Cost of Living in Malaysia

Most international students while planning their study abroad journey only plan for some of the basic necessities like tuition fees, accommodation and travel expenses. But while planning, they miss out on one of the most important things which is the cost of living in a country. In this blog, we are going to take a look at the cost of living in Malaysia as this can help you plan your study abroad journey more effectively.

Why Study in Malaysia?

There can be a common question in everyone’s mind “Why should I consider studying in Malaysia”. Let us give you a heads-up that Malaysia is a country in Asia that is developing rapidly and here are some of the key benefits of studying in Malaysia:

• There is a myth that studying abroad can always be costly which is not true in the case of Malaysia. One of the main reasons why you should choose to study in Malaysia is the affordability. The living expenses and tuition fees here are low compared to other countries
• You get quality education at affordable rates as according to QS World Ranking 2023, there are many Universities in Malaysia that have secured their ranks among the top 1000.
• Malaysia has a welcoming and diverse nation, you can find people from various nationalities like India, China, Indonesia and so on. This can help you in getting global exposure and in understanding other cultures.

Also Read: Cost of Living in Paris

Cost of Living in Malaysia

The cost of living can be extremely subjective. It completely depends on your preferences and your lifestyle. We will discuss some of the basic necessities and hopefully, this will give you a fair idea about the cost of living in Malaysia.

Accommodation

The most important expense in a study abroad journey is accommodation costs. This cost can highly vary depending on the features, size and location of the accommodation option. If you try to get accommodation in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur or Penang, they are more expensive than accommodation in rural areas or smaller towns. Off-campus and home stays in these regions are usually expensive in the range of USD 400-500 but they usually have fewer rules and are features loaded. Alternatively, if you are short on budget you can try getting an on-campus accommodation option of your respective University which can cost around USD 90 to 200. 

Transportation 

In terms of transportation, Malaysia has a well-developed public transportation system that can be comfortable and cost-efficient at the same time. Public transportation is the most common way of travelling around Malaysia as it covers most of the cities and towns. Buses, trains, and rail transit are available and the cost ranges from USD 0.2 to USD 2 per trip (can vary depending on the distance). However private transports are not too costly in Malaysia and can range from USD 1 to USD 10 depending on the distance and hourly charge. But can also include some additional expenses like refuelling, toll fees, parking fees and so on.

Food

Food is an essential necessity for every human being but the cost can be highly influenced depending on your habits and preferences. If you prefer eating out from fancy restaurants then it can be a bit costly in Malaysia. Getting a decent meal from a local restaurant can cost around USD 2 to 5 whereas fine cuisines can cost even higher. The best way for an international student to save money on food is by cooking your own food. On average it will cost around USD 200 for your monthly groceries. 

Also Read – Cost of living calculator

Detailed Costs

Now we will provide you with some detailed costs of some items and services in Malaysia. This can help you to have a fair idea about the cost of living in Malaysia and help you to plan your study abroad journey effectively:

Also Read: Cost of Living in Spain

FAQs

This was all the details about the Cost of Living in Malaysia. If you are planning to study in Malaysia don’t forget to reach out to us at 1800 57 2000 and contact our Leverage Edu experts to make your study abroad process hassle-free.