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A note on timing: we stayed in Malacca, Malaysia in 2023, so while our experience and costs are genuine, prices and conditions may have shifted since. We always recommend checking a few different places to compare prices.

We were bouncing around Southeast Asia and loving digital nomad life. We had just spent two months in Indonesia and were going back for another two, so we needed somewhere nearby to have a break and reset our visa.

Malaysia was an easy decision. The weather is good, the food is amazing, and it has a 90-day visa on arrival for us. We’d already spent a chunk of time in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, so next on the list was Malacca. We’d spent a weekend in Malacca previously and loved it, so we were excited to go back.

This is a breakdown of costs for the two of us, so if you’re a solo traveller, some of these you could halve (dining out, groceries), but some you’ll need to keep as is (rent). You can see the rest of our Cost of Living series here. Let us know in the comments whether this stacks up against what you think it would cost.

Rent - $552

This was a tough decision for us in Malacca. We visited this cute, historic town for a weekend while we were staying in Kuala Lumpur. We stayed in a beautiful apartment in the Old City and had a great time.

Coming back, we decided to get an apartment farther out on the outskirts of town. The apartment was cute, with a pool and a great gym. But the building itself was so weird. The whole thing seemed empty, as if most apartments had never been accessed. A tax dodge or a place for foreigners to hide their investments?

We moved to a different building, which felt more lived in. The garden/pool/gym floor was beautiful.

We realised that what we loved about Malacca was being in Old Town and wandering the streets. But the buildings there didn’t have the amenities and were out of budget for an extended stay.

So we booked into the apartment building. But then it felt like we could be anywhere in the world. We’re still learning what we value as digital nomads! Overall, it was a low monthly price that included a night at an airport hotel while we were in transit.

Spending Money - $440

By this point, we were missing having an animal. So we visited a cat cafe and the Huskitory to pat some cute doggos!

We also visited a museum in a boat and checked out an old submarine. There’s a lot to do in Malacca, but we’d already done a lot on our first visit.

We also spent some money on drinks, which aren’t the cheapest in Malaysia.

Dining Out - $314

We had lunch and dinner out most days. We found a great couple of restaurants near our apartment and went back most days.

All the food in Malaysia is fantastic, with great options for vegetarians. We love Indian curries and roti telur for breakfast. One of Kie’s most favourite foods is a Nasi Lemak. And the Chinese influence brings fantastic mock meats.

Groceries - $139

This is our cost for breakfast and coffee. We didn’t cook much while living here as there are so many great options for dining out.

Retirement Savings - $94

We’re still contributing to our retirement accounts back home. We have social security or a public pension in New Zealand, but we may not qualify for it. So we want to ensure we can keep living life the way we want for our whole lives!

Transport - $85

This one surprised me. This doesn’t include any large charges at all. We did get the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca and back, and it was reasonably priced.

So this cost is mostly just taxis. Little, low-cost taxis to get us into town and back again. But these added up over the month, making this cost much higher than at other places we’ve been.

Bank Fees - $49

This one is unfairly high in this snapshot. We had a Platinum Credit Card with a high monthly fee. It was charged only twice a year and then fell due. We spread this cost over six months so we don’t have to pay it all out of this month’s budget.

Subscriptions - $26

This is digital storage and Netflix. We work hard to make sure we don’t end up with a bunch of monthly subscriptions we don’t use. We’d much rather be out exploring than watching television.

Life Insurance - $22

It's boring but essential when you have a mortgage.

We don't currently use travel insurance — it's a personal risk decision that works for us, but it won't be right for everyone. If you're looking for travel and health cover as a digital nomad, SafetyWing is the most popular option in the nomad community and is worth looking into before you go.

For solo travellers, our life insurance costs are obviously personal, but if you're going the SafetyWing route, budget accordingly on top of this.

Cellphone Data - $12

We made a mistake here. We purchased cheap SIM cards from 7-Eleven but couldn't get them to work on our phones—something to do with the registration process not going through smoothly. So we had to buy new SIM cards at a shop and have them installed for us.

We should have got eSIMs on arrival and sorted out the actual cards properly when we got to Malacca. Don’t make the same mistake we did. Get your data sorted before you arrive so you can order a taxi at the bus station.

Things We Didn’t Spend Money On

Utilities were included with our apartment rental. Always double-check this when renting, even through Airbnb! Most places in Thailand and Indonesia don’t include utilities.

We also had no visa costs, as we got a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival in Malaysia. It’s part of the reason we love Malaysia so much—it makes staying here longer term so easy.

Final Note

Malacca is a great town to visit, and our stay was enjoyable. But staying in a giant apartment building isn’t what we’re after. We’re still working out what we like.

If you’re looking for somewhere that’s easy, safe and has lots of amenities, Malacca is a great choice. But for now, we will stick to our little beach village in Lombok.

I hope this breakdown helps anyone considering spending time in Southeast Asia understand the costs. If you’re already here, I’d love to know how this compares to what you spend. Let me know in the comments below.