Travel budget and cost of living in Malaysia how much does a trip cost?

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.

* 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 2025

Cost of living: Malaysia VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Malaysia in 2025 is 53% 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:

Local prices in Malaysia by expense type

Malaysia: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 3.6/person
($ 2.2 to $ 5.9)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 12/person
($ 7 to $ 24)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 4.4/person
($ 3.8 to $ 4.7)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 3.6 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 6.6)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 3.7 for 330ml
($ 1.8 to $ 5.6)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 2.8/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 4.2)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.8)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Malaysia: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 40/night
($ 16 to $ 252)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

2-star hotel

$ 44/night
($ 15 to $ 261)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 156

3-star hotel

$ 59/night
($ 20 to $ 268)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 229

4-star hotel

$ 74/night
($ 32 to $ 335)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 320

5-star hotel

$ 112/night
($ 57 to $ 317)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 515

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 41/month
($ 20 to $ 212)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

Room with kitchen

$ 86/month
($ 30 to $ 366)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 84/month
($ 30 to $ 333)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

Cottage or guest house

$ 67/month
($ 40 to $ 199)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 234

Family room

$ 82/month
($ 24 to $ 394)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203

Malaysia: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.4)

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68% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.8/500g
($ 1.4 to $ 3.2)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 2/12 eggs
($ 1.2 to $ 3.3)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 4.1/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 6.1)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.1)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.4)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1/kg
($ 0.4 to $ 1.8)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Malaysia: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.8/ticket
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.8/km
($ 0.3 to $ 1.4)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 0.5/litre
($ 0.5 to $ 0.5)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.2
($ 0.8 to $ 1.4)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Car hire

$ 47/24hrs
($ 35 to $ 78)

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35% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73

Malaysia: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 4.7/ticket
($ 3.6 to $ 7)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 6.4/hr
($ 3.6 to $ 11)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

Malaysia: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 4.2/pack
($ 4.1 to $ 5.2)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 60
($ 24 to $ 95)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 34
($ 18 to $ 60)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Kuala Lumpur

$ 503
(fair price: $ 410)

Sydney → Kuala Lumpur

$ 557
(fair price: $ 461)

Manchester → Kuala Lumpur

$ 892
(fair price: $ 775)

London → Kuala Lumpur

$ 970
(fair price: $ 810)

Sydney → Penang

$ 532
(fair price: $ 449)

New York City → Kuala Lumpur

$ 1144
(fair price: $ 945)

Book a flight Flight prices to Malaysia