Studying in Malaysia vs. New Zealand
Malaysia and New Zealand are both popular study destinations — but the price tag, visa rules, and currency differ. We pulled the numbers from our cost calculator: monthly living averages €553 in Malaysia and €852 in New Zealand.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Malaysia
Cheaper monthly living
Malaysia
Lower visa proof of funds
Malaysia
Side-by-side comparison
Malaysia
New Zealand
Currency
MYR (RM)
NZD (NZ$)
Public tuition (annual)
RM25,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
NZ$28,000
≈ €15,680 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
RM60,000
≈ €12,000 / yr
NZ$35,000
≈ €19,600 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
RM2,767 / mo
≈ €553 / mo
NZ$1,521 / mo
≈ €852 / mo
Visa proof of funds
RM24,000
EMGS Student Pass — proof of funds (≈ RM 2,000/month)
NZ$20,000
Living costs proof (annual)
Cities tracked
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.