Malaysia has fascinated global citizens with its warm, welcoming culture and incredible habitations. Blessed with a beautiful rich heritage, awesome landscapes, and budget-friendly destinations, Malaysia offers a perfect vacation recipe for all types of budgets. If you have a backpacking Malaysia budget in mind, you need not worry and check the cost of living in Malaysia. There are plenty of indulgences, activities, and rich Flavors of the culture and heritage that you can explore to enjoy a budget holiday in Malaysia. A Malaysia visit visa is a mandatory document that you would require for traveling to Malaysia. We have collated a small list of Malay destinations that you can look to explore while planning a budget holiday in Malaysia.
Is it possible to travel in Malaysia on a low budget?
With its diversity of landscapes and affordable prices, Malaysia is entirely possible to explore on even the most modest budget. Opting for basic guesthouses, hostels, or homestays instead of luxury hotels can greatly reduce costs. Taking public transportation like buses, trains, and boats between regions is much cheaper than flying or private transfers. Eating delicious street food and local dishes at hawker stalls and cafes costs just a few ringgits per meal.
Snorkeling instead of diving cuts expenses on water activities. Self-guided nature hikes eliminate the need for tour companies and guides. Shopping at local markets yields great bargains on Malaysian handicrafts and souvenirs. Exploring free attractions like public beaches, parks, historical architecture, and religious sites makes for a richer experience without increasing costs.
With some planning, budget-conscious travelers can easily afford to experience Malaysia’s cultural highlights, natural wonders, and beloved cuisine. The country offers plenty to delight visitors without requiring a lot of money to enjoy it.
The Most Cost-Effective Times to Travel to Malaysia
The best time for budget-conscious travelers to visit Malaysia is during the low and shoulder seasons between March to May and September to November. With fewer tourists, you’ll have an easier time finding discounts and deals on flights, hotels, tours, and even be able to negotiate lower prices. Hawkers and shops are also more likely to give some bargaining leeway during slower periods.
You’ll enjoy Malaysia’s famous cuisine, nature areas like national parks and islands, and cultural sights in places like Malacca and Kuching without competing with peak season crowds. While weather varies across regions, traveling in spring and fall means avoiding extremes of heat or rain, making for pleasant trips all around.
Best Budget Friendly Destinations in Malaysia
There are quite a few budget-friendly destinations available for you to visit in Malaysia. Let’s take a look at the most prominent destinations out of them.
- Experience Vibrant Penang on a Budget : Penang is a vibrant mix of modern city sights, street art, temples, and gorgeous beaches – all available on a budget. Wander the UNESCO World Heritage district of George Town to take in the area’s unique architecture and immerse yourself in the cultural sights. Street food is extremely affordable, with delicious local dishes like char kway teow noodles and assam laksa fish soup costing just a few ringgits. There are also many cheap hotels and guesthouses, like 80’s Guesthouse and Container Hotel. Top attractions like Kek Lok Si temple and Penang Hill are very reasonably priced.
- Idyllic Tropical Islands in Langkawi : The tropical paradise of Langkawi offers some of Malaysia’s beautiful beaches, islands, and lush rainforests. There is a wide range of budget accommodation options, from guesthouses to beach chalets. Public transportation around the island like buses, boats, and scooters is also very affordable. Must-see attractions like the GEO Park and magnificent cable car ride up Mount Machinchang are reasonably priced. Pantai Cenang is popular with backpackers for its gorgeous beach and lively nightlife scene.
- Gateway to Bornean Nature in Kota Kinabalu : Nature lovers flock to Kota Kinabalu for easy access to wild Bornean sites. Stay at backpacker favorites like Borneo Backpackers or simpler family-run lodges dotted around town cheaply. Nearby parks like Kinabalu Park, home to impressive Mount Kinabalu, offer budget accommodation and affordable guided package tours. Experiences like visiting orangutan rehabilitation centers, white water rafting, and island hopping won’t break the bank either.
- Escape to the Perhentian Islands : The Perhentian Islands off the northeast coast offer idyllic beaches and a laidback atmosphere. With no big resorts, accommodation options include small locally run resorts, beach huts, and campsites right on the sand. Activities like snorkeling and diving among colorful coral reefs and marine life are very reasonable. Travelers love islands like Perhentian Kecil for their seclusion and natural beauty.
- Cool Cameron Highlands Retreat : In the Cameron Highlands, rolling green hills provide a nice cooling retreat from Malaysia’s heat and humidity. Take scenic nature walks through mossy forests and tea plantations. Local tours take you strawberry picking, rose garden visits, and more for great deals. Stay in budget hotels in Brinchang or Tanah Rata or go simpler by staying at hostel dorms. The area offers a nice relaxing trip surrounded by lush highland scenery.
- Historic and Artsy Malacca : The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Malacca (Melaka) transports visitors back in time with its historic architecture, multicultural heritage, and colorful trishaws. Explore old Dutch and Portuguese buildings along the riverfront. Charming budget hotels situate you near top sights. Jonker Street Night Market offers super cheap street food along with live performances and antique shops. Alternatively, you can also dine at some of the best restaurants in Melaka without breaking your budget. Malacca provides an artsy holiday experience steeped in history without breaking the bank.
- Island Paradise on Tioman Island : Tioman Island off the eastern coast offers some of Malaysia’s most pristine beaches and stunning coral reefs. Small beachfront chalets and budget resorts dot the coastline, with amenities but an emphasis on appreciating the island’s natural beauty. Enjoy snorkeling right off the beach to spot sea turtles and other marine life. Hike jungle trails to secluded waterfalls and rivers. Experience a peaceful island getaway, with just enough conveniences, at a budget-friendly price.
- Cultural and Nature Gateway in Kuching : The city of Kuching on Sarawak state is a gateway to Borneo’s intricate culture and wilderness. Stay affordably at hostels and hotels in the walkable downtown. Visit native longhouses upriver to learn about indigenous lifestyles. Day trips to wildlife preserves let you see orangutans and proboscis monkeys up close for reasonable prices. Enjoy getting acquainted with Sarawakian culture through dance performances, craft markets, and mouthwatering cuisine without overspending.
- Charming and Cheap Ipoh : Ipoh city in Perak is known for its charming historic old town, cave temples, and delicious low-cost cuisine. Backpacker cafes and cheap hotels share streets with old Chinese shophouses. Admire stunning Buddhist and Hindu cave temple art. The city center provides pleasant walks among lovely architecture and street art. Side trips go to Instagram-worthy sites like the Blue Valley or Ulu Watu Temple for little expense. Ipoh delights visitors with cultural sights, nature, and food all very wallet friendly. In short, there are plenty of things to do in Ipoh, Malaysia.
- Rustic Island Life on Pulau Ketam : For a very remote and rustic experience, visit Pulau Ketam off the coast of Selangor state. This small fishing island offers a chance to experience genuine Malaysian island village life surrounded by the sea. Stay at family-run homestays with just basic amenities to fully immerse yourself. Wander around boardwalks linking stilt houses and small shops. Indulge in incredibly fresh and affordable seafood straight from the sea. Feel transported back in time enjoying simple living on this scenic island.
Cost for food in Malaysia
Malaysian cuisine features a mix of various diverse cultures inspired by China, India, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. Rice and noodles form a staple diet. Seafood and fish are considered the most prominent accompaniments. Halal Chicken and beef are served commonly being a Muslim majority country. Other popular vegetables include lotus roots, sweet potatoes, cabbage, bean sprouts, long beans, and taro.
You can opt for street food at Hawker stalls and Kopitiam (Malay-style cafes), serving as low as 5-15 MYR, and snack dishes like 2-6 MYR. A meal in a Malaysian restaurant would cost around 10-20 MYR for a popular nasi lemak, and rojak (dough with chopped fruit) would cost you around 10-20 MYR. Opting for a bowl of soup or fried noodles can cost you around 13-17 MYR for each dish.
Fast food dishes will cost you around MYR 14 for a combo meal. Opting for other standard western meals like Pizza, pasta, burger, and sub-marine would cost 50+ MYR per dish. Western coffee drinks like cappuccino are around 8-12 MYR.
A glass of beer would be around 13-17 MYR. A glass of wine would cost around 20-27 MYR. Cocktails are a touch higher, around 20-45 MYR.
If you are looking for cooking post purchasing your groceries daily, basic staples like noodles, seasonal produce, rice, meat, and fish can cost you around 8-22 MYR.
Activities to indulge in for a budget vacation in Malaysia
Wildlife Safari tours during the daytime would cost you around 500 MYR. Adventurous white-water rafting can cost you around 200 MYR for half a day. Water sports like diving will cost you around 550 MYR. You can book jungle treks for around 80 MYR, and national park visits can cost you around 5-15 MYR. Experienced guides can help you discover various aspects of the Malay culture. However, you will have to pay around 260 MYR per person.
Budget Accommodation in Malaysia
Accommodation is one of the most important parameters for a budget vacation in Malaysia. It can play a major role in determining the state of your budget. The standard rates for a 4-6 bed hostel dorm are around 35-70 MYR each night. A hostel with 10+ beds can go even lower to 20 MYR per night. Tourist hotspots like Perhentian Islands and Cameron Highlands would be slightly higher. If you are going for a private hostel, you will have to shell around 105-130 MYR per night. Most hostels come with complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, and kitchens for cooking your food.
You can also opt for a budget hotel that will cost you around 75-90 MYR per night. The facilities include air-conditioning, complimentary breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. A slightly more luxury 3-star hotel will cost you around 200-300 MYR per night. Finally, Airbnb is a popular destination where you will get the entire apartment or place with tailored cuisines starting at 100-160 MYR per night.
Traveling by public transport
Bus travel is very easy and pocket friendly. You can easily access any part of Malaysia via bus except in eastern Malaysia or Peninsular Malaysia. Several operators offer competitive pricing, and you can get a seat easily, even for unplanned travels. In addition, English is spoken widely in Malaysia, so navigation also should not be a problem. Practice your haggling skills if you intend to travel via cab.
If you are heading to the amazing Malay islands of Langkawi and Penang. Catch a ferry as you witness the nostalgia of exploring the sea. Ferries to these islands cost a fraction of the air travel.
Tips for an Affordable Malaysia Holiday
To make the most of your money when traveling Malaysia, keep these budget travel tips for Malaysia in mind:
- Choose affordable accommodations Skip expensive beach resorts and hotels in favor of guest houses, hostels, homestays, and other budget lodgings mentioned in this article. Sites like Booking.com and Hostelworld make finding and comparing rates easy. Consider dorms instead of private rooms to save more.
- Use public transportation Buses, trains, boats, and budget regional flights will save you tons rather than private transfers. Use ride sharing apps Grab and Gojek as an affordable alternative to expensive taxis around cities and towns when needed.
- Eat local cuisine
Skip Western chains and hotel restaurants. Street food, cafes, and hawker stalls provide delicious authentic Malaysian cuisine for just a few ringgits per dish, as noted in places like Penang and Malacca. - Join free activities
Malaysia offers many free and low-cost things to do, from exploring charming small towns outlined here to nature activities like hiking. Opt for self-guided tours rather than expensive packages when possible. - Avoid peak seasons Visiting Malaysia during off-peak seasons means better deals on accommodation and flights, fewer crowds at attractions, and more bang for your buck all around.
- Get a travel rewards credit card Cards like Capital One Venture Rewards help you rack up points to offset future travel costs when used wisely. Just be sure to pay off balances promptly.
- Checkout what to pack for Malaysia trip so that you have all the essentials and do not have to spend money on buying them in the country.
Following a budget-savvy mindset, travelers can experience Malaysia’s impressive diversity of landscapes, cultures, cuisine, and adventures without breaking the bank using tips in this guide.