendly neighborhood, allocate for daily needs, and keep a buffer for activities and travel. Seasonality matters; the monsoon and humidity can shape outdoor plans and comfort indoors. Urban cores give easy access to coworking, nightlife, and services, while smaller towns offer quieter living and quicker access to nature. Tip: visit a few areas during different times of day and week to gauge pace, noise, and convenience.