Cost of Living in Malaysia

"I pay US$600/mo rent, food @US$10/day (eating out/with non-alc. drink), Grab Taxi anywhere in town (up to 5 miles) US $2-5. Beer $1-2 tin/bottle. Bottle of Australian wine US$15-25!!! Local lankau rice wine or toddy $1-2. I spend about US$1200/month...tack on regional air trips and health insurance and it might go up to US$1500. Air-fare to Singapore US$20-50, double that to Bali, Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City (routing through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore). That's about what they expect a S-MM2H single applicant to show," wrote a person living in Kuching.

"Exceeded. We can do almost anything financially because our money goes so much further. A high end Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles with sushi will run around $150 in Los Angeles in Tojong Tokong, Straights Quay, Marina which is high end costs less then $30.00 for two people," said one person in Tojong Tokong, Penang Island.

"Generally speaking, living in Malaysia can be significantly less expensive compared to the United States. Regular expenses such as groceries, utilities, transportation, and dining out tend to be much lower in Malaysia than in the United States. The cost of housing is also much lower in many areas of Malaysia. Additionally, certain taxes, such as sales tax, are not present in Malaysia, making it a particularly cost-effective country to live in," remarked one expat in Malaysia.

"I would love to stay in Malaysia permenately. Financially it is a viable place for us to live as retired," explained one expat living in Penang.

"Exceeded them, definitely. Cost of Living is very low here, except for wine and spirits, which are taxed heavily. But I can still get a tin of cheap beer for @US$1. My 3BR/2B penthouse condo costs US$600/month and has a gym, pool, mall, and loads of cafes and shops withing strolling distance. I tend to eat local and avoid Fast Food places which are considered "luxury" restaurants here," said one expat in Kuching.

"It's higher. A good furnished apartment in Georgetown would cost around RM.1500-3500 ($450 - 1100)," said one expat in Penang.

"Housing rental charges are a lot higher here than in my native New Zealand. Typical monthly rental for a house is between 8000 and 12000 ringgit - say 2500 to 4000 USD. Apartments are cheaper, maybe 1000 to 2500 USD per month," wrote a person living in Kuala Lumpur.

"The average cost of housing in Malaysia is generally considered to be fairly moderate, with prices depending on the location, size, and amenities. Prices can range from as low as a few hundred RM to several thousand RM per month, depending on the chosen accommodation. The cost of housing in urban areas tends to be higher than in rural or suburban areas," explained one expat living in Malaysia.

"The price of a nice one bedroom apartment in Malaysia is typically in the range of mid to high hundreds per month, while the price of a nice two bedroom apartment in Malaysia is typically in the range of low to mid thousands of US Dollars per month," said an expat in Malaysia.

"In Malaysia, rental properties typically include common appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters, air conditioners, and cooking stoves. In some cases, the rental property may also have a microwave, dishwasher, oven, and other kitchen appliances," remarked one expat living in Malaysia.