Salary & Benefits
How much do transport, phone, and meal allowances actually add up to? I calculated it
by Gerald Goh·May 23, 2026
People underestimate non-salary benefits when comparing offers. Here's the math.
Typical allowance package at a mid-size Malaysian company:
- Transport: RM300/month (some reimburse petrol, others give fixed)
- Phone: RM100–200/month
- Meal: RM200–400/month
- Parking: RM150–300/month (in KL)
Total: RM750–1,100/month = RM9,000–13,200/year in take-home equivalent.
Better still: allowances up to certain limits are not subject to income tax. RM2,400/year for transport and RM1,200/year for phone allowances are currently tax-exempt.
When comparing a RM6,000 base with full allowances vs a RM6,800 base with none, the actual take-home difference can flip depending on your situation.