Malaysia on budget

--- the ultimate backpacking travel guide ---

Malaysia is beautiful, cheap and so underrated country! Prices for accommodation, food and transport are low and the standard is high. Continue reading if you want to know more about prices in this great country.

The local currency in Malaysia is Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). The exchange rate in 2017 is 1 USD = 4.3 MYR. Like everywhere else it is best to bring US dollars and exchange them. Otherwise you can withdraw money from ATM with no fees.

Average cost per person: 20 USD per day
including accommodation, food, transport, entrance fees, souvenirs
excluding visa and flight tickets

Check also top things to see in Malaysia in our photo journey.

The main thing you can save money on are the flight tickets. Read our tips how to find cheap flights.
Traveling by bus in Malaysia is a great experience. You got a quite luxury for a low price. It is fast, you got AC, plenty of space and a safe ride on great roads. Take a subway in Kuala Lumpur, super clean, fast, organized and without a driver!

Prices example per person (2017)

bus from the airport KL - 11 MYR (2.5 USD)
KL subway average ticket - 2 MYR (0.5 USD)
KL train to Batu Caves - 4.5 MYR (1 USD)
bus Kuala Lumpur - Taman Negara (through Jerantut) - 31 MYR (7 USD)
bus Taman Negara - Cameron Highlands (through Kuala Lipis) - 25 MYR (6 USD)
bus Cameron Highlands - Kuala Lumpur - 35 MYR (8 USD)
bus Kuala Lumpur - Melacca - 10 MYR (2 USD)

It is easy to find all ranges of accommodation in Malaysia. We travel as a couple, so we stay usually in cheap double rooms, but in Malaysia we stayed also in rooms for 3 people as we traveled with our friend.
A cheap room per person costs between 23 - 30 MYR (5-7 USD) per night.

Food in Malaysia is a great combination of indian, chinese and asian cuisine and we really enjoyed a lot the diversity. We felt in love with rotti (an indian pancake), so we ate it not only for breakfast, but few times per day with different toppings. You can get a plain rotti for 1.5 MYR (0.3 USD) or rotti with cheese and egg for 5 MYR (1 USD). If you eat at cheap local restaurants, you will pay something between 9 - 13 MYR (2 -3 USD) . Restaurants for tourists will charge you approximately 20 - 30 MYR (4.5 -7 USD)

The entrance fees are so cheap in Malaysia. Can you imagine paying 1,5 USD for the entrance fee for on of the oldest rain forests in the world?

Prices example per person (2017)

Taman Negara - 6 MYR (1.5 USD)
Night Safari in Taman Negara - 35 MYR (8 USD - we haven't seen almost any animals, unfortunately
Canopy Walk, Taman Negara - 5 MYR (1 USD)
Butterfly farm, Cameron Highlands - 7 MYR (1.5 USD)
Batu caves - 5 MYR (1 USD)
Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower - 32 MYR (7,5 USD - you will get the same view as from The Petronas Twins that cost 20 USD)