Borneo money matters

The currency in Malaysian Borneo (and Malaysia generally) is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR or RM). Bank notes come as 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and there are various coins too. The equivalent of pennies are ‘sen’, and there are 100 sen in a ringgit. For reference, 6 Ringgit is worth about £1. 

You can get exchange money before you travel but there’s no real need – you’ll usually get just as good (if not better) rates at the airport or at an official bank ATM. Just beware of your bank’s foreign withdrawal fees, and note that most cash machines will also charge a small fee. We suggest using ATMs located inside of banks as the outside ones are sometimes targeted by fraudsters.

Many shops and restaurants will accept card payments but you will need some cash for local spending, especially outside of the main cities and tourist areas.

Make sure you check with your bank in case of overseas fees. If needed, we recommend signing up for a prepaid card like Monzo, Revolut, Starling or Wise which offer low or zero fees abroad.

If you’ve booked your holiday with Rickshaw then your accommodation, transport and pre-booked tours will have been paid for in advance. Breakfast will be included almost everywhere you stay, as well as your other meals too in the more remote locations.

However, you’ll still need to be prepared for everyday spending.

You should also be aware of the local tourist tax (currently MYR10 or about £2 per room per night). This must be paid locally and in cash.

Every family is different and costs can vary depending where you are in the country. Therefore, daily spending is difficult to predict. But to give you some idea, here’s what to expect for some of your most common expenditures.

Typical meal in a local restaurant: £3-5

Meal in a western-style tourist restaurant: £8-12

1 litre bottle of water: £0.50

Can of fizzy drink: £0.50

Good cup of coffee: £2

Fresh fruit juice or coconut water: £1.50

Bottled beer: £2-3

Bottle of imported wine in a restaurant: £15-25

Short city taxi ride: £1-2 (we recommend asking for the meter to be turned on)

Local SIM card with 1GB of data: £5-8

1. Travel off-peak – If you can be flexible with your timings (which is always difficult with kids!) then travelling outside of the peak summer months will save you some money. You could consider the Easter break which will see good weather across much of Borneo.
2. Use the markets – You’ll find well-stocked shops in most towns so it helps to stock up on kids snacks, drinks, and other essentials when you arrive somewhere. Fresh fruit in the local food markets is also incredibly affordable.
3. Buy water in bulk – You’ll often find that a 6 litre bottle costs only a fraction more than a 1 litre one, so buy big and make sure you pack your refillable water bottles. Better for your wallet and the environment!
4. Keep it local – You might want to treat the family to a few extra special meals out during your holiday, but eating at more simple local restaurants will save you a lot of money.

Borneo has less of a tipping culture than in other parts of Asia, and for the most part you can just pay whatever it says on the bill. Many restaurants include a service charge anyway, and there’s no expectation to leave extra (although it will be appreciated, of course). This is the same for local taxis – you can waive the change if you like but a substantial tip isn’t expected.

The drivers and guides we work with are fairly paid and don’t expect tips, but many travellers choose to do so anyway and it is always very much appreciated. As a guideline, if you’ve had a guide for most of a day then something like MYR60 (£10) is reasonable, and around MYR30 would be normal for a private driver on a long journey.

 

Haggling is also less common than in many countries in the region. Generally speaking, the price is the price and it’ll be clearly marked. You could ask for a discount on more expensive purchases, but do so with a smile and don’t be pushy.

The exception is in some local markets, especially when buying souvenir-type items where there is no marked price. In this case, haggle away! Just bear in mind that the sellers are probably on quite low incomes – we tend to settle around a price that seems fair, rather than obsessing over the best possible price.