PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian households spent an average of RM5,566 per month in 2024, representing a 3.9% increase from 2022, according to the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2024.
While income remained the main source for household expenditure, some families also supplemented their spending with non-cash government assistance and self-produced goods, the report said.
Housing, utilities and related expenses continued to account for the largest share of household budgets at 23.5%, followed by expenditure on restaurants and accommodation services (17.0%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (15.7%), and transport (11.0%).
A notable rise in spending on restaurants and hotels, up to 17%, reflects a growing trend of dining out among Malaysians, while spending on food consumed at home saw a slight decrease.
To provide further insights into these trends, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has developed a comprehensive dashboard integrating data on income, expenditure, poverty and inequality.
The platform, which features geospatial analytics, is designed to support evidence-based policy-making and inclusive national development.
The public can access OpenDOSM NextGen, an open-data platform offering interactive visualisations and data catalogues for further analysis, available at https://open.dosm.gov.my.
