Best place to buy Australian Dollars in Malaysia in 2024
If you have an overseas trip or vacation coming up, planning your travel money in advance can save you time and money. This guide walks through the best available options to buy Australian Dollars in Malaysia, whether you want cash in your wallet before you leave, or prefer to spend with a card.
We’ll look at how to pick the right method for you, what it might cost, and how to get the best available Australian Dollar exchange rate.
Find the cheapest ways to get Australian Dollar
Order your Wise card for 13.7 MYR*, have it delivered to your door in just 5 business days. Enjoy mid-market rates and low transparent fees for spending in 150+ countries worldwide.
Order 35 currencies online with preferential rates and collect at KLIA airport as you begin your journey.
Buy currencies at 100+ participating branches, and at Maybank currency exchange booths, get your cash instantly.
Major Malaysian banks offer currency exchange for their customers, covering a broad range of foreign currencies. You may need to call ahead to see if the location closest to you has your foreign currency in their stock.
We do not compare all available providers in the market. Our results are sorted by default from the lowest MYR cost to you to the highest MYR cost to you and you may choose to sort results according to other criteria. We may receive a referral fee if you choose one of these providers, but that won’t affect the ranking of the provider, the exchange rates or any fees you are charged.
*Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for most up to date information.
**Average margin versus the mid-market exchange rate of 129 individual quotes from 9 travel money providers, collected on 30/05/2024.
Best ways to buy Australian Dollars
- Wise
Spend and withdraw cash in 150+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees - Travelex MY
Order your travel money online to get the best available rate, then collect at the airport before you travel - Maybank2u
Visit a participating Maybank branch, or a Maybank money exchange booth to get travel money instantly - Banks & Currency Exchanges
Major Malaysian banks offer currency exchange for their customers in a broad range of currencies
Where to exchange MYR to AUD
You’ve got a few different options if you need to buy AUD in Malaysia. Depending on what’s most convenient for you, you may choose to order online for delivery, or to pick-up in person at a branch. You may be able to buy your travel money from a bank, or from a currency exchange office or at the airport. For convenient travel without needing to carry a lot of cash with you, you could also get your AUD travel card before you leave, to spend and withdraw when you’re away.
Get a Australian Dollar travel money card
Buy a travel money card from a provider like Wise, top up in Malaysian Ringgit, spend and make withdrawals conveniently on your trip. Your Wise card has a one time 13.7 MYR fee, and can be used with mid-market rates and low, transparent fees, in 150+ countries.
- Secure way to manage your money abroad
- Use ATMs to get cash little and often
- Top up and manage your account and card with just your phone
Order Australian Dollars online for collection
Order your travel money online with a service like Travelex and collect it at the airport with no need to stand in line. 35 currencies are available from Travelex, covering common destinations. Online rates may be better than on the spot exchange, but a rate markup is likely to apply.
- Get your foreign cash as you pass through KLIA
- Online orders have preferential rates
- Have Australian Dollars in your pocket before your trip
Buy Australian Dollars to collect at a bank in person
Get your travel money in person at a bank like Maybank. You can buy 28 currencies from 105 participating Maybank branches, or head to one of the Maybank exchange booths located in airports, malls and other convenient locations.
- Some banks allow account holders to buy foreign currency
- Maybank offers good currency coverage and a huge number of locations to choose from
- Avoid delivery fees
How to get Australian Dollars in Malaysia
You’ve got lots of choices if you need to buy Australian Dollars before leaving Malaysia. Shopping around can mean you get the very best available deal for your specific needs and preferences - this guide is here to help.
Use our comparison table to find the best solution to get AUD in Malaysia:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the available rates and fees
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or buying in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
Safe and convenient way to spend and withdraw money abroad
Get a Australian Dollar travel money card
You can order a travel money card like Wise in Malaysia, add money in MYR and use your balance to purchase Australian Dollars within your multi-currency account.
You’ll then be free to spend your Australian Dollars when you have enough balance with no extra fees once you arrive at your destination - you can also make ATM withdrawals whenever you need some cash. If you have travel money left after your vacation you can convert back to MYR instantly for use at home - or just leave your balance ready for your next trip.
- Secure, cheap, and easy to use
- Exchange instantly or let your card do it when you pay
- Use a digital card even before your physical card arrives
Travel money cards like the Wise card offer great rates, cheap fees, and flexibility to manage your money with your phone.
| Provider | Fees for spending | ATM cash withdrawals | Exchange rates | Delivery | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wise card | No fee to spend a currency you hold enough balance | 2 withdrawals to 1,000 MYR/month free, then 5 MYR + 1.75% | Mid-market rate Currency conversion from 0.35% | 5 days Virtual card available instantly |
How to buy Australian Dollars with a travel money card
- Register an account with a provider like Wise
- Get verified and order your card
- Your physical card will be delivered by mail in 5 business days
- Top up your card online, for free
- Buy AUD in your account or let your card auto-convert with the mid-market rate
Order foreign currency cash and collect it at the airport when you travel
Order Australian Dollars online for collection
Some providers allow you to order Australian Dollars online and collect it at a local branch or the airport. This can be a convenient service as long as there’s a pick up location that suits your travel plans. It also removes the risk that you show up at an exchange office only to discover that the currency you need isn’t available. Providers offer a broad range of currencies for collection, with varying fees and exchange rates.
- No need to visit a physical store to get your travel money
- Providers stock a broad range of currencies
- Order in advance to get everything ready, collect at the airport
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Collection | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varied fees - costs may be better online compared to on the spot | Exchange rates may include a markup | Collect at branches at KLIA |
How to order Australian Dollars online for collection
1. Open the website and select the option to buy for collection
2. Enter the amount or value of Australian Dollars you want to buy
3. Choose where you want to pick up your money
4. You’ll be given a quote showing when your cash is ready for collection
5. Pay at the airport and get your cash instantly
Order Australian Dollars ahead and collect in branch
Buy Australian Dollars in bank
Some banks allow you to exchange money in a branch location. The processes and eligibility rules here do vary quite a lot. In some cases you’ll need to already hold an account or credit card with the bank you pick, for example. Plus you’ll usually need to order your travel money in advance as banks don’t tend to hold a high level of stock of foreign currencies. Some banks support buy back services so you can sell your unused travel money back - but you might get a different exchange rate for this, which means you could get back less than you spent in the first place.
- Where banks offer travel money services they cover most global currencies
- Major banks like Maybank have many locations you can visit, including in malls and airports
- Buy back services may be available for leftover travel money
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Locations | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varying fees depending on the service required | Exchange rates may include a markup | 105 participating branches, plus booths in airports, malls and similar locations |
How to buy Australian Dollars in bank
- Pop into a branch or visit an exchange booth in person
- Tell them the amount of foreign currency you need to buy
- Pay using cash, or a credit or debit card
- Get your money instantly as long as they have it in stock
Pay in cash and collect your Australian Dollars instantly
Foreign currency exchange offices
Another option is to buy your Australian Dollars in person at an exchange office. To do this all you’ll need to do is pick the exchange office that’s most convenient to you, and head in with some cash in Malaysian Ringgit. Some exchange offices also accept card payments. Currency exchange offices set their own exchange rates and fees, so shopping around is essential - but this method does have the advantage that it’s usually instant to get the travel money you need.
- Exchange rates are likely to include a markup - a fee
- Not all currencies are stocked by all exchange services
- You may lose out when you sell back unused travel money
Purchase Australian Dollars on arrival, higher fees might apply
Buy Australian Dollars at the airport
If you’ve left your planning a little late you still have the option to buy Australian Dollars at the airport in many cases. Most major airports have one or more currency exchange desks catering to travelers - bear in mind though that you won’t have a huge range of choice here which can mean that the fees are higher than in a city center location.
- Exchange rates usually include a markup - which can be high
- Not all airports have currency exchange services available
- Little competition can mean the prices overall are pretty steep
How to buy Australian Dollars at the airport
Go to the airport exchange desk on arrival
Confirm how much you want to exchange
Pay with your preferred method - usually card or cash
Get your travel money instantly
How to get the best Australian Dollar exchange rate
There’s no single best provider when it comes to exchange rates. Different services set their own rates which may vary based on the currency, the amount you want to exchange, how you want to pay, and whether you’re exchanging money in a digital account or for physical cash.
To compare your options it helps to understand a bit about the mid-market exchange rate. That’s the rate you’ll see for MYR to AUD exchange if you use an online currency converter tool or a Google search. The mid-market rate is commonly used as a benchmark as it’s the one quoted on wholesale markets. However, banks and exchange services don’t usually pass this rate on directly. Instead they add an extra fee to the rate offered to retail customers - known as a markup.
This means that looking for a service which has transparent exchange rates which are the same as - or close to - the mid-market exchange rates is a good idea. You can compare a few live exchange rates for popular providers using the Exiap tools, to find the best Australian Dollar exchange rate based on the specific transaction you want to make.
Here’s what to do to find the best MYR to AUD exchange rate:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the options available, looking at the exchange rate for Malaysian Ringgit to Australian Dollars in particular
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
| Provider | Exchange rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | 0.3465 Mid-market rate 0% | Go to site |
Where can you use Australian Dollars?
You’ll only be able to use your Australian Dollars for spending in Australia. Normally, Australian Dollars won’t be accepted elsewhere, so if you have any left after your trip you might want to convert them back to Malaysian Ringgit to spend at home.
How much money do I need for Australia?
Your budget for a trip to Australia can vary enormously depending on what you’re planning to do, where you’ll stay and how long you’re going to be there. It’s worth setting yourself a budget in Australian Dollars well in advance so you can plan around that. The most expensive costs of any trip are usually accommodation and activities, but do remember to also take into account costs of currency exchange, food and transport, as well as incidentals like tipping.
Average hotel costs in Australia do vary a lot but can start from around RM601. On top of that you’ll need to budget for food, at around RM146 per meal. If you’re looking for an easy life you could also choose to take an organized tour which means there’s no need to plan all your activities individually. Or, set your budget to cover about RM133 per day to make sure you can get the most from your trip.
| Spending | Costs in Australia | Amount in Malaysian Ringgit |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $208 | RM601 |
| Transportation | $45 | RM129 |
| Meals | $51 | RM146 |
| Entertainment | $46 | RM133 |
Country costs provided by BudgetYourTrip. Correct as of 25 April 2024.
When is the best time to buy Australian Dollars?
There’s no single best time to buy Australian Dollars. Exchange rates change all the time, so keeping an eye on rates using a reputable currency converter tool or a site like ours can help you get a feel for the trends.
The exchange rate today is 0.346559. Over the last week, the average exchange rate has been 0.34729.
Ultimately the best time to buy Australian Dollars depends on a huge range of factors, including changes in the global markets, which can be difficult, or impossible, to predict. If you buy a currency when the rate is on a downward trend it may make sense to see if it falls further before you buy. If rates are going up you might want to buy now before any potential future increases.
Nothing is certain, though. With a travel money card you have the flexibility to either lock in an exchange rate when you spot a good one, or just leave your money in Malaysian Ringgit and switch over to Australian Dollars using the live rate when you pay or withdraw. This gives you options and while there’s no guarantee you can save, it could give you the best of both worlds, depending on how you think rates are trending.
Buy Australian Dollars FAQs
Is it better to get Australian Dollars in Malaysia or Australia?
You can buy Australian Dollars before you travel, or on arrival if you’d prefer. Which works best will come down to the fees and exchange rates you can find both locally and when you get to your destination. One disadvantage of buying Australian Dollars when you arrive is that you’ll waste time looking for exchange offices - while taking all your cash with you isn’t necessarily a smart choice for safety. As an alternative, getting a travel money card from a service like Wise could be a good bet for flexibility, security and cost.
Can I get Australian Dollars at a bank?
Whether or not you can get Australian Dollars from your bank will depend on several factors - including who you bank with. Some banks do allow account holders to purchase Australian Dollars in person but you might need to order Australian Dollars online in advance and wait for your order to be prepared before you can collect.
You may be able to get Australian Dollars from your bank, or from a major Malaysian bank like Maybank or CIMB. As an example, Maybank has over 100 branches which stock foreign currencies, and also some locations in malls, airports, casinos and other popular tourist and travel destinations. Call ahead to see if the branch or booth closest to you stocks Australian Dollars, or ask in your own bank about their travel money services.
Because Australian Dollars are a commonly traded currency you might find your bank has them in stock if they offer travel money services. Call in advance to ask if they have Australian Dollars on hand to avoid a wasted trip.
Can I get Australian Dollars at the airport?
Many major airports have currency exchange desks from providers like Travelex, which stock major currencies for instant conversion. You may also be able to order money in advance for collection. However, it’s useful to know that a lack of local competition can mean that prices are high at the airport, with exchange rate markups adding to the overall cost significantly.
As Australian Dollars are commonly needed by travelers, you may find you can get some instantly at the airport. However, it’s worth checking in advance to make sure you don’t end up stuck without travel money.
How long does it take to get Australian Dollars?
How long it takes to sort out your travel money can depend a lot on the method you choose - here’s a quick summary:
- Travel cards can take 5 days to be delivered, but you may be able to start using a virtual card instantly for mobile payments
- Buying currency online for collection has variable wait times - you’ll get a quote for when your order will be ready, but this can be very quick for major currencies
- Bank currency exchange can be instant as long as you go to a branch which offers travel money services - not all banks, and not all branches, offer this
- Foreign currency exchange offices in cities and at the airport can offer instant conversion if they have the currency you need in stock
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