If you are considering making the move to Malaysia from overseas, you will want to know the standard cost of living and what kind of salary you can expect as an expatriate. At Allied, we have helped thousands of expats successfully relocate to Malaysia from overseas. We understand that having a sustainable income can be a significant deciding factor in whether you choose to relocate overseas, so we’ve put together the following information on the average salary expectations and how it compares to the cost of living. If you have any more questions about relocating to Malaysia, you can ask the knowledgeable team by getting in touch with our moving consultants.
Average expat salaries in Malaysia
Unless you are relocating to Malaysia to retire, finding employment is likely top of your relocation to-do list. There are two different approaches you can take to working in Malaysia. The first is to apply for an Employment Pass and find work locally within Malaysia.
The second is to apply for the Foreign Digital Nomad Pass so you can work as a freelancer or remote worker and live in Malaysia.
The second option has the benefit of allowing you to be paid in your home country’s currency, which is highly beneficial if the Ringgit is weaker. However, you may not have the same rights as an expat on an Employment Pass, such as the ability to open a local bank account.
According to the ECA International's MyExpatriate Market Pay survey conducted in 2021, the average mid-level expatriate in Malaysia was earning a salary of around USD$71,000. This is in contrast to the average Malaysian salary of MYR$77,000 (or USD$16,550) according to SalaryExplorer. The salary you receive in Malaysia as an expatriate will depend on your industry, job description, level of education, skills and experience, as well as on your specific employer.
Cost of living in Malaysia
You now have an understanding of what type of salary you can expect when relocating to Malaysia, but how does that stack up against the cost of living?
One of the major advantages of relocating to Malaysia is the relatively low cost of living. At the time of writing, 1 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) is equivalent to 0.21 United States Dollar.
Database Numbeo states that consumer prices including rent in Malaysia are 65% lower than the United States of America on average. Of course, the cost of living can depend on where exactly in Malaysia you decide to live. Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s most expensive city, and George Town, Malacca, and Johor Bahru are commonly listed in the top four costly cities.
As mentioned above, Kuala Lumpur is highly affordable as a capital city to live in and one of cheapest in Asia for expats. Renting and purchasing a home is rather affordable. For a three-bedroom apartment located in the city center, you should expect to pay at least MYR$2,957 per month. Eating out and grocery shopping is cheap with a mela for two at a mid-range restaurant costing around MYR$80, however imported alcohol can come at a premium.A monthly public transportation pass will cost MYR$80 and petrol is MYR$2.06 a liter.
Making moving to Malaysia easy with Allied!
Are you excited to relocate to Malaysia as an expat? Then you need help from the international relocation experts at Allied! Our highly experienced team can help ensure that your move to Malaysia is as seamless as possible with our wide range of moving services, expansive global network of movers, and proven track record. Receive a free quote which is specific to your move to Malaysia today!