How much should you budget for your child’s education in Malaysia?
- Agmo Junior
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
We believe investing in your child’s education is one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll ever make. But how much does a full education journey actually cost in Malaysia?
Let’s break down the budgeting for your child's education by schooling stages, hidden costs, and smart ways to plan ahead — so you can make confident choices without surprises later.
🎒 Early Childhood Education (Ages 4–6)
Kindergarten and preschool are your child’s first step into structured learning. In Malaysia, you have a few options:
Public kindergartens (e.g. Kemas, Tadika Perpaduan): RM50–RM200/month
Private preschools: RM300–RM1,800/month
Extra costs often include uniforms, registration fees, enrichment classes (like music or speech), and year-end events.
📚 Primary & Secondary School (Ages 7–17)
This stage spans the longest stretch — and budgeting varies significantly based on your school type:
School Type | Tuition Fees (Yearly) | Other Costs |
Government (SK/SJKC) | Free | RM500–1,000 for books, uniforms, stationary, activities and so on. |
Private School | RM8,000–RM25,000 | RM3,000+ for materials, trips |
International School | RM20,000–RM60,000+ | Higher exam fees, insurance |
Families often underestimate transportation and tuition fees for extra classes, which can cost RM200–1,000/month depending on level and subjects.
🎓 Higher Education (Age 18+)
Whether it’s college or university, the financial commitment continues:
Public University (local student): RM3,000–8,000/year
Private University: RM20,000–80,000/year
Study abroad: Can exceed RM100,000/year with living expenses
Medical, engineering, and architecture programs tend to be on the higher end. Don’t forget hostel fees, meals, and tech gadgets too!
A typical student's journey in university can span between 3 to 5 years depending on what program they take.
Hidden & Recurring Costs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Tech gadgets: Laptop or tablet every few years (RM2,000–4,000)
Internet & subscriptions: RM100–300/month
School trips & clubs: RM500–2,000/year
Uniforms & textbooks: RM300–1,000/year
Enrichment programs (coding, robotics, music, sports): RM1,000–5,000/year
Education Inflation in Malaysia is Real
Education fees rise at a steady pace — 5–10% annually for private institutions. That means a course costing RM20,000 today may cost over RM30,000 in just a few years. Planning early helps buffer this increase.
How to prepare the budget for your child's education without stress?
Start saving early — even RM100/month from toddler age helps
Explore government incentives — e.g. SSPN, tax rebates
Balance your choices — blend public school with enrichment programs like coding, AI, and robotics
Track your child’s interests early — to avoid unnecessary switching later
Focus on skills, not just grades — future careers demand tech literacy, problem-solving, and creativity
Our Advice as a Tech Education Provider
Many parents underestimate the need of extra-curricular activities. This leads to not including these costs within their financial planning. While many SJKCs have already provided options to parents to sign their kids up for these programs at an additional costs - many other schools have yet to include it in their curriculum.
This means parents have to source for centers themselves. We meet parents every week who are surprised that tech-based skills like coding, electronics, or AI can start as early as age 5.
These aren’t just “nice to have” skills — they’re becoming essential for future careers.
Rather than only spending on tuition or tuition centers, consider allocating part of your education budget to future-ready skills through structured programs like our TQ Journey — built for kids aged 5 to 17.