Cost of living in Malaysia: a monthly breakdown for Kuala Lumpur

The cost of living in Malaysia, and in Kuala Lumpur in particular, varies considerably with the area you live in, who is in your household and your approach to education. This article sets out the categories and the way of thinking to use when putting together a monthly household budget. Amounts move with the individual, the period and the exchange rate, so work out any specific estimate against current conditions.

Cost categories

• Housing (rent, maintenance fee, utilities)
• Food (eating out, cooking at home, Japanese ingredients)
• Transport (ride-hailing apps, your own car, public transport)
• Education (international schools, lessons and activities)
• Healthcare and insurance
• Communications, subscriptions and entertainment

Housing

Housing accounts for a large share of the household budget. The range depends on the area, the age of the building and whether the unit comes furnished. For the trends in popular areas see the area guide, and for what is actually on the market see the listings. For the rental procedure, the full guide to renting a home is also worth reading.

Food

Using local hawker stalls and food courts makes food costs easier to keep down, while a life centred on Japanese ingredients, imported goods and eating out pushes them up. The balance between cooking at home and eating out drives the household budget.

Transport

Ride-hailing apps are widely used, so choosing not to own a car is realistic. If you live in the suburbs or have a larger family a car of your own becomes convenient, but consider it together with the purchase and running costs.

Education

If your children attend an international school, tuition takes up a large share of the household budget. See how to choose an international school for how to think about the costs.

Healthcare and insurance

Many people look at private medical insurance as cover for using private hospitals. For details, see healthcare and private medical insurance.

The effect of the exchange rate

If your income or savings are in yen, the yen to ringgit (RM/MYR) exchange rate feeds directly into your real cost of living. Prices feel different as the rate moves, so a financial plan with some headroom is reassuring.

You can work out a monthly estimate for your own situation with the cost of living simulator. If you would like to discuss housing and household budget together, please use our free consultation.