The Cost of Travel in Malaysia: My 2025 Budget Breakdown

Malaysia is wildly underrated.

This country is usually one of the least prioritised by travellers to Southeast Asia, and it’s such a shame that it’s so often overlooked. Malaysia has so much to offer its visitors; people who skip over it don’t know what they’re missing out on!

Hopefully the fact that you’re reading this article means you’re not going to be one of them.

Malaysia has everything you could possibly need from a travel destination and all for an affordable price. You’ve got one of the best cuisines in the world, some of the best beaches in the world, and some of the most impressive wildlife in the world. There’s modern cities, lush rainforest, world-class street art, a vibrant culture, and friendly locals.

But not only that: it’s also easy to travel around the country. English is widely spoken, tourism infrastructure functions well, and there’s a well-trodden tourist trail that’ll whisk you to all of the major hotspots. Getting off the beaten track is just as easy, though, and you’ll never feel unwelcome if you rock up to a small village to have a look around.

What more could you ask for?

Low prices? Yep! Malaysia is a relatively inexpensive country, especially in comparison to neighbouring Singapore. Your money will go far here, even post-pandemic, when prices are skyrocketing all around the world.

I’ve spent the better part of two months travelling the length of breadth of Malaysia, including both the mainland and parts of Borneo.

I’ve eaten some of the best food of my life in Kuala Lumpur, eaten even better in Kota Kinabalu, then eaten even better in Penang. I’ve trekked through the verdant Cameron Highlands and spotted wild pygmy elephants alongside the Kinabatangan River. I’ve been spellbound by the beaches of the Perhentian Islands, the vintage architecture of Malacca, and the cave temples of Ipoh.

Needless to say, I’ve seen a lot of this country and every time I return, I find more reasons to fall in love with Malaysia.

When I travel, I always make sure to track every single dollar, peso, and baht that I spend (I now have over 70 budget breakdowns on the site!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Malaysia’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing.

Settle down and make yourself a cosy cup of teh tarik, because this article is going to be a detailed one. Let’s get stuck in.

What’s Included in This Guide 

This budget breakdown is going to cover how much I spent on accommodation, transportation, activities, and food while I travelled around the country — as well as any relevant miscellaneous items that cropped up while I was there.

I won’t be including the cost of my flights into and out of Malaysia, since this is going to vary significantly based on where you’ll be arriving from. I do, however, always recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights. If you’ll be travelling overland from Thailand, Singapore, or Indonesia, I recommend booking transportation through 12Go.

The prices listed in this guide are primarily in U.S. dollars, simply because the vast majority of my readers are based there, and I’ve also converted prices into both euros and pounds for my fellow Europeans. Any more currencies than that and the guide would start to get unreadable, so I do apologise for not being able to include every possible option.

I have three rules when it comes to running Never Ending Footsteps:

• No press trips, sponsored activities, or freebies: I strictly pay for everything myself so that I can give fair and accurate reviews.
• Always travel anonymously: I want to ensure service providers treat me the same as they would you; I don’t want to receive special treatment, as that prevents me from being able to accurately assess an experience.
• Never, ever AI: Every photo in this article is taken with my camera and every word is typed by my hands. All experiences are ones I’ve personally had. Rest assured that I have never, and will never, use AI on this site.

As a result, this guide does contain affiliate links. What that means is that if you decide to make a purchase through one of the links in this article, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Your support is what helps keep me on the road, putting these guides together, and Never Ending Footsteps sponsor-free. You can also buy me a coffee if you want to directly support my work!

With all of that out of the way, let’s start diving into those expenses.

How to Save Money on Accommodation in Malaysia

As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.

Housesitting is a great option for free accommodation. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house while they’re away, and usually look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees as you can’t pick and choose dates and destinations, so you need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.

If you do have that freedom, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. I have friends who have housesat in castles before! For free! Trusted Housesitters is the best site for getting started with housesitting, as they have the highest number of listings.

The Cost of Accommodation in Malaysia 

I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.

The first of these are hostels. In Malaysia, you’ll find hostels all over the country, from tiny islands to large cities and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.

And, of course, there are always hotels, which will usually come in at around $30-$70 a night for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use Booking, as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices.

That being said, if hostels aren’t your jam, you can still find a number of amazing hotel and homestay options for a great price. You might be looking at anywhere from $50-$100 a night for these places, depending on their location in the city. 

Here’s a list of my favourite accommodation options in Malaysia:

Kuala Lumpur — Star KLCC ($55 a night): Kuala Lumpur is one of those capital cities that’s more than just a stopover. I’d recommend spending at least 3 days before onwards travel through Malaysia; and there’s no better place to stay than Star KLCC. Right in the heart of the city, with amazing views and an easy walk to lovely KLCC park and the famous Petronas Towers, I really couldn’t have asked for a better location to explore KL from. My room was super clean and spacious, I loved having access to the pool to cool off after a long day walking around the city, and there was even a gym so I could try and work off some of those delicious curries I’d been eating!

George Town — Ren I Tang Heritage Inn ($58 a night): Penang, and specifically George Town has my heart. I stayed at Ren I Tang for a week and I don’t think I could have chosen a better short-term home. It’s in a lovely old building from the 1800s that’s been fully restored but kept so many of the original features, from timber floors to a rope pulley to take luggage up to the top levels! Each room is a little different, adding to the charm. The breakfast is great, with Western and several local options each day., Malay, and the location can’t be beat: right in the heart of Little India, only a couple of blocks from Love Lane and all the murals and street art that Penang is famous for.

Langkawi — The Smith House ($65 a night): For an affordable but luxurious island stay, look no further than The Smith House. The rooms are super-spacious, clean, well-decorated, and include a smart TV for chilling in the evening. I felt that I was staying in a hotel that is much more expensive than it is, with such lovely rooms and wonderful staff. They always made me feel right at home with their friendliness and assistance: whatever I wanted to do on the island, they could easily help arrange it. That’s assuming you can drag yourself away from the gorgeous, sunny rooftop pool, of course!

Cameron Highlands — Fathers Guesthouse ($31 a night): Located in a peaceful spot but with easy access to the small town of Tanah Rata, Fathers Guesthouse is the perfect place to stay during your time in the Cameron Highlands. After a day of meandering through the famous tea plantations, forests, and lavender farms, I loved returning to the friendly staff, clean room, and relaxed atmosphere here. I had a bit of a personal issue while I was there and wasn’t able to go out for dinner one evening: one of the lovely staff members offered to go out and pick something up for me instead! Now that’s good service!

Malacca — Old Town Guesthouse ($32 a night): While visiting the historical city of Malacca, I’d highly recommend staying at the Old Town Guesthouse. It’s nice and close to the major attractions in the city like Christ Church and the Jonker Street night market, with lively, colorful decor that makes the place really come alive, but it’s the friendliness of the owner that really made the difference for me. Chatty and happy to share his recommendations on the best food and attractions in Malacca and the rest of the country, he really helped me make the most of my time in this lovely part of Malaysia.

Ipoh — Ipoh Bali Hotel ($65 a night): I’m so glad I made a short stop in the quaint city of Ipoh. It’s a great place to visit on your way to or from the Cameron Highlands and it has a lot of the charm that I loved about George Town—only with less crowds! Staying at the cozy Ipoh Bali Hotel meant that all the best parts of town were just a short Grab/taxi ride away, although honestly my room was so lovely, it was tempting just to stay inside and chill instead! It was great to have breakfast included (you choose what you’d like the day before, and get a call in the morning when it’s ready), and I loved being able to have a bath for a change: most hotels in Malaysia are shower-only, but not this one!

The Cost of Transportation in Malaysia  

I found transportation around Malaysia to be quite affordable. I mostly just used it between cities, since most of the accommodation I stayed in was close enough to the main attractions that I just walked wherever I needed to go. On the odd occasion when I needed to go further, though, Grab (the Southeast Asia Uber equivalent) really came in handy and again, didn’t cost much.

Buses —For long distance travel between cities, buses are the way to go. They leave very frequently from major bus stations and I found them to be pretty punctual and comfortable. There are over 100 bus companies to choose from in Malaysia; I can personally would recommend travelling with any of the below because of their good value and reputation. I mostly travelled with Plusliner and Transnasional and have no complaints!

• Super Nice 
• Plusliner 
• Transnasional 

A one-way bus ticket will cost you around $4-$11 (RM 15-RM 50) depending on the time and route. You can also book bus tickets and compare prices of companies on 12Go Asia, this was a super easy way for me to book intercity travel during my time in Malaysia 

Motorbike — If you or a travel partner is comfortable, I’d recommend renting a scooter or motorbike for daily excursions, specifically in Penang, Langkawi and the Cameron Highlands. It’s a cheap, fun, and easy way to get around in places where local public transport isn’t as frequent or widespread. You’re looking at anywhere from $4-$8 a day (RM 20-RM 40), depending on the age and model of bike and how long you’re renting for. That doesn’t include gas which only costs around RM 10/$2 for a gallon. 

Grab Taxi — I loved the convenience of Grab, specifically during my time in Kuala Lumpur. Grab isn’t in demand outside of major cities (this is when renting a motorbike comes in handy), but it’s a cheap and easy way to get around if you need to go a little further out or are short on time. I just looked through a bunch of my Grab receipts, and my cheapest one-way fare was 85 cents (RM 4) and my most expensive one was $5.50 (RM 25). Not bad at all!

Flight — When I was travelling to Langkawi, my ferry got cancelled due to rough seas, so I ended up taking a last minute flight with AirAsia. In general, I wouldn’t recommend travelling by plane for the most part just because buses are so easy and cheap, but if you have to, then definitely go with AirAsia. My flight ended up costing me $30 (RM 143). 

Ferry — Since the pandemic, the ferry between Penang and Langkawi sadly no longer operates: you now need to travel from either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis further up the coast. Getting there is a bit of a hassle, so most tourists now fly that route instead. If you did want to take the ferry, though, it leaves twice a day in both directions and costs RM27-34.50 ($6-7.50) each way . 

The Cost of Food in Malaysia 

Wow. What can I say about Malaysian food that will do it justice? I can easily say that out of all the places I’ve been, Malaysia has to be in my top three for food. The fusion of Indian, Chinese, and local Malay flavors result in a huge variety of dishes and specialties that will create a party in your belly. 

When it comes to Malaysian food, it’s hard to go wrong, but these are some of my favorite dishes that you absolutely have to try while you’re there:

• Char kuay teow (stir-fry noodles)
• Nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk with a spicy chili sauce)
• Banana leaf (a banana leaf plate with rice and a variety of curries)
• Laksa (spicy noodle soup)
• Cendol (a dessert made with shaved ice, coconut milk, jelly and palm sugar) 

Because of the delicious tastes and affordable costs, I pretty much always ate out during my travels in Malaysia. Penang and Kuala Lumpur are specifically foodie hotspots, with several street food markets and stalls and a near-endless range of great restaurants. Compared to many other countries, eating out is easy, delicious, and cheap!

The only real exception is alcohol: it’s only allowed to be sold to non-Muslims, and has the third-highest tax rate in the world. For that reason, you may find yourself drinking less booze than usual while you’re here! If you do want a beer to help wash down that spicy laksa, you’ll pay around $2 (RM 9-10) for a can of Tiger from a convenience store, or RM 15 in a restaurant.

You can expect to pay around $2-$6.50 (RM 10-RM30) for street food dishes like the ones I mentioned above. I’d recommend getting a couple of smaller dishes paired with a water or soft drink; it’ll only cost you around $6-7 for your meal. It doesn’t cost much more in small local restaurants either, especially away from the tourist areas.

Because a simple breakfast is included at most hostels, if I only ate at local restaurants and street food stands for lunch and dinner, I’d typically spend around $15 (RM 72) per day on food. 

The other thing worth noting about Malaysia is that there’s an incredible coffee culture scene. I typically worked from a different coffee shop everyday, and found the coffee and food scene there to be both high-quality and reasonably priced.

A good latte will set you back around $3 (RM 15), so if you’re like me and have a huge affinity for cute cafes, then add on another $5 – $10 per day (RM 24 – RM 48). When you’re in Penang, you have to have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake at ChinaHouse. I can highly recommend the tiramisu!

The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Malaysia   

Of all the things I loved about travel in Malaysia, being able to have an amazing time without spending much on tourist activities was right near the top. My favorite memories mostly involve me exploring the myriad of street art, architecture, and stunning natural attractions, and of course, eating all the food. 

George Town and Kuala Lumpur are shining stars for this. I got so much joy from simply spending my days on a treasure hunt for all the famous street murals in George Town, while in Kuala Lumpur, the exquisite temples and bustling street life of Chinatown and Little India left me energised every time I left my hotel!

Of all the places I went and things I did, seeing the Batu Caves (on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur) was absolutely one of the stand-out attractions. You might be familiar with the caves if you follow a lot of travel influencers, as it’s become a pretty popular spot. It’s not hard to understand why, given all of the colorful, rainbow-painted steps surrounded by gorgeous limestone cliffs. I’d never seen anything like it in my life.

This is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India, and once you climb to the top and meander through the series of cave temples, you’ll definitely understand why. Just make sure you don’t have any exposed food, or else those pesky monkeys will be all over you. 

Elsewhere in Malaysia, I still had an absolute blast. A friend recommended that I sign up for a cycling tour in Penang, and I wasn’t disappointed. This was a great way to see another side of the island up close and through the eyes of someone who has lived there his whole life. 

Here’s a breakdown of some my favourite attractions in Malaysia and their respective costs: 

• Batu Caves: FREE to enter. You can also take an inexpensive day tour to the caves, which makes getting there and back much easier.

• Petronas Towers: $21 (RM 98). Skip-the-line e-tickets are also available for a few dollars more.

• KL Forest Eco Park: $8.50 (RM 40)

• Parasailing (Langkawi): $44 (RM 210) 

• Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang): FREE 

• Boh Tea Plantations (Cameron Highlands): FREE 

• Penang Hill: $6.50 (RM 30)

• Penang Countryside Cycling Tour: $31 (RM 145)

The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Malaysia

A local SIM card: I don’t know about you, but one of my least favourite aspects of arriving in a new country is having to figure out how to get connected. Specifically: buying a local SIM card so that I have data to use while I’m in the country.

There’s locating a store that will sell you one, language barriers to deal with, various forms of ID you might need to bring, scams to navigate, and… well, it’s a headache.

This year, I started using Airalo, which sells local e-SIM cards for travellers. What that means is that you can buy your SIM card online before you arrive in Malaysia, and then as soon as you land in the country, you can switch on your data and start using it. It’s worked flawlessly for me and now I’ll never go back to physical SIM cards. You’ll pay $4.50 for 1 GB of data or $25 for 10 GB for Malaysia and can also top-up through the Airalo app.

(Ensure you have an e-SIM compatible phone before buying — all recent iPhones and many Androids are).

Travel insurance: Because of course! If you’ve read any of my other articles on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many GoFundMe campaigns from destitute backpackers who have been unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being mugged/breaking a leg with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare — it even happened to an old school friend of mine! These costs can quickly land you with a six-figure bill.

And did I mention that I caught cholera while travelling in Malaysia?!

In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died and you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I personally use HeyMondo as my travel insurance provider. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. They’re affordable and have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure. I paid $3 a day for insurance while in Malaysia, which was part of a three-month trip around Asia.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Malaysia? 

It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs!

• Accommodation: $51 per day for two people in double/twin rooms ($25.50 each)
• Transportation: $15 per day
• Food: $18 per day
• Activities/Entrance Fees: $10 per day

Average amount spent in Malaysia: $68.50 a day!

Related Articles on Malaysia

🇲🇾 Where to Eat in Kota Kinabalu
🪲 Catching Fireflies on the Kawa Kawa River
🚍 How to Get from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu