Malaysia
Singapore's infrastructure at half the price, with better food.
Flat. The exchange rate moved −1.0%; local prices rose +2.1%.
- Lean
- $34
- Comfort
- $182
Ranked 13 of 65.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Malaysia costs US-dollar travelers about the same as a year ago in real terms (+0.4%). A mid-range day costs about $80 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 1 (normal precautions), and it ranks 13 of 65 on the Trip Arbitrage Index with a score of 69 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 49
- Price floor ×0.30
- 63
- Safety ×0.20
- 100
- Ease ×0.14
- 88
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +0.2% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +0.4% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | −1.0% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +2.1% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | −1.8% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 1 | Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 4.5 / 5 | Effortless |
- Four-star hotels under $70
- Hawker meals at $2–4
- Easy rail and bus links
Alcohol is heavily taxed, and east-coast islands close for the monsoon from November to February.
When to go
November is off season- Janpeak
- Febpeak
- Marshoulder
- Aprshoulder
- Mayshoulder
- Junpeak
- Julpeak
- Augpeak
- Sepshoulder
- Octoff
- Novoff
- Decoff
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 1: Normal precautions · updated February 21, 2026
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Effortless · 4.5 / 5
Malaysia, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Malaysia?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Malaysia costs about $34 on a lean budget, $80 mid-range and $182 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Malaysia cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- It is about the same. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved −1.0% for US-dollar holders while prices in Malaysia rose +2.1%, a net real change of +0.4% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Malaysia is 1.8% more expensive.
- Is Malaysia safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Malaysia at Level 1: Normal precautions. Alcohol is heavily taxed, and east-coast islands close for the monsoon from November to February. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Malaysia?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are March, April, May, September. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in January, February, June, July, August. November is off season.
- How easy is Malaysia to travel around?
- Malaysia scores 4.5 out of 5 for ease of travel (effortless), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. Singapore's infrastructure at half the price, with better food.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Malaysia reads +0.4% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $80. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.