Studying in Malaysia vs. Portugal
Malaysia and Portugal 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 €948 in Portugal.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Portugal
Cheaper monthly living
Malaysia
Lower visa proof of funds
Malaysia
Side-by-side comparison
Malaysia
Portugal
Currency
MYR (RM)
EUR (€)
Public tuition (annual)
RM25,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
€1,500
Private tuition (annual)
RM60,000
≈ €12,000 / yr
€5,000
Monthly living (city avg)
RM2,767 / mo
≈ €553 / mo
€948 / mo
Visa proof of funds
RM24,000
EMGS Student Pass — proof of funds (≈ RM 2,000/month)
€9,120
Proof of funds (annual)
Cities tracked
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru
Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.