In March, we moved from Vietnam to Malaysia, shifting our base to Ipoh for most of the month. This gave us a chance to compare costs between the two countries while continuing our slow travel approach for the fifth month.

If you’re new here, our first budget post explains our approach and what’s included in these numbers.

Currency note: All amounts below are shown in Canadian dollars (CAD) and reflect conversions at the rate used by our card providers at the time of purchase.

Where we were

• 1 day in Da Nang, Vietnam
• 1 day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• 28 days in Ipoh, Malaysia (with side trips)
• 1 day in George Town, Malaysia

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At a glance

• Total spent: CAD 3,300.86
• Monthly budget: CAD 4,000.00
  • Under budget by: CAD 699.14

All expenses below are for two people.

Surprisingly, this month’s total was comparable to what we spent in December while staying in Hanoi.

Running trip total (November 2025–March 2026)

• Total spent: CAD 14,842.54
• Total budget : CAD 20,000.00

After five months on the road, we are still 26% under budget, with CAD 5,157.46 remaining.

Expense breakdown for March

Accommodation — CAD 1,198.95 (36%)

• Average per night: CAD 34.83
  • 1 night in Da Nang — CAD 37.76
  • 1 night in Kuala Lumpur— CAD 42.83
  • 28 nights in Ipoh — CAD 845.98
    • CAD 30.21 / night
  • 6 nights on overnight side trips — CAD 225.78
  • 1 night in George Town— CAD 46.60

Our stay in Ipoh was very budget-friendly. However, overall accommodation costs were higher because we paid for our apartment in Ipoh while also booking additional stays during side trips with six overnight stays.

Food

• Eating out — CAD 445.34 (13%)

• Groceries — CAD 454.67 (14%)

Food in Malaysia was slightly more expensive than in most parts of Vietnam, particularly when eating out. Groceries were also a bit higher, although not dramatically.

Flights (regional) — CAD 238.65 (7%)

• Da Nang → Kuala Lumpur: CAD 238.65 for two people

Transportation — CAD 347.59 (11%)

Includes trains, buses, ferries, and Grab/taxi rides.

Health & Care — CAD 478.05 (14%)

Includes a haircut, a medical clinic visit, health supplements, and a health screening for two in Ipoh.

Other expenses — CAD 110.23 (5%)

• Shopping (non-food): CAD 7.67
  • Hat replacement after losing one in Ipoh
• Sightseeing & activities: CAD 121.99
  • Includes a private walking tour and entry to the hot springs park
• Coffee: CAD 6.38
• Fees and charges: CAD 1.57
  • Vietnam e-visas.

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What stood out this month

Transportation and health-related expenses had the biggest impact on our budget in March.

Getting around Malaysia was noticeably more expensive than in Vietnam. Intercity trains and buses cost more, and ride-hailing (Grab) added up over time—especially during side trips.

Health and care was another major category this month due to a full health screening. At CAD 367.61 for both of us, it was still very good value, but it significantly increased our monthly total.

Despite these higher costs, overall spending remained moderate, helped by relatively low accommodation and daily living expenses.

Sightseeing costs stayed low, with only a few paid activities throughout the month.

Travel style observations

Pace & stay duration

March was our slowest month so far, with 28 nights in one base. Staying in Ipoh long-term helped reduce accommodation costs, even though we paid double on nights when we traveled.

This continues to confirm that slow travel is one of the most effective ways to manage a travel budget.

Visa-based planning

As mentioned in our previous posts, we aim to stay in each country for as long as visa rules allow. This continues to be one of the main reasons our transportation and overall travel costs remain relatively low. Similar to Vietnam, we plan to stay in Malaysia close to 90 days.

Transportation & local logistics

In Vietnam, shared transfers to major tourist destinations were widely available, easy to arrange, and offered excellent value. They helped keep both costs and planning effort low.

In Malaysia, we relied more on trains, which were faster and more comfortable than buses. However, this added comfort came at a higher price and contributed to our increased transportation costs for the month.

Accommodation & food

We cooked at home more often in Ipoh, mainly for health reasons rather than cost. This naturally reduced how often we ate out and helped keep daily food spending relatively stable.

Final thoughts

Is Malaysia more expensive than Vietnam? It depends on where you stay and how you travel. For our slow travel style, the cost of staying in less-touristy Ipoh was comparable to what we spent in the more popular capital of Vietnam.

We expect that moving to a more touristy location like George Town may be less budget-friendly—we’ll see how April turns out.

After five months on the road, one pattern is becoming clear: destination matters—but travel style matters more.