Cost Of Living

Source:    
‘Malaysia, Costs of Doing Business’ (January 2008)
Published by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA)

MIDA is the government’s principal agency for the promotion and coordination of industrial development in Malaysia. 
Website:  www.mida.gov.my

Note: 1USD = RM3.31
   
Rented Accomodation [back to top]

 
Prime Urban Residential
Area in Kuala Lumpur
(per month)
Suburbs of Kuala Lumpur
(per month)
Houses
RM
US$
RM
US$
Bungalow
6,000 - 30,000
1,811 - 9,053
2,500 - 13,000
754 - 3,923
Double Semi-detached
4,000 - 13,000
1,207 - 3,923
1,800 - 7,000
543 - 2,112
Terrace
2,000 - 7,000
604 - 2,112
1,200 - 2,400
362 - 724
Apartments/Condominiums
 
 
 
 
1-bedroom
1,500 - 3,000
453 - 905
1,000 - 1,500
302 - 453
2-bedroom
2,500 - 6,500
754 - 1,961
1,300 - 2,500
392 - 754
3-bedroom
3,500 - 15,000
1,056 - 4,526
1,600 - 3,000
483 - 905

Source :

CH Williams Talhar & Wong Sdn Bhd
Colliers, Jordan Lee & Jaafar Sdn Bhd

Hotel Rates [back to top]

 
Single / Double
RM* US$*
Kuala Lumpur
 
5-Star Hotel
900
272
4-Star Hotel
500
151
3-Star Hotel
250
75
Penang


5-Star Hotel
1,200
362
4-Star Hotel
600
181
3-Star Hotel
280
84
Langkawi


5-Star Hotel
2,000
604
4-Star Hotel
800
241
3-Star Hotel
220
66

* Inclusive of 10% service charge and 5% government tax.
Source : Malaysian Association of Hotels - www.hotels.org.my

Golf Club Membership [back to top]

Course : 36 holes

Club Fees
RM
US$
Corporate Membership (one nominee)
8,400 - 110,000
2,535 - 33,193
Monthly Subscription*
89.15 - 172.20
26.90 - 51.96
Green Fees    
- Weekdays
63 - 120
19.01 - 36.21
- Weekends
120 - 250
36.21 - 75.44
* Excluding 5% government tax
Source :
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Club
Glenmarie Golf & Country Club

International School Fees [back to top]

There are more than 30 international schools registered with the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. These schools are located in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, and the states of Johor (Johor Bahru), Kelantan (Kota Bharu), Melaka (Malacca), Negeri Sembilan (Mantin), Pahang (Kuantan), Penang (island), Perak (Ipoh), Sabah (Kota Kinabalu) and Sarawak (Kuching).

The fees shown below are from a cross-section of the schools and are calculated for a whole year. 
The International School of Kuala Lumpur (American curriculum)
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Application
:
517
156
 Prep. Reception & Pre-jr.
:
26,650
8,645
Prep. Senior - Grade 12
:
15,000
4,526
 Prep. junior/senior - Grade 5
:
42,950
12,960
Prep. Reception - Prep jr.
:
1,530
462
 Grade 6 - 8
:
49,100
14,816
Re-enrolment
:
3,750
1,132
 Grade 9 - 12
:
53,160
16,041
Family Deposit  
10,000
3,018
        
Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur (British curriculum)
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Application
:
1,000
302
 Nursery
:
21,360
6,445
Nursery - Year 11
20,000
 6,035
 Reception
:
21,900
6,608
Re-entry
:
2,000
604
 Year 1 & 2
:
24,960
7,532
 
:
     Year 3 - 6
:
28,470
8,591
        Year 7 - 9 : 34,740 10,483
        Year 10 & 11 : 38,400 11,587
        Year 12 & 13 :
 38,910 11,741
French International School, Kuala Lumpur
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Registration
:
6,500
1,961
 Kindergarten
:
12,759
3,850
Application
:
1,000
302
 Primary School
:
15,786
4,763
        Secondary
:
22,159
6,686
 


Upper Secondary
:
26,769
8,078
Deutsche Schule, Kuala Lumpur
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Membership
:
300
91
 Kindergarten
:
13,200
3,983
Kindergarten
4,500
1,358
 Class 1 - 4
:
19,800
5,975
Yr 1 -10 reg.
:
6,000
1,811
 Class 5 - 10
:
21,000
6,337
Deposit Fee (refundable)
:

 
   
Kindergarten
:
3,300
996
  

 
Class 1 - 4
:
4,950
1,494
  

 
Class 5 - 10
:
5,250
1,584
  

 
Japanese School of Johor Bahru
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Entrance
:
1,000
302
 Primary   7,560 2,281
Facilities Fee
:
2,900
875
 Secondary
:
9,000
2,716
Chinese Taipei School, Kuala Lumpur
Registration Fee
RM
US$
 Tuition Fee/annum
RM
US$
Entrance Fee
:
2,000
604
 Primary
:
4,000
1,207
Sundries Fee:
:
     Junior Secondary
:
6,000
1,811
Primary : 1,040 314 Senior Secondary : 8,000 2,414
Junior Secondary :
1,120
338
        
Senior Art : 1,200 362        
Senior Science   1,500

 

 453        

Health Care [back to top]

Consultation Fees charged by General Practitioners

 
RM
US$

Minor
30 - 35
9.05 - 10.56

Intermediate
35 - 75
10.56 - 22.63

Major
75 - 125
22.63 - 37.7

Consultation Fees charged by Physicians, Paediatricians and Psychiatrists

 
Initial
Followup
 
RM
US$
RM
US$

Simple
60
18.11
35
10.56

Intermediate

120
36.21
60
18.11

Complex
180
54.32
90
27.16

Source: Malaysian Medical Association - www.mma.org.my

Hospital Ward Charges

Category of Ward
Per night
RM*
US$*

Single Bedded
198 - 238
59.75 - 71.82

2-Bedded
128 - 150
38.62 - 45.26

4-Bedded

88 - 98
24.14 - 29.57

* Room rates are subject to 5% Government Tax.

Sources:

Pantai Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Kuala Lumpur
Subang Medical Centre, Selangor

Domestic Help [back to top]

 
per month
RM
US$
Servant (foreign maid, full-time)
600 - 1,000
181 - 302
Driver (basic)
1,200 - 2,000
362 - 604

Public Transport [back to top]

 
RM
US$
Taxi Fares  
On Meter (by kilometre)
- For the first 2 km 2.00 0.60
- For every subsequent 200 m 0.10 0.03
 
Radiophone Charges  
- For every taxi call 1.00 0.30
- All luggage placed in the boot 1.00 0.30
 
Bus Fares
RAPID KL    
Type of ticket (Daily pass)
 
 
- Local Shuttle
1.00
0.30
- Trunk Line 2.00 0.60
- City Shuttle 2.00 0.60
 
Light Rail Transit
(Services available only in Kuala Lumpur/ Selangor)

Kelana Jaya Line 0.70 - 2.50 0.21 - 0.75
Ampang Line and Sri Petaling Line 0.70 - 2.80 0.21 - 0.84
KLIA Express (Standard Single Trip) 35 10.56
KL Monorail 1.20 - 2.50 0.36 - 0.75

Domestic Airfares [back to top]

Selected Destinations from Kuala Lumpur:

  Business Class Economy
RM US$ RM US$
Penang
774
234
534
161
Langkawi
934
282
634
191
Johor Bahru
694
209
494
149
Kuantan
614
185
454
137
Terengganu
774
234
534
161
Kuching
1,331
402
910
275
Kota Kinabalu
2,010
607
1,210
365

Source: Malaysian Airlines System Bhd - www.mas.com.my

Eating Out in Malaysia [back to top]
Prices quoted are for the city of Kuala Lumpur and would generally be lower for other locations in Malaysia.

 
RM
US$
A lunch at a food court
7 - 10
2.11 - 3.02
A lunch at a restaurant in a 5-star hotel
60 - 100
18.11 - 30.18
Burger King (Whopper®)
8.90
2.69
KFC (Snack plate)
8.90
2.69
Mc Donald's (Big MacTM)
5.80
1.75
Pizza Hut (12-inch pizza)
26.90 - 31.90
8.12 - 9.63
Sushi King (Set meals)
13.90 - 30
4.19 - 9.05

Shopping in Kuala Lumpur [back to top]

Kuala Lumpur is a favourite destination of shoppers and a wide range of competitively priced products are available.

Product RM US$
A night's stay in a standard room in Shangri-La 425++ 128++
A pair of Nike shoes 350 106
100ml of Versace for women 250 75
MAC's eyeshadow 57 17
100ml of Dunhill's Fresh 230 69
Tissot's classic watch for women 1,100 332
Escada blouse 1,650 498
Kenzo's shirt 768 232
Dunhill wallet 940 284
Gucci's sunglasses 930 281
Sony DVD Handycam DCR-SR300E 3,999 1,207
Cyber-shot Digital Camera DSC-W80 999 301

Prices of Selected Consumer Items [back to top]

Prices in supermarkets

 
US$
A can of Coke
0.48
A pack of cigarettes (premium 20s)
2.47
A can of beer (320 ml)
2.32
A bottle of mineral water (1.5 litre)
0.42
A box of cornflakes (275g)
1.11
A loaf of wholemeal bread (420g)
0.76

Non-dutiable Goods [back to top]

The following are some of the goods available free duty in Malaysia: fountain pens, books, perfume, cosmetics, portable radios, watches, cameras, video cameras, calculators, computers, fishing equipment, golf clubs, tennis and badminton racquets, medical equipment, manicure preparations, e.g. nail polishers & varnishes, varnish removers, leather goods, e.g. shoes, handbags, wallets, purses, suitcases, travelling bags, briefcases.

Source: Royal Malaysian Customs - www.customs.gov.my