Country topic
Cost of living in Malaysia
Prices overall in Malaysia were about 0.32 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 31.63, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. We found no dated, sourced figures for groceries, electricity or internet, so those are unknown. [Cost of living C1] Five adverts for furnished flats of 330 to 734 sq ft in Kuala Lumpur, seen on 10 October 2026, asked RM 2,200 to RM 2,980 a month: RM 2,200 in Brickfields, RM 2,600 and RM 2,700 in Bangsar South, and RM 2,800 and RM 2,980 at Datum Jelatek. These are asking rents on individual adverts, not a city average, and availability was not confirmed. [C2] [C3] [C4] [C5] [C6]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall in Malaysia were about 0.32 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 31.63, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. We found no dated, sourced figures for groceries, electricity or internet, so those are unknown. [Cost of living C1]
- Five adverts for furnished flats of 330 to 734 sq ft in Kuala Lumpur, seen on 10 October 2026, asked RM 2,200 to RM 2,980 a month: RM 2,200 in Brickfields, RM 2,600 and RM 2,700 in Bangsar South, and RM 2,800 and RM 2,980 at Datum Jelatek. These are asking rents on individual adverts, not a city average, and availability was not confirmed. [C2] [C3] [C4] [C5] [C6]
- One furnished one-bedroom of 618 sq ft in George Town was advertised at RM 2,300 a month, with a monthly maintenance fee and sinking fund of RM 179 mentioned in the advert, whose text also contains the words “For Sale”. One furnished one-bedroom of 574 sq ft in Johor Bahru was listed at RM 2,100 on 9 October 2026. Each is one advert, not a city average. [C7] [C8]
- One Brickfields advert asks for a month’s rent in advance plus 8% SST, a two-month security deposit, a half-month utilities deposit and tenancy stamping fees. MDEC strongly advises against significant expenses, such as rental deposits, before your DE Rantau pass is approved and endorsed, and says it will not bear the losses. [C2] [C9]
- Malaysia’s health minister said in January 2026 that foreigners pay RM 120 for a specialist outpatient visit at a public hospital, against RM 1 to RM 5 for Malaysians, and that the ministry now requires deposits from foreign patients before treatment, according to the New Straits Times. [C10]
- Canada’s travel advice says good health care is only available in major cities and payment is expected at the time of service. The US State Department says hospitals require advance payment even if you have insurance. MDEC lists a valid health insurance policy covering Malaysia among the documents for a DE Rantau pass. We found no dated private insurance or private hospital prices, so those costs are unknown. [C11] [C12] [C9]
- The RM 50 My50 pass, with unlimited public transport in the Klang Valley for 30 days, is for Malaysians. The Rapid KL pass for foreign tourists costs RM 25 a day or RM 55 for three days, according to Bernama on 5 February 2026. We found no monthly transport cost for a foreign resident, so it is unknown. [C13]
- The World Health Organization’s universal health coverage service coverage index for Malaysia is 80 out of 100 (2023). [C14]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
92 of 100Strong
Price level 0.316 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Malaysia. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Malaysia.
Topics
More about Malaysia.
Questions about Cost of living in Malaysia.
How much does it cost to live in Malaysia?
Prices overall are about 0.32 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank, 2025), an average rather than a budget. Furnished flats in Kuala Lumpur were advertised at RM 2,200 to RM 2,980 a month on 10 October 2026. We found no dated figures for groceries, electricity or internet, so those are unknown.
How much is rent in Kuala Lumpur?
Five adverts for furnished flats of 330 to 734 sq ft, seen on 10 October 2026, asked RM 2,200 to RM 2,980 a month in Brickfields, Bangsar South and Datum Jelatek. These are asking rents on individual adverts, not a city average, and availability was not confirmed.
How much deposit do landlords ask for in Malaysia?
One Brickfields advert asks for a month’s rent in advance plus 8% SST, a two-month security deposit, a half-month utilities deposit and stamping fees. That is one advert, so ask each landlord. MDEC advises against paying deposits before your nomad pass is approved and endorsed.
What does healthcare cost for foreigners in Malaysia?
Malaysia’s health minister said a specialist outpatient visit at a public hospital costs foreigners RM 120, against RM 1 to RM 5 for Malaysians, and deposits are required (New Straits Times, January 2026). We found no dated private hospital or insurance prices, so those are unknown.
How much is public transport in Kuala Lumpur?
The RM 50 My50 monthly pass is for Malaysians. The Rapid KL pass for foreign tourists costs RM 25 a day or RM 55 for three days, according to Bernama on 5 February 2026. We found no monthly cost for a foreign resident, so it is unknown.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [MY C1] Price level index (GDP), Malaysia, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 31.63 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Malaysia, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C2] Studio, Sentral Suites, Brickfields (listing 73827), Property Hunter (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C3] Fully furnished 1+1 serviced residence, Bangsar South View (listing 71881), Property Hunter (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C4] Fully furnished unit, Bangsar South View Residence (listing 73714), Property Hunter (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C5] Fully furnished one-bedroom, Datum Jelatek (listing 74178), Property Hunter (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C6] Fully furnished unit, Datum Jelatek Residence (listing 73785), Property Hunter (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C7] Fully furnished one-bedroom, Mansion One, George Town (listing 502077435), iProperty (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C8] Fully furnished one-bedroom, SKS Pavillion Residences, Johor Bahru (listing 106578569), iProperty (private property portal). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C9] DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C10] Foreigners rack up RM102mil in unpaid bills at public hospitals since 2023, New Straits Times (Malaysian newspaper, not official). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C11] Malaysia travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 11 October 2026.
- [C12] Malaysia international travel information, US Department of State (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C13] Rapid KL passes and the My50 pass, Bernama (Malaysian national news agency, not official). Checked 10 October 2026.
- [C14] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026.