Cost Of Living in Malaysia 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Malaysia

Whether you're living in Malaysia or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Malaysia

Prices and cost of goods and services in Malaysia

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

8.3 MYR

17 MYR

28 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$3.5

$5.8

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Malaysia is approximatly 17 MYR with meal cost ranging from 8.3 MYR to 28 MYR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

28 MYR

41 MYR

83 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.8

$8.7

$17

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 28 MYR and 83 MYR with 41 MYR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Malaysia.

Fine dining meal for one price

55 MYR

83 MYR

330 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$12

$17

$70

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 55 MYR to 330 MYR with the average cost being 83 MYR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Malaysia.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

6.9 MYR

11 MYR

17 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$2.3

$3.5

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Malaysia is around 11 MYR. Price ranges between 6.9 MYR and 17 MYR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

5.5 MYR

6.6 MYR

8.3 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.4

$1.7

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Malaysia is 6.6 MYR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 8.3 MYR and the minimum being 5.5 MYR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

4.1 MYR

5.5 MYR

8.3 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.87

$1.2

$1.7

A dozen eggs costs around 5.5 MYR on average with 4.1 MYR and 8.3 MYR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

9.4 MYR

12 MYR

17 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2

$2.6

$3.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Malaysia is between 9.4 MYR and 17 MYR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 12 MYR.

Pack of beef price

11 MYR

17 MYR

33 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.3

$3.5

$7

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 17 MYR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

4.4 MYR

6.1 MYR

8.6 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.94

$1.3

$1.8

A bag of rice in Malaysia costs around 6.1 MYR on average with prices rangeing between 4.4 MYR and 8.6 MYR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

1.7 MYR

2.2 MYR

4.1 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.35

$0.46

$0.87

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 1.7 MYR to 4.1 MYR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

2.9 MYR

3.9 MYR

6.3 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.62

$0.81

$1.3

A bag of apples costs 3.9 MYR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Malaysia is around 25%. This means that people spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 31% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 880 MYR per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 120 MYR and 5,800 MYR depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 1,300 MYR per month. That number can be get as low as 430 MYR or a high as 6,800 MYR. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 770 MYR to 14,000 MYR with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes66%

No34%

Based on the survey, 34% of the people living in Malaysia said that they don't have an emergency fund while 66% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy61%

We asked residents of whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 39% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 61% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 29% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 71% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance29%

Easily manages finances71%

Affordable living in Malaysia

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Malaysia?

Around 66% of surveyed residents think that living in Malaysia is affordable with proper budgeting while 34% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Malaysia

Rent Cost in Malaysia

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

690 MYR

1,000 MYR

2,800 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$150

$220

$580

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,000 MYR

1,700 MYR

4,100 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$220

$350

$870

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 MYR

2,100 MYR

5,500 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$440

$1,200

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,700 MYR

2,800 MYR

7,500 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350

$580

$1,600

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

3,300 MYR

8,300 MYR

17,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700

$1,700

$3,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

2,800 MYR

4,100 MYR

12,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580

$870

$2,500

House monthly rent cost

3,300 MYR

8,300 MYR

17,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700

$1,700

$3,500

Villa monthly rent cost

4,100 MYR

10,000 MYR

17,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$870

$2,200

$3,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Malaysia ranges between 690 MYR and 2,800 MYR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,000 MYR to 4,100 MYR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,400 MYR and 5,500 MYR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 1,700 MYR to 7,500 MYR. The average rent of a townhouse in Malaysia is around 4,100 MYR while house rental costs can be as high as 8,300 MYR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 4,100 MYR to 17,000 MYR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Malaysia

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

140,000 MYR

210,000 MYR

410,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29,000

$44,000

$87,000

1-bedroom apartment price

170,000 MYR

280,000 MYR

1M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35,000

$58,000

$220,000

2-bedroom apartment price

280,000 MYR

830,000 MYR

1.7M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$58,000

$170,000

$350,000

3-bedroom apartment price

920,000 MYR

1.4M MYR

4.1M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190,000

$290,000

$870,000

Townhouse price

1.2M MYR

2.8M MYR

10M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250,000

$580,000

$2.2M

House price

1.4M MYR

8.3M MYR

12M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290,000

$1.7M

$2.5M

Villa price

1.7M MYR

9.2M MYR

14M MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350,000

$1.9M

$2.9M

The average price of a studio apartment in Malaysia can range from 140,000 MYR to 410,000 MYR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 170,000 MYR to 1M MYR. A villa can cost you 9.2M MYR on average with prices ranging from 1.7M MYR to 14M MYR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Malaysia can be x121 to x213 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x121 multiples of the average monthly salary in Malaysia.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Malaysia is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 22% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Malaysia

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 24% of the people in Malaysia have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 76% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Malaysia

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 28% of the people's monthly income in Malaysia goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Malaysia pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 11% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 11% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 13% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 16% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Malaysia

14% of debtors in Malaysia confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 24% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 23% of people and personal loans rose at 36%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Malaysia.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Malaysia

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Financial goals of people in Malaysia

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Malaysia, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 6% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 32% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 7% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 9% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 16% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 9% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 11% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 8% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Malaysia is 5,500 MYR. Expenses can range from 770 MYR at the minimum level to 37,000 MYR at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Malaysia is 9,100 MYR. Expenditure can range from 3,000 MYR to 49,000 MYR per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Malaysia is 12,000 MYR per month. Families spend anywhere from 4,300 MYR to 79,000 MYR.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Malaysia is 4,000 MYR. Students spend from 610 MYR to 27,000 MYR per month.

Saving Challenges in Malaysia

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Malaysia. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 7% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 10% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 19% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 10% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 9% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 7% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 16% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 10% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Malaysia

Where do people choose to put their savings?

How much money can you save in Malaysia every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Malaysia manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 66% of the surveyed people in Malaysia said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 34% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Malaysia

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 13% to 33% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 21% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 2,800 MYR on average with savings ranging from 220 MYR to 28,000 MYR.

66% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 61% of couples said the same. 56% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Malaysia?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 16% to 35% of their monthly income to savings, with 25% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 1,900 MYR with 220 MYR and 13,000 MYR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 14% to 34% of their monthly income, with 23% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 3,200 MYR with 1,100 MYR and 17,000 MYR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Malaysia can save anywhere between 12% to 30% of their monthly income, with 20% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 4,300 MYR with 1,500 MYR and 28,000 MYR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Low-cost alternatives in Malaysia

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options40%

Based on the survey, 60% of the people living in Malaysia have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

How do people spend their money in Malaysia?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Malaysia typically spend from 16% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 27% being the average. The average spend on housing is 2,400 MYR with expenditure ranging from 180 MYR to 24,000 MYR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Malaysia ranges from 3% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 400 MYR with 30 MYR and 4,000 MYR being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 61 MYR to 7,900 MYR on commuting with 790 MYR being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 9% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 13%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Malaysia is 2,000 MYR. The cost of groceries can range between 150 MYR to 20,000 MYR. People spend on average about 26% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 18% and 32% respectively.

People in Malaysia allocate 3% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 43 MYR to 5,500 MYR with 550 MYR being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 24 MYR to 3,200 MYR with 320 MYR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 10% of total expenses with an average of 6% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 470 MYR per month with 37 MYR being the minimum spent amount and 4,700 MYR being the maximum.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Malaysia

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Malaysia and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Malaysia

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Malaysia

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Malaysia

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Malaysia

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

46 MYR

330 MYR

2,200 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$9.8

$69

$460

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

120 MYR

410 MYR

2,700 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$26

$87

$570

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

210 MYR

610 MYR

4,000 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$45

$130

$840

Internet and cable cost

41 MYR

83 MYR

110 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.7

$17

$23

Mobile phone bill and charges

33 MYR

55 MYR

170 MYR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7

$12

$35

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Malaysia ranges between 46 MYR and 2,200 MYR with average being 330 MYR, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 410 MYR with 120 MYR and 2,700 MYR being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 610 MYR. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 41 MYR to 110 MYR with 83 MYR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 55 MYR but can range between 33 MYR and 170 MYR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Malaysia is around 5%. This means that people pay 5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 9% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Malaysia

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Malaysia is 83% This means that on average, people spend around 83% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 18% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
75%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

68%

84%

Couple
79%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

71%

88%

Family
87%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

79%

98%

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Malaysia

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Malaysia

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Malaysia