Cost of Living in Malaysia: Rent, Meals, Personal Expenses

Cost of Living in Malaysia: Rent, Meals, Personal Expenses

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Veda Burman

| Updated On - Oct 8, 2024

Malaysia is known for having affordable living expenses for international students. Indian students can estimate to spend around 2,500 RM per month (50,475 INR) as the cost of living in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is the costliest among the popular cities in Malaysia with average monthly rent of 461.08 RM (9,310 INR). The other living expenses in the city are around 2,016.12 RM per month (40,706 INR). The details of the living cost for Indian students in Malaysia are given below:

Cost of Living in Malaysia by City

The cost of living in Malaysia varies depending on the city you are living in. Check out the monthly rent and other living expenses in some popular Malaysian cities:

Location Average Monthly Rent of 1-Bedroom Flat (RM) Other Monthly Expenses (RM)
Kuala Lumpur¹ 461.08 2,016.12
Penang² 308.82 1,891.94
Johor Bahru³ 386.29 2,075.14

Also Check: Visa to study in Malaysia

Housing and Utilities Costs in Malaysia

The average house rent in city centre for 1 person in Malaysia is about 1,587.76 RM (32,038 INR). This cost is around 1,120.09 RM (22,616 INR) per month in the outskirts. Check out the average room rent for a single person and family:

Type of Apartment Average Monthly Rent (RM) Equivalent Rent for Indians (INR)
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 1,587.76 32,038.60
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 1,120.09 22,616.61
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 2,872.75 57,997.92
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 1,866.90 37,699.31

Boarding Expenses in Malaysia for Indian Students

The average food and other meal expenses in Malaysia is provided in the table below:

Item Average Cost (RM) Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 15 302.85
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant 100 2,019.00
McMeal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Combo) 18 363.42
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 16 323.04
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 20 403.80
Cappuccino (regular) 11 240.67
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 3 65.62
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 1.84 37.15

Groceries Cost in Malaysia for Indian Students

Check out the cost of daily groceries in Malaysia for Indian students in the following table:

Item Average Cost (RM) Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
Milk (regular), (1 liter) 7.46 150.61
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) 3.93 79.30
Rice (white), (1kg) 5.72 115.48
Eggs (regular) (12) 8.62 173.24
Local Cheese (1kg) 61.13 1,234.63
Chicken Fillets (1kg) 17.75 358.37
Beef Round (1kg) 35.39 715.71
Apples (1kg) 11.36 229.45
Banana (1kg) 5.70 115.08
Oranges (1kg) 11.44 231.50
Tomato (1kg) 5.89 119.01
Potato (1kg) 4.04 81.57
Onion (1kg) 4.71 95.09
Lettuce (1 head) 4.37 88.73
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.45 49.47

Clothing Expenses in Malaysia for Indian Students

Clothing expenses in Malaysia is a bit expensive as compared to India but is quite affordable if compared to European companies:

Item Average Cost (RM) Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 or Similar) 249.55 5,037.69
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M) 136.54 2,757.63
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 312.21 6,302.75
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 274.51 5,541.92

Transportation Costs in Malaysia for Indian Students

The travel cost in Malaysia can be heavily reduced by using public transport. However, if you prefer taxi the expenses can around 3 RM (60 INR) per kilometer. Check out the average travel expenses in the table below:

Item Average Cost (RM) Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 3 60.57
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 50 1,009.50
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 4 80.76
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 3 60.57
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 20 403.80
Gasoline for Private Car (1liter) 2.05 41.39

Personal Expenses in Malaysia for Indian Students

The personal expenses in Malaysia for Indian students can range around 400 RM (8,075 INR) per month. Here is the breakdown of the personal expenses in Malaysia:

Item Average Cost (RM) Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m² Apartment 217.99 4,399.20
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 44.23 893.64
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 117.30 2,368.79

Indian students can reduce the living expenses in Malaysia with a controlled lifestyle. Malaysia has a lot of budget friendly options for food, accommodation, and activities.

FAQs

Ques. What is the average monthly cost of living in Malaysia for Indian students?

Ans. Indian students can expect to spend around 2,500 RM per month (approximately 50,475 INR) on living expenses in Malaysia. This cost includes accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses. The cost of living varies depending on the city, with Kuala Lumpur being the most expensive.

Ques. How much is the rent in major Malaysian cities?

Ans. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kuala Lumpur is around 461.08 RM (9,310 INR) per month. The rent is generally low outside the city center. Other cities, like Penang and Johor Bahru, have cheaper rent compared to Kuala Lumpur.

Ques. How can Indian students save on transportation expenses in Malaysia?

Ans. Indian students can reduce transportation costs by using public transport, with one-way local transport tickets costing around 3 RM (60 INR). Monthly passes are also available at 50 RM (1,009 INR). Taxis are more expensive, charging approximately 3 RM (60 INR) per kilometer.

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