How we calculate
Every figure here is reproducible. This page states the assumptions so you can check our arithmetic rather than trust it.
Exchange rate
All ringgit-to-dollar conversions use USD 1 = RM 4.50, reviewed quarterly. Where a programme sets its requirement in ringgit, the ringgit figure is the binding one; where it sets it in US dollars — as the mainland MM2H tiers do — the dollar figure binds. We never convert one into the other as though they were interchangeable, because currency movement changes what you actually owe.
What "total commitment" means
Our cost figures include four things: the savings deposit, any home you have to buy, stamp duty at the applicable rate, and government participation fees. They exclude agent fees, which vary and are not published, and living costs.
We separate refundable from money you never get back because the distinction is the whole decision. A USD 150,000 deposit and a RM 48,000 stamp duty bill are not the same kind of money, and quoting a single blended figure hides that.
Property
We use the legal minimum purchase price, not market price. Actual prices in Kuala Lumpur and Penang frequently exceed the state minimum. Treat our property figures as a floor.
The pathway finder
The tool on the homepage classifies each route as clears, close (within 20% of a requirement) or short. It compares your inputs against published requirements only. It does not assess security vetting, medical requirements, document completeness or anything else a licensed agent would evaluate — it tells you which financial gates you clear, nothing more.
Where we estimate
- Cost-of-living figures are ranges from published surveys and rental listings, not quotes.
- Healthcare and insurance costs vary sharply by age, insurer and medical history.
- State property minimums are reported inconsistently across sources, particularly Penang landed. We publish the figure we can support and flag the disagreement.
Corrections
If a figure here is wrong, tell us and it will be corrected with the change dated. See sources and dates and contact.
Common questions
What exchange rate does My Second Home use?
All conversions use USD 1 = RM 4.50, reviewed quarterly. Where a programme sets its requirement in ringgit the ringgit figure binds, and where it sets the requirement in US dollars — as the mainland MM2H tiers do — the dollar figure binds.
This page is reviewed whenever any calculation assumption changes.