Cost of Living in Malaysia - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Malaysia
Address: MY

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $570 (excluding rent), and $896 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,316 (excluding rent), and $1,809 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.29

$2.18 MYR 8.56

$6.05 MYR 23.78

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.01 MYR 94.3

$14.40 MYR 56.6

$48.01 MYR 189

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 MYR 18.06

$3.68 MYR 14.46

$4.60 MYR 18.06

Cappuccino

$2.81 MYR 11.03

$1.20 MYR 4.73

$3.85 MYR 15.11

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

$0.74 MYR 2.91

$0.55 MYR 2.16

$1.14 MYR 4.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.54

$0.27 MYR 1.05

$0.68 MYR 2.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 MYR 13.81

$1.88 MYR 7.37

$6.08 MYR 23.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MYR 18.12

$3.47 MYR 13.62

$6.92 MYR 27.20

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MYR 7.27

$1.44 MYR 5.66

$2.41 MYR 9.47

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 3.89

$0.72 MYR 2.84

$1.93 MYR 7.57

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.35

$0.60 MYR 2.37

$2.33 MYR 9.16

Eggs

$2.09 MYR 8.21

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$3.26 MYR 12.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.86 MYR 54.5

$5.90 MYR 23.20

$33.30 MYR 131

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 MYR 15.79

$2.11 MYR 8.28

$6.54 MYR 25.71

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 MYR 33.81

$4.30 MYR 16.89

$14.33 MYR 56.3

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 MYR 11.02

$1.40 MYR 5.51

$4.22 MYR 16.57

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.70

$0.91 MYR 3.59

$2.34 MYR 9.21

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.37

$1.20 MYR 4.70

$5.00 MYR 19.66

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.78

$0.69 MYR 2.71

$2.33 MYR 9.15

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 MYR 4.21

$0.46 MYR 1.80

$2.04 MYR 8.03

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.88

$0.60 MYR 2.36

$2.16 MYR 8.48

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MYR 4.10

$0.58 MYR 2.28

$1.86 MYR 7.31

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)

$4.13 MYR 16.24

$4.00 MYR 15.70

$4.94 MYR 19.42

Wine (Bottle)

$19.83 MYR 77.9

$8.90 MYR 34.97

$30.51 MYR 120

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.10

$1.40 MYR 5.51

$4.02 MYR 15.80

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 MYR 14.41

$1.86 MYR 7.30

$5.79 MYR 22.76

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.92

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$1.24 MYR 4.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 46.84

$23.85 MYR 93.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.57

$0.70 MYR 2.75

$1.39 MYR 5.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 MYR 2.92

$0.29 MYR 1.12

$1.14 MYR 4.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 MYR 19.59

$3.56 MYR 14.01

$9.30 MYR 36.57

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$0.62 MYR 2.42

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

$40.3K MYR 158.3K

$34.6K MYR 136.0K

$44.8K MYR 176.0K

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

$31.8K MYR 124.9K

$28.5K MYR 112.1K

$35.1K MYR 138.1K

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

$49.73 MYR 195

$26.20 MYR 103

$80.9 MYR 318

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

$9.92 MYR 38.98

$5.80 MYR 22.78

$18.55 MYR 72.9

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.24 MYR 107

$21.46 MYR 84.3

$36.96 MYR 145

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 MYR 142

$16.34 MYR 64.2

$56.0 MYR 220

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.85 MYR 26.93

$3.57 MYR 14.04

$10.71 MYR 42.08

Cinema Ticket

$4.85 MYR 19.04

$3.64 MYR 14.31

$7.27 MYR 28.59

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

$184 MYR 722

$120 MYR 470

$359 MYR 1,410

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,896 MYR 27.1K

$3,521 MYR 13.8K

$14.1K MYR 55.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 233

$23.19 MYR 91.2

$92.8 MYR 365

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.51 MYR 132

$14.20 MYR 55.8

$59.2 MYR 233

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 MYR 298

$47.48 MYR 187

$107 MYR 421

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.5 MYR 254

$34.79 MYR 137

$104 MYR 410

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 MYR 1,555

$235 MYR 923

$705 MYR 2,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 MYR 1,063

$141 MYR 555

$470 MYR 1,849

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 MYR 2,858

$356 MYR 1,397

$1,233 MYR 4,844

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$456 MYR 1,790

$278 MYR 1,094

$812 MYR 3,192

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,166 MYR 8,512

$1,303 MYR 5,120

$4,043 MYR 15.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 MYR 4,797

$765 MYR 3,005

$1,656 MYR 6,510

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$954 MYR 3,749

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 8, 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	$448	$657	$924	$1,359	265.88	174.31
2	Ampang Jaya	531904	43	$526	$850	$1,190	$1,720	125.84	256.39
3	Bangi	-	43	$471	$853	$1,148	$1,545	15.61	217.31
4	Batu Kawan	-	47	$647	$923	$1,363	$1,955	148.57	210.8
5	Batu Pahat	401210	47	$514	$940	$1,181	$1,864	354.83	190.46
6	Bayan Lepas	217600	40	$620	$813	$1,176	$1,854	173.18	244.07
7	Bintulu	240172	40	$522	$808	$1,114	$1,646	41.12	236.94
8	Bukit Mertajam	-	33	$642	$654	$1,275	$1,821	23.92	220.9
9	Butterworth	339132	43	$595	$869	$1,093	$1,767	37.19	230.16
10	Cheras	440000	42	$600	$845	$1,153	$1,750	95.72	251.69
11	Cyberjaya, Selangor	-	40	$409	$810	$1,053	$1,624	35.53	248.56
12	George Town	794313	42	$525	$845	$1,252	$1,777	118.2	243.98
13	Gombak	-	41	$431	$816	$1,056	$1,637	26.47	246.11
14	Ipoh	759952	43	$495	$854	$1,279	$1,775	254.74	229.68
15	Johor Bahru	858118	48	$518	$955	$1,174	$1,820	133.77	279.01
16	Kajang, Selangor	1047356	46	$689	$936	$1,343	$1,904	171.59	242.76
17	Kampar	98878	42	$574	$831	$1,103	$1,690	15.56	180.48
18	Kangar, Perlis	284853	44	$603	$886	$1,274	$1,781	66.96	150.02
19	Kedah	-	43	$533	$844	$1,367	$1,790	60.19	174.31
20	Kemaman	215582	48	$575	$947	$1,288	$1,872	44.61	166.25
21	Kepong	-	38	$588	$765	$1,242	$1,727	60.65	257.01
22	Klang	902025	44	$585	$883	$1,168	$1,701	142.74	238.83
23	Kluang	235715	50	$639	$998	$1,561	$1,967	77.75	196.69
24	Kota Bharu	-	33	$422	$662	$1,055	$1,580	95.49	161.76
25	Kota Damansara	-	46	$540	$929	$1,154	$1,811	127.09	267.95
26	Kota Kinabalu	500425	43	$550	$856	$1,480	$1,838	38.46	219.86
27	Kuala Lipis	20000	43	$563	$838	$1,353	$1,759	83.14	130.73
28	Kuala Lumpur	1982112	53	$636	$1,050	$1,432	$2,126	23.84	257.01
29	Kuala Terengganu	375424	36	$537	$719	$1,384	$1,575	114.75	164.28
30	Kuantan	548014	39	$463	$796	$1,006	$1,570	27.87	217.81
31	Kuching	349147	40	$537	$785	$1,208	$1,681	86.91	223.66
32	Kulim	319056	50	$566	$997	$1,547	$1,983	32.24	216.88
33	Labuan	95120	45	$600	$889	$1,344	$1,866	16.27	192.32
34	Langkawi	-	41	$477	$829	$1,331	$1,687	87.56	136.09
35	Lumut, Perak	-	47	$601	$939	$1,334	$1,822	306.63	189.58
36	Malacca	-	38	$490	$754	$1,166	$1,554	79.6	234.51
37	Miri	248877	35	$505	$686	$1,231	$1,489	91.22	223.34
38	Muar	314776	50	$556	$988	$1,290	$2,055	93.72	207.23
39	Nilai	38612	44	$483	$872	$1,258	$1,774	25.28	220.53
40	Penang	-	43	$595	$854	$1,338	$1,905	77.32	232.83
41	Petaling Jaya	771687	46	$531	$926	$1,187	$1,749	83.07	267.95
42	Puchong	400000	41	$491	$810	$1,213	$1,725	104.48	256.7
43	Putra Heights	-	44	$473	$889	$1,401	$1,798	67.02	256.7
44	Putrajaya	109202	40	$568	$790	$1,081	$1,600	124.87	244.33
45	Rawang	50000	43	$568	$848	$1,293	$1,785	187.29	246.11
46	Sandakan, Sabah	-	42	$503	$860	$1,212	$1,750	131.64	191.46
47	Sarawak	-	45	$595	$908	$1,205	$1,708	13.76	223.66
48	Selangor	281717	50	$661	$987	$1,166	$1,836	44.65	189.13
49	Semenyih	45000	45	$528	$899	$1,293	$1,814	33.17	242.76
50	Sentul	-	42	$444	$824	$1,233	$1,699	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.