Malaysia is excellent value for money, especially outside of resorts. Budget travelers can manage $25-40/day: guesthouse rooms run $8-20, a hawker stall meal costs $1-3, and LRT/MRT in Kuala Lumpur is cheap. Intercity buses (e.g., KL to Penang) cost $8-15 and are comfortable.
Mid-range travelers ($60-100/day) can stay in comfortable hotels, hire private transfers, and visit attractions comfortably. Malaysia's domestic flight network (AirAsia) is cheap for reaching Penang, Langkawi, and Borneo — often cheaper than long bus journeys. Alcohol is expensive relative to food (Muslim country with high sin taxes) — stick to food stalls.