With the growing concern in today’s economy, many Malaysians are looking for extra income that can help them pay their monthly commitments, pay off debts or simply build financial resilience. The rising costs of living is the main reason why side hustles are not only a hole for extra earnings, but they are becoming a significant and reliable source of income for some Malaysians. The question left is, do side hustles actually pay off in Malaysia ? Let’s explore some of the most common options and see if they actually pay off.
1. E-hailing & Food Delivery Services
Source: Grab.com & TodayOnline
Nowadays in Malaysia, many have turned to E-hailing and food delivery platforms like Grab, GrabFood and Foodpanda to earn extra income every month especially in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru where the demand stays relatively high particularly during peak hours.
E-hailing and food delivery services can pay off due to its flexible hours and decent pay per hours that can be added up with the consistent demand in busy zones and tips + surge pricing add to the hourly earning.
| Pay per Hour | RM10 – RM25 |
| Pay per Month | RM1,000 – RM2,500 |
*Pay depends on the total of orders, peak hour and urban area
It is important to take into consideration that earning is depending on hours worked and location traffic. The longer you work the more earning you could achieve on a daily basis, but the fuel and vehicle maintenance might affect your net income.
2. Tutoring (Online and Offline)
Another side hustle that you can consider is tutoring, in Malaysia tutoring often pays well and whether for school subjects, Bahasa Melayu/English, or exam prep all remains in demand. Most parents are willing to pay competitive rates for their children, especially for top-performing tutors or niche subjects like SPM/STPM maths and sciences. Tutoring also can be done at your own comfort whether it be physical or online tutoring.
| Pay per Hour | RM30 – RM100+ |
| Pay per Month | RM1,200 – RM4,000+ |
*Popular subject like Math/Science/English can be charge higher per hour (RM50 – RM100)
Tutoring is profitable due to its repetitive nature where there will be repeat bookings from students every month or year and its potential to scale by doing group classes or online courses. It is also profitable as you can set high hourly rates for specialized subjects depending on your skill and experience as a tutor.
3. Cleaning Services
Many Malaysians tend to juggle busy work lives that they have no time to take care of their chores at home, this lead to the high demand for cleaning services especially in the cities like Kuala Lumpur. Be it home cleaning, office cleaning, or post-renovation cleanup, reliable cleaners can build regular clients if they are satisfied with your cleaning services.
| Pay per Hour | RM20 – RM60 |
| Pay per Job | RM60 – RM250 |
| Pay per Month | RM800 – RM2,500+ |
*Pay will be higher if there is recurring clients on weekly or monthly basis
Doing cleaning services is actually profitable as it is always growing in demand every day. It works and pays off as there will be recurring clients based on weekly or biweekly homes where you will be getting income from. Not only that, business owners are consistently looking for outsourcing cleaning services for their office so it’s a great side hustle to do on a weekly or monthly basis.
4. Video Editor
With the rise of social media and digital marketing in Malaysia, a good video editor is in demand. Many small business owners, influencers and event videographers are looking for outsource editing to help them handle their client video. Small media companies are also looking for reliable video editors to take up their task in video editing.
| Pay per Hour | RM40 – RM150+ |
| Pay per Project | RM150 – RM1,500+ |
| Pay per Month | RM1,500 – RM6,000+ |
*Pay depend on projects like social media video, event editing and long form
This side hustle is high paying as it depends on projects and can pay well according to per video or per hour and you can get more pay if you work on multiple video projects. There is a possibility that customer or client will repeat your services especially among content creators that need to edit their video pretty often. With a strong portfolio you can charge a premium rate and earn extra income.
5. Digital Services
Digital services such as web development, graphic design, content writing, translating, and proofreading side hustles can actually pay well in Malaysia. As more businesses move online, the demand for digital support continues to grow, especially from SMEs and startups. They require websites, branding materials, marketing content and accurate communication. This creates consistent opportunities for skilled freelancers who can deliver quality work.
| Web Development | Pay per Hour: RM60 – RM200+ Pay per Project: RM1,500 – RM5,000+ Pay per Month: RM2,000 – RM6,000+ |
| Graphic Design | Pay per Hour: RM40 – RM120 Pay per Project: RM100 – RM2,000+ Pay per Month: RM1,500 – RM4,000+ |
| Writing (Content/SEO/Copywriting) | Pay per Word: RM0.20 – RM1 Pay per Article: RM100 – RM800+ Pay per Month: RM2,000 – RM7,000+ |
| Translating | Pay per Word: RM0.15 – RM0.60 Pay per Page: RM30 – RM150 Pay per Month: RM1,500 – RM5,000 |
| Proofreading & Editing | Pay per Word: RM0.5 – RM0.30 Pay per Hour: RM30 – RM100 Pay per Month: RM1,000 – RM4,000 |
Doing digital service as your side hustles is a great deal with its higher potential for specialised skills and project based income that can scale as experience increases. You also have the opportunities to secure long term or international clients. Unlike manual side hustles, digital services rely heavily on expertise. As freelancers build stronger portfolios and client trust, they can gradually increase their rates, making this one of the more scalable and sustainable side hustles in Malaysia.
6. Pet Sitting & Babysitting
As more families and parents navigate tight schedules, both pet sitting and baby sitting services are becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia cities. Pet owners who are travelling for work or holidays need reliable caretakers, while working parents often look for trusted babysitters for part-time or ad-hoc support.
| Pet Sitting | Pay per Hour: RM15 – RM40 Pay per Day: RM30 – RM120 Pay per Month: RM800 – RM2,500 |
| Babysitting | Pay per Hour: RM15 – RM35 Pay per Day: RM100 – RM250 Pay per Month: RM1,000 – RM3,000 |
Pet sitting and babysitting is profitable as you can charge per hour or daily rates and there is strong potential for repeating clients especially during peak hours like school holiday. Additional services like pet transport, overnight care, or extended childcare hours can add up to your income easily. Both services rely heavily on trust and reliability. Once caregivers build a good reputation and receive positive referrals, they can secure consistent booking and steady side income.
7. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate income might be profitable, but it requires platforms with audience, consistent content, and trust. Once you’ve built a strong platform you will earn more than you thought you could. Instead of quick earnings, affiliate marketing often pays off once you’ve built an audience on your chosen platform.
| Pay per Sales/Commission | RM1 – RM500+ |
| Pay per Month | RM0 – RM5,000+ (varies) |
*Highly dependent to audience and niche
Do you wonder why affiliate marketing can work? It because of its passive income over time and commissions from product referrals can be profitable and it works well with niche content. However it must take into consideration that there is no guaranteed income as it depends on your audience. It will take time to build traffic but eventually you will gain profit from your audience.
8. Photography Services
Photography services especially for weddings, portraits and products are well paid in Malaysia. Good photographers can command strong rates, and with a portfolio and social proof, bookings increase. Photography services are high in demand especially during the wedding and festive season. Photography services is one of the most profitable side hustle in Malaysia.
| Pay per Hour | RM80 – RM200+ |
| Pay per Event | RM500 – RM3,000+ |
| Pay per Month | RM2,00 – RM8,000+ |
*Weddings and corporate gig can be paid by premium price
This side hustle is a good opportunity to increase your monthly income as it offers high per-event rates and not just only offering photography services, you can also offer packages for events, portraits and products. You can also add on services like printing, photo albums and editing in order to earn extra income.
9. Live Hosting
Live hosting has become increasingly popular in Malaysia, especially with the growth of livestream selling on platforms like TikTok, Shopee, and Facebook. Brand and small business owners are looking for confident and engaging hosts actively to promote products in real time and drive sales through interactive live sessions.
| Pay per Hour/Session | RM50 – RM300+ |
| Pay per Event/Campaign | RM500 – RM2,000+ |
| Pay per Month | RM1,000 – RM5,000+ |
Live hosting is a promising side hustle because it is paid per session or campaign and live hosting is currently high on demand during promotional periods as many people are switching to online shopping as it is more convenient. Experienced live hosts who can attract viewers and generate strong sales often secure repeat booking from clients. With consistent engagement and a strong on-screen presence, live hosting can become a profitable and scalable side hustle.
10. Event Crew/Part-Time Event Staff
Source: Lasso
Event crew roles such as registration assistants, booth promoters, ushers, and roadshow staff remain popular side hustles in Malaysia. With frequent corporate events, exhibitions, product launches, and weekend road shows, businesses regularly hire part-time staff to support short-term campaigns.
| Pay per Hour | RM10 – RM20 |
| Pay per Day | RM80 – RM180 |
| Pay per Month | RM600 – RM1,500 |
Event crew and part-time event staff is a flexible and short term commitment, there is no advanced technical skills required and it can be in high demand during festive and sales seasons. While it may not pay as high as digital services, event work provides relatively steady opportunities, especially for students or individuals looking for quick extra income without long-term commitments.
What Makes These Side Hustles Actually Pay Off?
In Malaysia, a side hustle pays off when you combine:
- Consistent demand in only and physical setting
- Value-based pricing where price reflects skills and results
- Marketing yourself by preparing portfolio, social proof and referrals
- Repeating clients or recurring jobs
- Scalability where you can grow beyond single task .
So yes, many side hustles in Malaysia really do pay off, but not all are “easy money”. Success really depends on skill, discipline, consistent effort, and smart marketing. With the right strategy, what starts as extra income can grow into a significant revenue stream or even a full-time business.
Curious about whether freelancing is truly stable in Malaysia? Read our full guide on Is Freelancing Stable in Malaysia? to find out. Explore RiseAsia for more tips and insights to help you grow your career, understand financial trends, and make smarter decisions about your side hustles.
