Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Malaysia
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Around RM 2.90 to the dollar. Excellent value for food and accommodation.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Malaysia, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Malaysia, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in Malaysia
Can you pay by card in Malaysia?
Widely accepted in cities, malls and hotels. Hawker centres, markets and small towns are cash.
Cash and ATMs in Malaysia
Everywhere. Most Malaysian banks charge RM 10-15 for foreign card withdrawals.
Moderate - hawker food and markets are the main cash uses.
Do you tip in Malaysia?
Not expected. Hotels and larger restaurants add a 10% service charge plus 8% SST.
Worth knowing about paying in Malaysia
Decline dynamic currency conversion and pay in ringgit.
Before you pay for anything in Malaysia
Pay in Malaysian ringgit or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Malaysia needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Malaysia
RM2.84 MYR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Malaysia essentials
Malaysia visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Malaysia
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Malaysia eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Malaysia travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Malaysia airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Malaysia
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Malaysia travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Malaysia
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Malaysia money & payments FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for Malaysia?
No. Australian passport holders get 90 days visa-free. You do need to submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within three days before you arrive.
Is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card free?
Yes, at the official imigresen-online.imi.gov.my site. Several paid lookalike sites exist - check the domain before you enter your passport details.
Planning Malaysia?
We will send you the Malaysia guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.