Getting a Malaysian work visa
Your full guide to the Malaysian work visa and the work permit in Malaysia.
Cost of living in Malaysia (2022 guide)
Malaysia’s low cost of living and high quality of life means that many expats choose to relocate here. The Malaysian government has encouraged foreigners to retire in Malaysia, as a fixed income can go a long way here.
The capital Kuala Lumpur also pulls in huge numbers of working expats looking for an adventure. In fact, you’ll find expat communities of retirees, digital nomads and people employed locally, in all of the larger cities.
If you’re retiring, temporarily relocating or moving to Malaysia for good, it’s helpful to have a picture of what life there will cost as an expat. Here’s a quick guide.
Average cost of living in Malaysia per month
The official currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR on currency exchanges).
| Check out how much 100 USD is valued as MYR today |
|---|
Let’s get started with a few examples of the costs of living in different places in Malaysia. We’ve excluded rent for these calculations as this can vary widely — expats in Kuala Lumpur who chose a city apartment are likely to pay more rent than those in more modest accommodation in rural areas, for example.
We’ve also shown the costs in USD so you can compare your new life in Malaysia to the day to day living costs you have in the US.
Here’s a closer look at the costs of living in Malaysia as an expat:
| Location | Cost of living — single person/month | Cost of living — family of 4/month |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur¹ | 486.75 USD | 1,735.76 USD |
| Penang² | 456.77 USD | 1,613.76 USD |
| Johor Bahru³ | 501 USD | 1,783.81 USD |
| Malaysia — average⁴ | 457.32 USD | 1,622.22 USD |
Malaysia cost of living compared to the US
Moving on, we’ll see how some key costs line up against similar things in the US. The standard of living in Malaysia is pretty high — but how much will it cost to achieve the dream of a new life there?
Let’s compare a few major costs for expats in Malaysia against the same costs in some major global cities elsewhere in the world.
| Comparing basic cost of living | 1 bedroom flat in city center (monthly rent) | Lunch for 2 (3 courses, mid range restaurant) | Transportation (monthly pass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia¹ | 461,.08 USD | 18.52 USD | 23.90 USD |
| Penang, Malaysia² | 308.82 USD | 14.34 USD | 16.13 USD |
| New York City, USA⁵ | 3,279.87 USD | 100 USD | 129 USD |
| San Francisco, USA⁶ | 2,443.10 USD | 85 USD | 81 USD |
One major factor that adds expense for expats in Malaysia, is the cost of converting cash to MYR from your home currency. Even if your bank says it offers fee-free money exchange, you can be sure that its cut is rolled up in the exchange rate it uses.
To get the best deal, you should use an exchange service like Wise, which applies the same mid-market rate you’ll usualy find on Google. With a quick service, and low flat fees to transfer your cash, this can be a much better deal than relying on your home bank.
Average monthly income in Malaysia
Average salaries in Malaysia are fairly low, in keeping with the low cost of living. Here we’ll look at the average salaries for Kuala Lumpur as this is often where expats arriving in Malaysia for work will wind up.
| Position | Average annual salary⁷ |
|---|---|
| Cashier | 4,365 USD |
| Copywriter | 13,691 USD |
| Financial analyst | 27,573 USD |
| Graphic designer | 14,425 USD |
| Mobile developer | 32,377 USD |
| Product manager | 22,544 USD |
| Receptionist | 5,603 USD |
| Software engineer | 21,331 USD |
| Teacher | 35,982 USD |
| Web developer | 18,200 USD |
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Cost of living in Malaysia in USD
Although the day to day costs of living in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, are similar to other cities in Malaysia, rents are much higher here. You can live well for much less if you choose a home outside of the city center, or in another city entirely.
| Living expenses in Malaysia (excluding rent) | Kuala Lumpur average cost¹ | Penang average cost² |
|---|---|---|
| Single person, per month | 486.75 USD | 456.77 USD |
| Single person, per year | 5,841 USD | 5,481.24 |
| Four person family, per month | 1,735.76 USD | 1,613.76 USD |
| Four person family, per year | 20,829.12 USD | 19,365.12 USD |
How expensive is housing and accommodation in Malaysia?
The amount you pay in rent is a big driver of your overall cost of living. Rent in Kuala Lumpur is much higher than elsewhere in the country, so if you’re planning on staying for a long time, you might decide that buying a property in Malaysia is a better option.
| Renting in Malaysia | Average monthly cost (Kuala Lumpur)¹ | Average monthly cost (Penang)² |
|---|---|---|
| One bedroom apartment (city center) | 461.08 USD | 308.77 USD |
| One bedroom apartment (outside of city center) | 282.09 USD | 213.26 USD |
| Three bedroom family home (city center) | 857.23 USD | 565.51 USD |
| Three bedroom family home (outside of city center) | 562.94 USD | 398.25 USD |
| Internet | 27.25 USD | 27.77 USD |
| Utilities (gas, electric and water for a 85m² apartment) | 47.94 USD | 50.80 USD |
| Read further: full guide for buying property in Malaysia |
|---|
What about healthcare and dental costs in Malaysia?
Healthcare in Malaysia is available at both public and private institutions. Health infrastructure, especially in the large cities, is well developed, but having private health insurance can mean you get access to services quicker than you might through the public system.
| Healthcare service | Average cost⁸ |
|---|---|
| Family doctor check-up | 15 USD |
| Cold medicine for 6 days | 4.15 USD |
| Antibiotic prescription | 5.71 USD |
How much is travel and transportation in Malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur is a notoriously congested city, so using public transportation is a good plan. See what it’ll cost you here:
| Transportation and vehicle prices for Malaysia | Average cost⁸ |
|---|---|
| Gasoline (0.25 gallon) | 0.50 USD |
| Monthly bus/transport pass | 23 USD |
| Bus ticket, single use | 0.72 USD |
| Taxi tariff, 8km/5mile journey | 8 USD |
| Toyota Corolla, new | 29,982.13 USD |
| VW Golf, new | 40,143.37 USD |
How much does education cost?
Malaysia is rated as one of the best cities in the world for students, based on the costs of living and quality of education available.
There are public and private universities, including Malaysian campuses of universities based elsewhere in the world.
| School | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Preschool / kindergarten (monthly fee) | 164.52 USD |
| Private school for lower grades (annual) | 6,388.99 USD |
| University tuition (University of Malaya) | Fees vary depending on course, starting from around 2,500 USD for international students |
| University tuition (Universiti Kuala Lumpur) | Fees vary depending on course, from around 3,500 USD to 6,000 USD for international students |
Moving to Malaysia from the USA: best cities to live in
While Malaysia is a huge country, expats do tend to head to a few key places to live. That’s often because they’re looking for career opportunities, great infrastructure and an easy way of life.
We’ll profile a couple of top picks below. However, if you’re not keen on Kuala Lumpur or Penang, why not check out alternatives like Langkawi, Ipoh or Johor Bahru instead.
Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (locally shortened to KL) is the capital of Malaysia — and so a popular place for expats moving to Malaysia for work. While it’s one of the most expensive places to live in Malaysia, the costs are still extremely low compared to big cities in the US.
Outside of rental costs, a single person could easily get by on 500 USD a month, and a family of 4 will get a good lifestyle for around 2,000 USD. Looking for a flat in the city center? A further 500 USD a month could net you a one bed place, with a 3 bed apartment coming in at under 1,000 USD¹.
KL — like other major Asian capitals — is big, busy, vibrant and crowded. If you love the buzz of a city, it could be perfect. But even if you want a quieter life it’s worth considering as there are still quiet residential areas in the suburbs which combine a high quality of life, with easy access to many of the best facilities in the country.
Penang cost of living
Penang is a big draw — especially for people retiring to Malaysia.George Town is a historic town on Penang Island which has UNESCO recognition thanks to its historic buildings.
Many are restored shophouses which now host cafes, restaurants and bars — but there are also plenty of areas where the older trades still flourish. George Town sees a lot of tourists — but there’s also an established expat community, and lots of local festivities and activities to get involved in.
Costs of living in Penang are lower than in Kuala Lumpur, and you’ll be able to choose between the historic George Town, or a home in a range of other idyllic places on the island. Panang has great healthcare facilities, and is well connected to the capital when you need to catch a connection to get back to the US.
It’s easy to see why so many expats have chosen Malaysia as their home. Some move to frenetic Kuala Lumpur to work in one of the large international businesses there, while others opt for a calmer pace of life in stately George Town. The real adventurers get off the beaten track entirely. Whatever you fancy, the low costs mean that you can have a really great life for less money, making Malaysia a fantastic destination for a permanent move, or just to spend a year or two exploring somewhere new.
Good luck with your new life in Malaysia!
Sources:
- Numbeo - Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur
- Numbeo - Cost of living in Penang
- Numbeo - Cost of living in Johor Bahru
- Numbeo - Cost of living in Malaysia
- Numbeo - Cost of living in New York
- Numbeo - Cost of living in San Francisco
- Teleport - Kuala Lumpur salaries
- Expatistan - Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur
Sources checked on 02.18.2022
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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