Malaysia Cost of Living Calculator for Expats
Pick a city, your household and the kind of home you want to get a rough monthly budget for living in Malaysia.
Typical monthly prices by city (RM)
| City | 1-bed centre | 3-bed outside | Bills* | Cheap meal | Living costs, 1 person** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | 2,525 | 2,647 | 396 | 20 | 2,413 |
| Penang (George Town) | 2,067 | 4,050 | 303 | 14 | No estimate |
| Johor Bahru | 2,125 | 2,600 | 377 | 15 | 2,321 |
| Melaka (rough) | 700 | 700 | 377 | 10 | No estimate |
| Kuching | 1,488 | 1,955 | 290 | 14 | 2,202 |
* Electricity, water and gas for an 85 m² flat, home internet and a mobile plan. ** Everything except rent. Source: Numbeo, October 2026. These are crowd-sourced estimates, not official figures.
Thinking of buying instead of renting? Use the property buying cost calculator. For long stays, compare MM2H and the DE Rantau nomad pass.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need a month to live in Kuala Lumpur?
A single person renting a one-bedroom flat in the city centre needs about RM4,938 a month on typical figures: about RM2,525 rent plus about RM2,413 for food, transport, bills and other spending. Health insurance and school fees come on top.
Which Malaysian city is cheapest for expats?
Of the cities here, Kuching and Melaka have the lowest rents, and Johor Bahru and Penang are cheaper than central Kuala Lumpur. Day-to-day spending outside rent is fairly similar between KL, Johor Bahru and Kuching.
Where do these figures come from?
From Numbeo, a site where residents report the prices they pay, as of October 2026. They are estimates, not official statistics, and your own costs depend on where you live and how you spend. Penang and Melaka have few reports, so treat those figures as rough.
Do foreigners pay more for petrol and transport?
Yes, in places. Foreigners pay the unsubsidised RON95 petrol price, about RM4.67 a litre in October 2026, because the subsidised price is for Malaysians. In Kuala Lumpur the cheap My50 monthly pass is for Malaysians only; foreigners can buy the RM150 Rapid KL monthly pass.
How much is health insurance?
International health plans from global insurers averaged about RM1,680 a month for one person and RM4,695 for a family, according to one broker's client data. Local Malaysian medical cards cost much less.
Sources
- Numbeo - Kuala Lumpur (independent guide)
- Numbeo - George Town (independent guide)
- Numbeo - Johor Bahru (independent guide)
- Numbeo - Malacca (independent guide)
- Numbeo - Kuching (independent guide)
- The Vibes - MOF weekly fuel price (7 Oct 2026) (independent guide)
- SoyaCincau - Rapid KL Rapid Bulanan RM150 pass (Jun 2026) (independent guide)
- Pacific Prime - health insurance cost in Malaysia (independent guide)
Rules last checked: Wed, 14 October 2026. Rules change; if something looks out of date, trust the official source (Immigration Department, MM2H Centre or LHDN) over this page.