Cost of Living in Malaysia for International Students 2024

Here are some facts as to why Malaysia is considered an affordable country in terms of cost of living. Stick around to see the estimated cost of living in Malaysia for international students in 2024.

Overall Cost of Living in Malaysia for International Students Per Month

Take a look at this simple breakdown of the necessary monthly expenses you will need:

Disclaimer: the estimated budget range is for a single person.

These overall expenses may differ based on the city you choose to study in. However, generally speaking, the average cost of living in Malaysia for international students including rent ranges from RM1,700 to 2,600 (USD 365 - 557).

Accommodation

The average cost of accommodation for international students in Malaysia will range from RM600 to RM1,500 (USD 128 - USD 320) depending on the type of unit you rent.

Room in Shared Apartment

Ideally, students rent a master bedroom or a single bedroom in shared apartments. This is one way to enjoy the company of other housemates while saving some money.

Full Apartment 

The average rental rate for full apartments is RM1,500 (USD 320)  in bigger cities. This is an excellent option for international students with family

Renting a full apartment can have its advantages, such as privacy, rather than having to share with other housemates. 

So, at the end of the day, it is your decision to make, whether you would share accommodation or rent a full apartment,  based on your personal budget for each month.

Food

Eating at Restaurants

Eating out in Malaysia can be cheap yet delicious and flavorful. You can expect to spend around RM550 (USD 118) when eating out one or two meals a day.

Cooking at Home

One better thing you can do is cook for yourself in your apartment or dorm. This will cost you around RM350 (USD75)  per month, and you will get to enjoy your own personalized dishes that are healthier and authentic to you.

Keep in mind that some university dorms may not allow cooking indoors. You will have to resort to eating at the university cafes/buffets or restaurants.

Groceries 

Your essential groceries may include:

• Cleaning products, 
• Skin/body care
• Lights foods, fruits and snacks
• Stationary 
• Medicine 

All in all, your groceries will round up to around RM200 (USD 43) when you buy your monthly essentials. 

Tip of the day:

It is important to spare a small budget in case some emergency happens such as getting sick or running out of food/snacks. Always have some saved-up amount. 

Bills

Your monthly bills will include electricity, Wi-Fi, cellular internet, and water. Thankfully, bills in Malaysia are affordable for international students.

When Living Alone

Your electricity bills will be based on how much power you use for your air-conditioners, fans, etc. Expect to pay around RM100 (USD 22)  for electricity while paying RM50 (more or less) for internet services.

Water bills are incredibly cheap in Malaysia, amounting to roughly RM10 (USD 3) monthly–unless you keep the water running all day long. P.S. don’t do that!

When Sharing Bills with Others

Sharing a place with others ultimately means you will pay less bills such as that for the internet. You may expect to pay around RM30 (USD 6) if you share an apartment with housemates.

Transport

Transport like e-hailing services or using subway stations will be part of your cost of living  in Malaysia as an international student. If you choose to ride in e-hailing private rides, that will cost you roughly RM100 (USD 22) monthly.

Using subway stations is a much more budget-friendly option, as it might only cost you RM25 per month.

Speaking of transport, fele free to check-out our article on transport options for international students in Malaysia. (create internal link)

Entertainment

There are various types of entertainment for international students:

• Museum Tickets
• Music Concerts
• Cinema Tickets
• Sports Classes (i.e. Tennis, Gym)

Each type of entertainment may range from RM20 to RM35 (USD 5 to USD 8), depending on the location or type of event. In any case, we encourage you to have fun and use the entertainment resources available.

There are free entertainment opportunities for those looking to stay on a lower budget. Public parks, open gyms, walk-in art galleries are available and they can be more fun than any other source of entertainment! 

So, do you believe that Malaysia is affordable?

The cost of living in Malaysia for international students is affordable due to a combination of low-cost accommodation, various food options to suit all budgets, all types of entertainment that are either cheap or free, and accessible cheap transportation at all times.

If you are planning to move to Malaysia, be sure to reach out to us and we will assist you in making the decision to finally move in and start your journey as a student.