Maid Hiring Cost in Malaysia: What Families Should Budget For
Planning to hire a maid in Malaysia? Understand the first-year cost, monthly salary, official fees, medical screening, insurance, bond, renewals and what to ask before confirming.
Hiring a live-in domestic helper is a big household decision. For most families, the first question is simple:
How much does it actually cost to hire a maid in Malaysia?
The honest answer is that there is no single fixed price. The total depends on the helper’s source country, experience, salary expectations, agency service, documentation, medical screening, insurance, security bond, levy, permit renewal and the kind of care your household needs.
But the cost becomes much easier to understand once you stop looking for one big number and start looking at it in layers.
This cost guide pairs with our step-by-step hiring guide — read that first if you’re new to the process; this guide focuses specifically on what to budget for.
In short: maid hiring cost has three layers
When families ask about maid hiring cost in Malaysia, they are usually trying to understand the full first-year budget. The easiest way to think about it is in three layers:
- One-time setup and agency cost — placement service, helper sourcing, documentation, permit processing, arrival coordination and related setup items.
- Monthly salary and living cost — the helper’s salary, meals, accommodation and basic daily needs.
- Yearly renewal and official items — permit renewal, levy, insurance and FOMEMA medical screening, according to the applicable renewal schedule.
The first year usually feels the most expensive because all three layers happen together. Later years are lighter, because the major setup work has already been completed.
Figures checked as of May 2026 and may change. The official figures in this guide are based on Immigration Malaysia, FOMEMA, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Malaysia–Indonesia MoU. Treat them as budgeting guidance, not a quotation. For an itemised figure based on your household, speak with us.
The simple budget formula
A helpful way to plan is to separate your first-year cost from your ongoing yearly cost.
First-year budget = setup cost + 12 months of salary + living costs + official and renewal-related items.
Following-year budget = salary + living costs + annual official renewal items.
That distinction matters because many families compare only the upfront payment. In reality, a responsible budget should include both the initial setup and the ongoing monthly commitment.
| Period | What to budget for |
|---|---|
| First year | Agency service, documentation, work permit, medical screening, insurance, security bond, arrival coordination, salary, levy and living costs. |
| Following years | Mainly salary, food and lodging, levy, insurance and permit renewal — with FOMEMA repeated according to the applicable renewal schedule. |
This is why two quotations can look different at first glance. One may bundle more items upfront; another may separate them out later. Always ask what is included and what is not.
What makes up the total cost?
Most maid hiring costs fall into five areas.
The first is agency service and placement — understanding your household needs, sourcing suitable helper profiles, guiding the selection, preparing documentation, coordinating arrival and supporting the family after placement.
The second is helper salary — usually the largest ongoing monthly cost. It varies by source country, experience, language ability, job scope and market conditions.
The third is official and government-related cost — the work pass (PLKS), levy, security bond and other approval-related items.
The fourth is medical and insurance cost — FOMEMA medical screening and the required insurance coverage.
The fifth is daily living cost — a live-in helper shares your home, so budget for meals, accommodation and basic essentials.
The exact amount depends on your situation. A family hiring for general housekeeping may have a different cost profile from one that needs infant care, elderly care, or a more experienced helper.
Official reference figures checked in May 2026
Some figures are not set by the agency. They come from official requirements, source-country arrangements or regulated processes — useful reference points, because they explain why quotations differ.
| Item | Figure / reference point | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employer income requirement | RM5,000/month for a Filipino helper; RM7,000/month for an Indonesian helper. Other source countries may differ. | Immigration Malaysia |
| Indonesian helper minimum salary | RM1,500/month under the Malaysia–Indonesia MoU. Placements may be quoted higher by experience and market. | Immigration Malaysia / MoU |
| Filipino helper salary benchmark | Philippine DMW issued 2025 guidelines for progressive implementation of a USD500/month minimum; ringgit equivalent varies with the exchange rate. | Philippine DMW |
| Security bond (refundable) | RM250 for Indonesia, RM750 for the Philippines. Other source countries may differ. | Immigration Malaysia |
| FOMEMA medical screening | About RM217 per screening for a female worker. | FOMEMA |
| Foreign-worker levy | Historically about RM410/year; confirm the current rate, as the levy structure may change. | Immigration Malaysia |
| Regulated maximum hiring cost (Indonesian helper) | RM15,000 through an appointed Malaysia Recruitment Agency. | Malaysia–Indonesia MoU |
Two items often surprise first-time employers. The first is the income requirement — eligibility itself is part of the process; if your household doesn’t meet it, the application may not proceed. The second is the security bond — it sounds like a fee, but it is refundable when the helper’s employment ends correctly through the proper process.
Salary: Indonesian vs Filipino helpers
Salary is one of the biggest differences families notice when comparing helper options.
For Indonesian domestic helpers, the official minimum salary reference is RM1,500 a month under the Malaysia–Indonesia MoU. In practice, some placements are quoted higher depending on experience, household size, job scope and market conditions.
For Filipino domestic helpers, the Philippine DMW issued guidelines in 2025 for the progressive implementation of a USD500 monthly minimum salary for Filipino domestic workers abroad. Because this is in USD, the ringgit amount changes with the exchange rate, so confirm the latest converted figure during consultation.
This is why Filipino placements are often the higher-cost option, especially where strong English or specialised care experience matters. But salary should never be judged in isolation: a lower figure is not automatically better value, and a higher one is not automatically a better fit. The better question is which helper suits your household’s needs, language, routine and care expectations. For a fuller comparison, read our guide on Indonesian vs Filipino helpers.
What families often forget to budget for
Many families remember the agency fee and the salary, but forget the smaller ongoing items that shape the real household budget.
The most common is food and daily living cost — a live-in helper eats at home, uses household facilities and needs basic daily essentials. These rarely appear clearly on a quotation, but they are part of the real monthly cost.
Another is renewal cost. Hiring doesn’t end when the helper arrives: the work pass, insurance, levy and medical requirements must be tracked and renewed.
A third is exchange-rate movement — for Filipino helpers the salary benchmark is set in USD, so the ringgit equivalent moves with the rate.
Families also forget to ask about replacement and after-placement support: if a helper isn’t suitable, what happens next, is there a replacement period, and what is included or excluded? And finally, documentation timing — delays or missing documents can stall the process, which is exactly why a clear, licensed process matters.
Why the cheapest quote is not always the safest quote
It’s natural to compare prices. But for domestic helper hiring, the cheapest quotation is not always the safest choice.
A very low quote may exclude important items — medical screening, insurance, levy, permit renewal, documentation, after-placement support or replacement terms — and it may be unclear whether the operator is even properly licensed. The risk is that the family only discovers the missing items later, after a deposit or a commitment has been made.
So compare quotations by what sits inside the number, not just the number itself. A proper quotation should make clear what is included, what is excluded, what is official or government-related, what is refundable, what repeats yearly, what depends on the helper profile, and what support is provided after arrival. For families, clarity is worth more than a small saving — and our guide on what a licensed maid agency means explains why JTKSM licensing matters here.
How to compare maid agency quotations properly
When gathering quotations, avoid asking only “how much is your package?” A better question is “what exactly am I paying for, and what may still be separate?” These questions tell you far more before you commit:
| Ask this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What exactly is included and excluded? | Prevents hidden or unclear costs |
| What is the helper’s expected monthly salary? | Shows your real ongoing commitment |
| Are permit, levy, bond, FOMEMA and insurance included? | Clarifies official and renewal-related items |
| Is the security bond refundable? | Separates a true cost from a temporary hold |
| What needs to be renewed yearly? | Helps you plan beyond the first payment |
| What happens if the helper is not suitable? | Reveals replacement and support terms |
| How long is the process expected to take? | Helps you plan realistically |
| What after-placement support is included? | Matters during the settling-in period |
A quotation that is slightly higher but clearly itemised may be safer than a cheaper one with vague inclusions.
How EZHelper Kreate keeps the cost clear
At EZHelper Kreate, we don’t believe families should be pushed into a decision with one vague package figure. As a licensed Malaysian agency operated under Agensi Pekerjaan Jobs Kreate Sdn. Bhd. — JTKSM 867B, our role is to help you understand the full cost picture before you commit.
When you speak with us, we walk you through what is included in your quotation, what may be separate, which items are official or government-related, which are refundable, what repeats yearly, what depends on the helper’s profile and nationality, and what support is provided after your helper arrives. That helps you compare your options calmly and avoid surprises later. You can read more about our services, see the full hiring process, or start a no-pressure consultation when you’re ready.
Final thoughts
The cost of hiring a maid in Malaysia is not one simple number — it is a combination of setup cost, monthly salary, living cost, official requirements, medical screening, insurance, security bond, levy and renewals. The safest way to budget is to separate your first-year cost from your ongoing yearly cost, then ask for an itemised breakdown before confirming anything.
If you’re unsure where to begin, EZHelper Kreate can guide you through it step by step — from understanding your household needs to reviewing suitable helper options and preparing the documents properly. Speak with EZHelper Kreate for a clear, no-pressure consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a maid in Malaysia?
There is no single fixed cost. The total depends on the helper’s source country, salary, agency service, documentation, the work permit, medical screening, insurance, levy, a refundable security bond and yearly renewals. The clearest way to know your figure is to ask for an itemised breakdown for your household.
Why does the first year cost more?
The first year carries the full setup process on top of twelve months of salary and living costs. Later years are lighter because the major setup cost is already paid — though salary, living costs, levy, insurance, permit renewal and scheduled medical requirements continue.
Is the agency fee paid every month?
No. The agency service or placement fee is normally a one-time cost per placement. The helper’s salary and household living costs continue monthly.
Do Indonesian and Filipino helpers cost the same?
No. They follow different salary benchmarks: the Indonesian minimum is RM1,500/month under the Malaysia–Indonesia MoU, while the Philippine DMW issued 2025 guidelines progressively implementing a USD500/month minimum for Filipino workers abroad. The right choice should rest on household suitability, not price alone.
Is the security bond refundable?
Yes. It is held by Immigration and returned when the helper’s employment ends correctly through the proper process. The amount depends on nationality — for common placements, RM250 for Indonesia and RM750 for the Philippines.
What costs do families often forget?
Daily meals and living costs, yearly renewal items, exchange-rate movement for the Filipino salary benchmark, replacement and after-placement terms, and documentation timing.
What should I ask before confirming with an agency?
Ask what is included and excluded, the helper’s expected salary, whether permit, levy, bond, FOMEMA and insurance are included, what renews yearly, what happens if the helper isn’t suitable, and what after-placement support is provided. See our FAQ page for more.
Can EZHelper Kreate give me an exact cost?
Yes. Once we understand your household needs, helper preference, care requirements and timing, we can explain the expected cost components clearly and guide you to the next step. Get in touch.
EZHelper Kreate is a licensed domestic helper placement agency in Kuala Lumpur, operated by Agensi Pekerjaan Jobs Kreate Sdn. Bhd. (JTKSM 867B). This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Figures were checked in May 2026 against Immigration Malaysia, FOMEMA, the Philippine DMW and the Malaysia–Indonesia MoU, and may change.