Malaysia on a budget – Lonely Planet

Generations of curious travelers have donned a rucksack and headed to Southeast Asia to experience new cultures and fun times on a tight budget. Though Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia continue to be popular with this cash-strapped crowd, Malaysia has been somewhat overlooked.

This is largely to do with its reputation as the expensive part of the region but that’s an unfortunate misconception. Though the prices may be slightly higher than its neighbors, the relatively small difference is amply reflected in Malaysia’s impressive infrastructure, even in rural areas.

Malaysia represents fantastic value for money at almost all levels. Costs for food, lodging, fuel and internal transportation are very reasonable, and alcohol is one of the only items that will make a hefty dent in your wallet.

For exciting adventures without the price tag, here’s how to visit Malaysia on a budget.

Daily costs in Malaysia

• Hostel room: RM44–95 Malaysian ringgit (US$9.50–20)

• Basic room for two: RM100–140 (US$23–32)

• Vacation rentals: RM175–350 (US$40–72)

• City bus or train ticket: RM2–6 (US$0.45–1.40)

• Long-distance bus ticket: RM50–150 (US$11.40–34)

• Noodles at a hawker stall: RM6 (US$1.37)

• Bottle of beer at a bar or restaurant: RM20–45 (US$4.50–10.30)

Budget airlines offer bargain fares but there are additional fees

While short hop flights have sustainability issues, they are currently the only means of crossing between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Borneo), which are separated by hundreds of miles of sea. Budget carriers such as Air Asia, Batik Air and Firefly offer cheap flights throughout Malaysia, as well as international hops to other hubs in Southeast Asia, but watch for hidden extras.

Fares are advertised with rock bottom prices on the internet – if you book well in advance, a domestic flight can cost as little as US$30 – but remember that these prices don’t include taxes, airport fees or checked luggage. This tends to be a bigger issue for international routes; airport fees for domestic flights tend to be fairly modest – for example, RM11 (US$2.50) for flights leaving from Kuala Lumpur.

Travel by bus when you can

If you’re staying in either Peninsular Malaysia or East Malaysia and don’t plan to visit the other half of the country, you can get almost anywhere you need to go by bus. There are dozens of operators, which makes for competitive pricing and a good chance of getting a seat, even if you just show up at the station. English is widely…