Malaysians Spend RM5,566 Monthly in 2024, with Housing and Dining Out Leading

Malaysians spent an average of RM5,566 per month in 2024, with the largest portion going to housing, utilities, and dining out, according to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels made up 23.5% (RM1,307) of spending, followed by restaurants and accommodation (17%) and food and beverages (15.7%), underscoring a growing preference for eating out.

Dining Out

Transport accounted for 11% (RM611), while personal care and social protection took up 5.6% (RM313). DOSM said overall spending rose 3.9% annually since 2022, reflecting lifestyle shifts and inflationary pressures. The report also noted improved poverty rates, with national absolute poverty declining to 5.1%, and hardcore poverty nearly eradicated at 0.09%. An OpenDOSM NextGen online dashboard now offers public access to income and expenditure data for greater transparency and evidence-based policymaking.

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