Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR, symbol RM), divided into 100 sen. Notes range from RM1 to RM100, with coins for small amounts. Keep smaller notes for hawker stalls, markets and small vendors. Non-residents face limits on carrying ringgit in and out of Malaysia.
- Currency
- Ringgit (RM, MYR)
- Notes
- RM1 to RM100
- Tip
- Keep small notes
- Non-residents have limits on carrying ringgit
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
Licensed money changers in malls and city centres usually offer better rates than airports or hotels. Compare rates and count your money before leaving. US dollars, euros, pounds and Singapore dollars are easy to change. Airport rates are usually poorer, so change a small amount there if needed.
- Where
- Licensed changers in malls
- Airport
- Poorer rate — change little
- Easy
- USD, EUR, GBP, SGD
- Count your money before leaving the counter
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Cards are widely accepted in hotels, malls, chain restaurants and larger shops, with contactless common. Hawker stalls, small warungs and markets are often cash-only, so keep some cash. Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted; keep a backup card and inform your bank of travel.
- Cards
- Hotels, malls, chains
- Cash
- Hawker stalls, markets
- Brands
- Visa / Mastercard
- Contactless is common in cities — keep backup cash
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs are common in cities, malls and towns. Use machines at or inside banks for safety, and cover your PIN. Your home bank plus the local ATM may charge fees, and per-withdrawal limits vary. Decline dynamic currency conversion (DCC) to be charged in ringgit. Keep some cash for areas without card acceptance.
- Safety
- Use bank ATMs
- Fees
- Home bank + ATM
- DCC
- Choose to pay in ringgit
- Cover your PIN and prefer bank-branch ATMs
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Local e-wallets like Touch 'n Go eWallet and GrabPay, and DuitNow QR, are widely used, but usually need a Malaysian bank account or number, so they are hard for short-term visitors. Contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in many places. In practice, rely on cash plus a card, and use Grab in-app payment once set up.
- E-wallets
- Need local account
- Contactless
- Cards / Apple/Google Pay
- Rely on
- Cash + card
- DuitNow QR and e-wallets mostly need a local account
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping is not expected in Malaysia. Many hotels and upscale restaurants add a service charge (often around 10%) plus SST, so extra tipping is optional. At hawker stalls and casual eateries, no tip is expected. Small tips for helpful staff, porters or guides are appreciated but never required.
- Expected?
- No, optional
- Service charge
- Often added (~10%)
- Hawkers
- No tip expected
- Check the bill for an included service charge
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Malaysia is affordable, with cheap and excellent hawker food and inexpensive transport, though hotels and imported goods cost more. Kuala Lumpur and resort islands are pricier than smaller towns. Bargaining is normal in markets but not in fixed-price shops and malls.
- Overall
- Affordable
- Hawker food
- Cheap and great
- Markets
- Bargaining normal
- KL and resort islands cost more than small towns
Malaysia applies the Sales and Service Tax (SST) rather than a broad VAT, and there is no simple general tourist refund scheme like some countries. Some refund arrangements have existed in the past and rules change over time, so do not count on a straightforward airport refund. Check current Customs (JKDM) rules if you plan a large purchase.
- Tax
- SST (not broad VAT)
- Refund
- No simple general scheme
- Check
- Current JKDM rules
- Do not rely on an easy airport tourist refund