Island in Pahang, Malaysia
Cost of living in Tioman
How much a month costs in Tioman
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $930–1,350 (RM3,800–5,500).
Prices in Tioman
Typical 2026 ranges in MYR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | MYR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | RM40–90 | $10–22 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | RM120–350 | $29–86 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | RM10–18 | $2.4–4.4 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | RM30–60 | $7.3–14.7 |
| Cappuccino | RM7–12 | $1.7–2.9 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | RM8–15 | $2.0–3.7 |
| Work and life | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | RM30–60 | $7.3–14.7 |
Value for money: 84/100
A value score of 84/100 means Tioman gives more quality of life per dollar than 83% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 67/100. It's the 8th most affordable of 16 places we cover in Malaysia.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Malaysia
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Ipoh | $735–1,100 | 92/100 |
| Cameron Highlands | $783–1,180 | 90/100 |
| Sandakan | $783–1,180 | 91/100 |
| Taman Negara | $735–1,220 | 89/100 |
| Malacca | $857–1,270 | 85/100 |
| Kuching | $857–1,270 | 87/100 |
| Perhentian Islands | $930–1,350 | 85/100 |
| Tioman | $930–1,350 | 84/100 |
| Langkawi | $930–1,420 | 81/100 |
| Kota Kinabalu | $979–1,470 | 81/100 |
| Johor Bahru | $979–1,470 | 71/100 |
| Semporna | $979–1,590 | 63/100 |
| Penang | $1,030–1,590 | 74/100 |
| Genting Highlands | $1,100–1,710 | 71/100 |
| Kuala Lumpur | $1,220–1,960 | 57/100 |
| Redang | $1,220–1,960 | 62/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Tioman
Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hue | Vietnam | $578–963 |
| Phong Nha | Vietnam | $539–848 |
| Sukhothai | Thailand | $656–1,040 |
| Ninh Binh | Vietnam | $539–925 |
| Mount Bromo | Indonesia | $503–783 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Tioman?
About $539–735 on a lean budget, $930–1,350 for a comfortable month and $1,710–2,940 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much does food cost in Tioman?
A local meal is RM10–18 ($2.4–4.4); a mid-range restaurant is RM30–60 ($7.3–14.7) per person.
Is Malaysia expensive?
Prices in Malaysia are about 32% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Tioman
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.