Most expensive mall parking rates in Klang Valley

Hanging out at the mall seems to be Malaysia's favourite pastime. Other than being at home, school or the office, most Malaysians spend a lot of time in shopping malls. And who can blame them? When you have free time, there's no better place to escape the heat, do a little shopping or some other leisure activities than at one of the over 40 available malls within Klang Valley.

Unfortunately, certain malls (like the ones listed below) also come with steep parking rates that can have you breaking your budget. So how does one cope with the extreme parking rates associated with these malls? While illegal parking might sound like a tempting solution, choosing such an option also means setting yourself up with the risk of getting your car towed, scratched or worse; stolen. So we’ve scoped them all out and included a few money saving solutions to help save you money legally.

1) Suria KLCC

Located directly next to the famed Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, the Suria KLCC mall is renowned as a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. Featuring six levels of posh retail outlets and restaurants, the mall is the quintessential location for the trendy shopaholic. Shopping and eating aside, the mall also features an aquarium, art gallery and interactive science discovery center. With all that in mind, how much does it cost to park at Suria KLCC?

Parking Rate:
Monday to Saturday
1st hour – RM4
2nd hour – RM 3
3rd hour – RM 3
4th hour and above – RM4

Special Maximum Rate of RM10 on Monday to Friday between 5pm and 5am

Saturday (after 12 noon), Sunday & Public Holidays
First 3 hours – RM4
Every Subsequent hour – RM4

Lost Ticket: RM50

Unfortunately, the fact that the mall is smack right in the heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur probably doesn’t do much to improve the parking rate. At RM4 for the first hour, Suria KLCC is probably one of the most expensive places to park in the Klang Valley. What’s more painful is that the mall does not offer any grace period. This means that if you park your car for 10 minutes just to run into Cold Storage to buy a toothbrush, you’ll still have to pay the full RM4 when you leave (so do yourself a favour and buy it from the neighbourhood kedai runcit).

Thankfully, Saturdays (after 12 noon), Sundays and public holidays offer a little bit of relief as rates drop from RM4 for the first hour to RM4 for the first three hours.

Cheaper Solution:
The Public Bank head office building located across the street from the Suria KLCC has an open air parking lot directly behind the premises offering a rate of RM6 per day to visitors. So if you plan on staying at Suria KLCC for a while, this is probably your best option. Though it should be noted that the lot fills up fast due to high demand. Alternatively, taking the LRT to KLCC station works as an even better option if you’re on a hardcore money saving budget.

2) Pavilion

Ever since opening its doors back in 2007, the Pavilion mall at Jalan Bukit Bintang has grown to incorporate 450 different retail outlets and restaurants. The mall is distinctively organised into 7 different regions, with each representing a different theme. The themes range from fashion avenue, which emphasises trendy fashion boutiques to Tokyo Street which encompasses the essence of Japanese food and culture. So how much does parking at Pavilion cost?

Parking Rate:
7 Days a Week (7am to 5pm)
RM3 per hour

Monday to Friday (5pm to 7am)
RM8 per entry

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays (5pm to 7am)
RM10 per entry

Lost Ticket – RM50

At a rate of RM3 per hour with no maximum cap limit, parking at Pavilion is about as brutal as it gets (unless you’re heading to KLCC). Throw in the nasty traffic congestion around the Bukit Bintang area and you have a recipe for a head explosion. Though it should be noted that since Pavilion charges a fine of RM50 for a lost ticket, you’ll be better off tearing your ticket to shreds if your parking bill comes to over RM50 (meaning you stayed in the mall for at least 16 hours and 20 minutes).

Cheaper Solution:
The Fahrenheit 88 mall across the street from Pavilion offers a slightly cheaper parking rate of RM3 for the first hour and RM1 for every subsequent hour on weekdays. On weekends however, the mall offers a very attractive rate of RM5 for the first 3 hours. Don’t feel like driving? Then taking the monorail and getting off at Raja Chulan/Bukit Bintang will save you even more money.

3) SOGO Departmental Store Kuala Lumpur (KL SOGO)

Located along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL SOGO first opened its doors back in 1994 as an overseas branch of the SOGO Japan Department Store. The store boasts over 700,000 square feet of retail space, featuring a diverse list of everything from cosmetics to electronics. So how much does it cost to park at KL SOGO?

Parking Rate:
1st hour – RM3
Each subsequent hour – RM2.50
Lost Ticket – RM50

While KL SOGO might not have as hefty a rate as Suria KLCC or Pavilion, the parking price offered by the departmental store is still enough to make anyone cringe. However, as an added incentive for regular shoppers, the mall offers rebates on parking when a certain amount is spent. For example, if at least RM100 is spent, then SOGO card members can enjoy free parking for the first hour.

Cheaper Solution:
Sadly, there are no cheaper parking alternatives located in the direct vicinity. Nearby, the Bandaraya LRT station serves as a cheap and hassle-free alternative to driving. If you possess a Park & Ride card, then you can leave your car at most LRT stations for a flat rate of RM3 and subsequently ride the LRT to wherever you need to go. Though be warned, parking at most LRT stations is extremely competitive so don’t expect to find any room if you show up too late.

4) Ampang Park Shopping Centre

Opening its doors back in 1973, the Ampang Park Shopping Center stamps itself in history as Malaysia’s first ever modern shopping centre, a fact that has been verified by the Malaysian Book of Records. Fast forward to 2014 and the mall continues to be renowned by Klang Valley residents for its extensive range of retail outlets. While the mall might not have the sheer size of places like 1Utama or the niche design of Pavilion, the location remains as a popular hot spot for locals and foreigners alike. So how much does Ampang Park Shopping Center charge for parking?

Parking Rate:
Monday to Saturday (before 5pm)
RM3 per hour

Monday to Saturday (after 5pm)
RM4 per entry

Sundays and Public Holidays
RM4 per entry

Lost Ticket – RM25

At RM3 per hour from Monday to Saturday, the Ampang Park Shopping Center is lands itself on the bottom of our list. Though thankfully for shoppers, the mall offers a little bit of relief with a flat rate offer of RM4 per entry on Sundays and public holidays and after 5pm from Monday to Saturday.

Cheaper Solution:
The G tower, located across the street from the Ampang Park Shopping Center has a slightly cheaper visitor parking rate of RM2 for the first hour and RM3 for every subsequent hour. On weekends, the location offers a really cheap flat rate of RM3 per entry. Alternatively, if you’re really looking to save, you could take advantage of the nearby Ampang Park LRT station.

If you spend a lot of time in a mall and spend about RM10-RM20 on parking in one day, those numbers can pile up substantially in one month, what more a year. But hopefully by following the tips available, you can save up significantly. Still, if you have a cheaper solution in mind or know of any other malls with rates that surpass any of the malls on this list, then leave us a comment!

This was brought to you by Joshua Ong from RinggitPlus.com. RinggitPlus compares credit cards, personal loans and home loans to help Malaysians get more for their money.