Studying in Malaysia vs. United States
Malaysia and United States 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 €2,706 in United States.
Side-by-side comparison
Verdict
Cheaper tuition
Malaysia
Cheaper monthly living
Malaysia
Lower visa proof of funds
Malaysia
Side-by-side comparison
Malaysia
United States
Currency
MYR (RM)
USD ($)
Public tuition (annual)
RM25,000
≈ €5,000 / yr
$32,000
≈ €29,440 / yr
Private tuition (annual)
RM60,000
≈ €12,000 / yr
$58,000
≈ €53,360 / yr
Monthly living (city avg)
RM2,767 / mo
≈ €553 / mo
$2,941 / mo
≈ €2,706 / mo
Visa proof of funds
RM24,000
EMGS Student Pass — proof of funds (≈ RM 2,000/month)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Varies by I-20 (school issues)
Cities tracked
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru
New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin
Figures are 2026 reference estimates from our cost calculator. Actual costs vary by city, program, and lifestyle.