Hourly Maid Service vs Full-Time Maid in Malaysia: Cost Comparison

The debate between hiring a full-time live-in helper and engaging a professional hourly service is one we hear daily from homeowners across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. You might find yourself torn between the convenience of having someone available 24/7 and the freedom of maintaining a private, guest-free home. From what we have seen in the market recently, this decision often comes down to a single calculation: does the rising cost of a live-in permit justify the convenience?

We are going to break down the latest 2025 financial figures and operational realities to help you decide. Let’s look at the data, what it actually tells us about your household needs, and then explore a few practical ways to respond.

Complete Cost Breakdown

Full-Time Maid Costs (Monthly & One-Time)

The landscape for hiring full-time domestic helpers has shifted significantly in the last two years. We have observed that agency fees have increased, and new regulations now mandate additional protections for workers.

Direct Monthly Costs:

Item	Monthly Cost (RM)	Notes
Basic Salary	RM1,700 - RM2,500	Minimums have risen (e.g., Filipino helpers often start at RM2,000+).
Food Allowance	RM300 - RM500	Inflation has impacted daily grocery costs significantly.
SOCSO (PERKESO)	RM30 - RM50	Mandatory since 2021 (Employer pays ~1.75%).
Levy Amortization	RM50 - RM100	Based on the annual levy of ~RM610 divided monthly.
Medical/Insurance	RM50 - RM100	Includes required hospitalization and accident coverage.
Monthly Total	RM2,130 - RM3,250

One-Time & Annual Upfront Costs:

Item	Cost (RM)	Notes
Agency Fee	RM15,000 - RM18,000	Caps exist (e.g., RM15k for Indonesian helpers), but total packages often exceed this.
FOMEMA Check-up	RM200 - RM300	Required annually for medical clearance.
Work Permit	RM600 - RM1,200	Includes processing fees if using an agent for renewal.
Initial Setup	RM500 - RM1,000	Room furnishing, toiletries, and uniforms.
One-Time Total	RM16,300 - RM20,500+

Hidden Costs You Must Anticipate:

• Medical Emergencies: Employers are often liable for medical costs exceeding insurance limits.
• Runaway Risk: If a helper absconds, the replacement process usually requires a new agency fee.
• Travel Costs: You are responsible for the return flight ticket at the end of the contract.
• Utility Spikes: Live-in helpers increase water and electricity usage, typically by RM100-RM200 monthly.

Annual Total (Year 1): RM40,000 - RM55,000+

Hourly Maid Service Costs

Hourly services have become the preferred choice for modern households that want professional cleaning without the employer liabilities. We find that this model offers transparency that live-in contracts cannot match.

Standard Cleaning Service Rates (KL & Selangor):

Service Type	Estimated Cost
Hourly Rate	RM25 - RM35 per hour
4-Hour Session	RM100 - RM140
8-Hour Session	RM200 - RM280
Weekend Surcharge	+RM10 - RM20 per session

Typical Monthly Costs by Frequency:

Frequency	Hours/Month	Monthly Cost
Weekly (4 hrs)	16 hours	RM400 - RM560
Twice Weekly (4 hrs)	32 hours	RM800 - RM1,120
Three Times Weekly	48 hours	RM1,200 - RM1,680
Daily (Mon-Fri)	80 hours	RM2,000 - RM2,800

Annual Total: RM4,800 - RM24,000 (Variable based on usage)

Direct Comparison: Live-In vs. Hourly

This table highlights the stark differences in commitment and liability.

Factor	Full-Time Live-In Maid	Hourly Cleaning Service
Monthly Commitment	RM2,100 - RM3,200+	RM400 - RM2,000 (Pay per use)
Upfront Capital	RM16,000+ (High Risk)	None (Zero Risk)
Legal Liability	High (SOCSO, Visas, FOMEMA)	None (Service provider handles this)
Availability	24/7 (Live-in)	Scheduled blocks (e.g., 8 AM - 6 PM)
Scope of Work	Cleaning, Cooking, Childcare	Deep Cleaning, Ironing, Organization
Privacy	Low (Stranger in the house)	High (Only there when needed)
Replacement	Weeks/Months to process	Immediate replacement provided

Pros and Cons Analysis

Full-Time Maid

Advantages:

• Holistic Household Management: A live-in helper learns your specific preferences for cooking, folding, and even pet care over time.
• Emergency Availability: You have an extra pair of hands immediately available for unexpected situations like a sick child.
• Relationship Building: Long-term helpers often become like family members and provide emotional stability for children.

Disadvantages:

• High Financial Risk: If the helper is unsuitable or leaves early, you may lose a significant portion of your agency fee.
• Employer Burden: You become a legal employer responsible for conflict resolution, medical welfare, and strict adherence to labour laws.
• Privacy Loss: Sharing your living space means adjusting your family’s lifestyle and dress code at home.

Hourly Maid Service

Advantages:

• Cost Control: You only pay for the specific hours you need.
• Zero Administrative Work: We handle all staff training, vetting, payroll, and transportation.
• Specialized Skill: Professional hourly cleaners are trained specifically for efficiency and often complete tasks faster than a generalist helper.
• Privacy Retention: Your home remains your private sanctuary during evenings and weekends.

Disadvantages:

• Task Limitation: Cleaners generally do not cook meals or provide child supervision.
• Scheduling: Slots must be booked in advance, especially before peak periods like Hari Raya or Chinese New Year.
• Variable Faces: While you can request the same cleaner, illness or scheduling conflicts may result in a substitute.

Best Fit Scenarios

Choose a Full-Time Maid If:

Your household has:

• Dependents Needing Supervision: Young toddlers, infants, or elderly parents who cannot be left alone.
• Large Property: Bungalows or semi-Ds exceeding 3,000 sq ft that require daily maintenance.
• Heavy Kitchen Needs: You require three home-cooked meals daily for a large family.
• Budget Flexibility: Your household income can comfortably absorb a RM40,000 annual expense.

Your priorities are:

• Constant supervision.
• Delegating childcare and cooking entirely.
• Building a long-term bond with a helper.

Choose Hourly Maid Service If:

Your household has:

• School-Age Children: Kids who are in school most of the day or attend daycare.
• Privacy Concerns: You prefer not to have a stranger living in your spare room.
• Standard Living Space: Condominiums or terrace houses that can be cleaned efficiently in 4-8 hours.
• Budget Awareness: You prefer to allocate funds to savings or travel rather than domestic levies.

Your priorities are:

• Professional cleaning standards.
• Maintaining family privacy.
• Avoiding long-term contracts and legal hassles.

The Hybrid Approach: A Modern Solution

Many families in KL are realizing they don’t need a single person to do everything. We often see clients combine services for a more efficient, cost-effective outcome.

Strategy 1: The “Clean & Care” Split

• Action: Hire a specialized hourly cleaner for heavy scrubbing and housekeeping once a week.
• Action: Use a dedicated daycare or after-school program for childcare.
• Result: You get professional-grade cleanliness and certified childcare without the live-in complexity.

Strategy 2: The Outsourced Household

• Action: Engage our hourly maids for cleaning (e.g., 12 hours/week).
• Action: Use food delivery subscriptions or meal prep services for dinners.
• Result: This model typically costs 40% less than a full-time maid and offers higher quality food and cleaning.

Making the Financial Decision

Let’s look at the math for a typical family of four in Petaling Jaya.

The Scenario: You need a clean house, dinner sorted, and laundry done. No infant care is required.

Option A: Full-Time Agency Helper

• Agency & Setup (Amortized over 2 years): RM850/month
• Salary: RM1,800/month
• Food & Utilities: RM500/month
• Levy/Medical/SOCSO: RM150/month
• Total Monthly Cost: ~RM3,300

Option B: Hourly Service + Smart Outsourcing

• Cleaning (3x week, 4 hours): ~RM1,200/month
• Meal Delivery/Prep: ~RM1,000/month
• Laundry Service (Wash & Fold): ~RM300/month
• Total Monthly Cost: ~RM2,500

Annual Savings with Option B: RM9,600+

This calculation doesn’t even account for the “peace of mind” savings of not managing an employee’s visa renewal or medical check-ups.

Transition Considerations

If you currently have a full-time maid:

• Wait: Do not terminate a contract early unless necessary, as you will lose your agency fees.
• Test: Book a one-off deep cleaning session to see the difference in professional standards versus generalist help.
• Plan: Use the final months of the contract to adjust your routine, perhaps taking over cooking duties or finding a meal service.

If you are considering your first hire:

• Start Small: Try an hourly service for one month.
• Assess: If you find yourself still overwhelmed by laundry or cooking, you can scale up to a hybrid model.
• Commit Later: Only sign a 2-year live-in contract if the hourly model truly fails to meet your supervision needs.

Conclusion

For households primarily needing a spotless home and laundry assistance, hourly maid services typically offer superior value and lower risk. The potential savings of RM10,000 to RM25,000 annually is capital you can invest elsewhere.

Full-time helpers remain the right choice for families who need a “third parent” for intensive childcare or elderly supervision. However, for the majority of modern professionals, the flexibility of paying only for what you need is the smarter path.

We encourage you to assess your actual weekly routine before locking yourself into a two-year commitment.

Contact 22 Cleaning to discuss how our hourly maid service can meet your household needs. We offer flexible scheduling and professional cleaning at transparent rates.