Cost of Living in Malaysia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Malaysia
Address: MY

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $551 (excluding rent), and $881 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,313 (excluding rent), and $1,800 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.77

$2.18 MYR 8.85

$6.05 MYR 24.57

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.91 MYR 97.1

$14.34 MYR 58.2

$47.81 MYR 194

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 18.77

$3.70 MYR 15.03

$4.62 MYR 18.77

Cappuccino

$2.83 MYR 11.47

$1.21 MYR 4.92

$3.87 MYR 15.73

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

$0.76 MYR 3.08

$0.56 MYR 2.28

$1.16 MYR 4.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.60

$0.27 MYR 1.10

$0.68 MYR 2.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.49

$1.91 MYR 7.74

$6.18 MYR 25.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 MYR 19.48

$3.61 MYR 14.64

$7.20 MYR 29.24

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.30

$1.40 MYR 5.69

$2.35 MYR 9.52

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MYR 3.85

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$1.85 MYR 7.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 MYR 5.47

$0.60 MYR 2.42

$2.31 MYR 9.36

Eggs

$2.01 MYR 8.16

$1.11 MYR 4.50

$3.14 MYR 12.73

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.98 MYR 56.8

$5.96 MYR 24.18

$33.60 MYR 136

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 MYR 16.77

$2.17 MYR 8.80

$6.73 MYR 27.31

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 MYR 35.48

$4.36 MYR 17.72

$14.56 MYR 59.1

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MYR 11.62

$1.43 MYR 5.81

$4.30 MYR 17.46

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.82

$0.90 MYR 3.67

$2.32 MYR 9.40

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 MYR 10.30

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$4.81 MYR 19.53

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.13

$0.71 MYR 2.88

$2.39 MYR 9.71

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 MYR 4.39

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$2.07 MYR 8.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 5.00

$0.60 MYR 2.42

$2.14 MYR 8.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 MYR 4.41

$0.61 MYR 2.46

$1.94 MYR 7.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.34 MYR 1.39

$0.88 MYR 3.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 MYR 16.70

$3.98 MYR 16.15

$4.92 MYR 19.97

Wine (Bottle)

$18.93 MYR 76.9

$8.66 MYR 35.18

$29.69 MYR 121

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.79

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$4.13 MYR 16.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 MYR 14.81

$1.85 MYR 7.50

$5.76 MYR 23.38

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$0.48 MYR 1.94

$1.20 MYR 4.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 48.67

$23.99 MYR 97.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$0.70 MYR 2.84

$1.39 MYR 5.64

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 MYR 2.84

$0.27 MYR 1.09

$1.07 MYR 4.35

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 MYR 20.59

$3.63 MYR 14.72

$9.47 MYR 38.43

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.56 MYR 2.28

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

$40.3K MYR 163.7K

$34.6K MYR 140.6K

$44.8K MYR 182.0K

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

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

$28.4K MYR 115.4K

$35.0K MYR 142.2K

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

$51.6 MYR 209

$27.18 MYR 110

$83.9 MYR 341

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

$10.11 MYR 41.06

$5.91 MYR 23.99

$18.91 MYR 76.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.53 MYR 108

$20.90 MYR 84.9

$35.99 MYR 146

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 MYR 146

$16.30 MYR 66.2

$55.9 MYR 227

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.59 MYR 26.74

$3.43 MYR 13.94

$10.29 MYR 41.79

Cinema Ticket

$4.60 MYR 18.68

$3.46 MYR 14.04

$6.91 MYR 28.03

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

$181 MYR 737

$118 MYR 480

$354 MYR 1,439

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 MYR 28.3K

$3,556 MYR 14.4K

$14.2K MYR 57.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 MYR 244

$23.55 MYR 95.6

$94.2 MYR 382

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.03 MYR 138

$14.42 MYR 58.6

$60.1 MYR 244

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 MYR 307

$47.31 MYR 192

$107 MYR 433

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 262

$34.77 MYR 141

$104 MYR 423

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 MYR 1,635

$239 MYR 971

$717 MYR 2,913

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 MYR 1,084

$139 MYR 565

$464 MYR 1,885

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 MYR 2,930

$353 MYR 1,433

$1,223 MYR 4,967

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$467 MYR 1,898

$286 MYR 1,160

$834 MYR 3,384

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,096 MYR 8,510

$1,273 MYR 5,167

$3,669 MYR 14.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,187 MYR 4,821

$772 MYR 3,135

$1,609 MYR 6,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$943 MYR 3,830

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: January 12, 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	$491	$657	$1,136	$1,382	265.88	174.31
2	Ampang Jaya	531904	43	$611	$844	$1,071	$1,676	125.84	256.39
3	Bangi	-	43	$534	$877	$1,130	$1,564	15.61	217.31
4	Batu Kawan	-	47	$543	$921	$1,211	$1,961	148.57	210.8
5	Batu Pahat	401210	47	$591	$921	$1,361	$1,855	354.83	190.46
6	Bayan Lepas	217600	40	$609	$805	$1,087	$1,784	173.18	244.07
7	Bintulu	240172	40	$613	$802	$1,360	$1,684	41.12	236.94
8	Bukit Mertajam	-	33	$570	$639	$1,196	$1,810	23.92	220.9
9	Butterworth	339132	43	$601	$873	$1,105	$1,741	37.19	230.16
10	Cheras	440000	66	$608	$1,321	$1,310	$1,772	95.72	251.69
11	Cyberjaya, Selangor	-	40	$405	$806	$1,197	$1,593	35.53	248.56
12	George Town	794313	42	$483	$842	$1,263	$1,785	118.2	243.98
13	Gombak	-	41	$564	$820	$1,260	$1,649	26.47	246.11
14	Ipoh	759952	43	$453	$858	$1,139	$1,774	254.74	229.68
15	Johor Bahru	858118	48	$518	$968	$1,132	$1,830	133.77	279.01
16	Kajang, Selangor	1047356	46	$557	$907	$1,539	$1,867	171.59	242.76
17	Kampar	98878	42	$496	$830	$1,294	$1,675	15.56	180.48
18	Kangar, Perlis	284853	44	$581	$871	$1,269	$1,745	66.96	150.02
19	Kedah	-	43	$570	$853	$1,360	$1,768	60.19	174.31
20	Kemaman	215582	47	$525	$945	$1,215	$1,890	44.61	166.25
21	Kepong	-	38	$593	$770	$1,093	$1,732	60.65	257.01
22	Klang	902025	44	$525	$861	$1,131	$1,717	142.74	238.83
23	Kluang	235715	49	$687	$982	$1,615	$1,991	77.75	196.69
24	Kota Bharu	-	33	$492	$660	$1,096	$1,568	95.49	161.76
25	Kota Damansara	-	46	$653	$913	$1,263	$1,875	127.09	267.95
26	Kota Kinabalu	500425	43	$578	$864	$1,494	$1,813	38.46	219.86
27	Kuala Lipis	20000	42	$546	$836	$1,118	$1,766	83.14	130.73
28	Kuala Lumpur	1982112	53	$631	$1,072	$1,428	$2,149	23.84	257.01
29	Kuala Terengganu	375424	35	$548	$699	$1,198	$1,564	114.75	164.28
30	Kuantan	548014	39	$482	$783	$1,045	$1,539	27.87	217.81
31	Kuching	349147	39	$534	$791	$1,207	$1,622	86.91	223.66
32	Kulim	319056	49	$671	$985	$1,648	$2,008	32.24	216.88
33	Labuan	95120	45	$547	$894	$1,465	$1,899	16.27	192.32
34	Langkawi	-	41	$497	$821	$1,091	$1,676	87.56	136.09
35	Lumut, Perak	-	47	$645	$937	$1,356	$1,846	306.63	189.58
36	Malacca	-	38	$483	$773	$1,141	$1,557	79.6	234.51
37	Miri	248877	35	$552	$699	$1,074	$1,490	91.22	223.34
38	Muar	314776	50	$572	$970	$1,293	$2,021	93.72	207.23
39	Nilai	38612	44	$602	$869	$1,326	$1,813	25.28	220.53
40	Penang	-	43	$580	$866	$1,345	$1,867	77.32	232.83
41	Petaling Jaya	771687	45	$527	$893	$1,174	$1,757	83.07	267.95
42	Puchong	400000	41	$493	$811	$1,436	$1,744	104.48	256.7
43	Putra Heights	-	44	$620	$880	$1,095	$1,773	67.02	256.7
44	Putrajaya	109202	40	$565	$788	$1,063	$1,614	124.87	244.33
45	Rawang	50000	43	$598	$864	$1,277	$1,779	187.29	246.11
46	Sandakan, Sabah	-	42	$509	$830	$1,054	$1,739	131.64	191.46
47	Sarawak	-	45	$504	$892	$1,245	$1,711	13.76	223.66
48	Selangor	281717	49	$653	$972	$1,212	$1,842	44.65	189.13
49	Semenyih	45000	45	$504	$882	$1,388	$1,797	33.17	242.76
50	Sentul	-	42	$543	$816	$1,240	$1,672	83.63	257.01

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.