Exploring Expat life in Malaysia!! Is It Worth the Move??

“Considering a move to Malaysia but have apprehensions about what expat life there entails? Whether you’re relocating for the first time or you’re a seasoned expat, Malaysia offers a unique lifestyle that could be the highlight of your expat journey.” Explore the Expat life in Malaysia through my experience of living in Malaysia for six years.

You might be moving out for the first time out of the comfort of your home country, or you may be a pro in moving countries and considering relocating to Malaysia. But let me assure you that it’ll be the best thing of your Expat Life Journey to move to Malaysia!!! making it worth the move!!!

It’s but natural to have questions, and a lot of them. Let me try and help you answer a few from my experience of Living in Malaysia for 6 years and they absolutely were fabulous!!!! Life of beaches, Sand, and Sun 🌊

Question #1

Malaysia, Malaysia, oh Malaysia

How it fares in all the Southeast Asian paradise?

Malaysia is a country of stunning beauty, modernity, and meticulous planning. It’s an ideal place to call home whether you’re a foodie, an outdoors enthusiast, or a digital nomad needing fast Wi-Fi. The lush greenery of the rainforest and Highlands provide scenic views that will take your breath away.

The temperature is always tropical, that requires some time to adjust. Coming from colder weather one needs little time to get used to the humidity. But once you get used to it, living in cotton shorts and dresses all year round is a dream come true.

There are two main islands that make up Malaysia; Peninsular Malaysia being the more developed one with cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, while East Malaysia boasts cities like Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. A few other smaller towns include Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah and Sibu and Bintulu in Sarawak, while Victoria lies in Labuan. Most expat families prefer to reside in Peninsular Malaysia, where they can enjoy the vibrant urban lifestyle of places like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or Johor Baru due to its proximity to Singapore.

Your journey to Malaysia will be as thrilling as your imagination desires!

Exploring the expat life in Malaysia can connect you to various cities and countries, making it a worthwhile consideration!

Question #2

What is the cost of Living in Malaysia? worth considering the Expat Life in Malaysia?

It’s quite affordable to live in Malaysia even now that inflation rates are rising. So, you get more bang for your buck. Kuala Lumpur is the most expensive city in the country, followed by Penang (also known as Georgetown) and Johor Baru. It should be noted that Kuala Lumpur is still considered much less expensive than other cities around the globe. Places like Dubai, Sydney, London, New York, Sao Paulo, and Singapore are far more expensive to live in.

“Cost of Living for Expats in Malaysia“

For instance, with 1200 USD, you can rent a five-bedroom terrace house near the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur or a three-bedroom fully furnished apartment in the downtown core with all kinds of amenities. There is an array of different-sized apartments, villas, and houses available depending on what you’re looking for.

Secondly, groceries are also pretty reasonable; for about 150 USD you can easily provide for a family of three. Produce is mostly locally grown, but there are supermarkets where you can buy items from any country—if you can think it up, chances are it’s available in the bigger cities.

Question #3

Can I purchase food from my own country?

High-quality beef, milk, and honey gets imported from neighbouring countries. However, it may be a bit pricier due to the fact that it is imported from countries like Australia and New Zealand. From places as far as Egypt, USA, Spain, and South Africa, you can find the freshest fruits. You can also purchase British goods such as shampoos, Marmite, coffees, and teas at the same cost you would find them in the UK.

Additionally, there is an abundance of imported snacks from countries like Malaysia that cater to both foreign visitors as well as local expats. There are also particular supermarkets for Japanese, Korean, Indian, and British purchases, with everything you need right at your fingertips. Finally, not only is eating out inexpensive, but you can get a satisfying meal and a pint of beer for just 3 USD. That makes it worth considering the Expat Life in Malaysia.

All of these markets are within a 10 to 15-minute drive from wherever you stay in Kuala Lumpur. I will soon post another blog to further detail each state’s cost of living.

Question # 4

How is the child’s education?

Residents and expats in Malaysia prefer sending their children to either private schools or international schools. It all depends on if they can afford it. Public schools are divided on the basis of people’s ethnicity and language backgrounds. It is difficult to find Chinese students attending Malay institutions and vice versa.

Here, there is a wide selection of curriculums, most of which are provided by private or non-profit schools. These include those following British, American, Australian, French, and Canadian syllabi. This means that parents can pick the type of education system for their kids.

The downside to these educational facilities is the number of holidays granted each year.

SchoolMyKids.com has listed the top-ranking schools below.

Malaysia’s Top 10 International Schools In 2022

 Below is the list of top International Schools in Malaysia offering popular international programs like AP, IB, and Cambridge CIE.

1. The British International School, Malaysia

2. Mont’Kiara International School, Malaysia

3. Australian International School Malaysia (AISM), Malaysia

4. Alice Smith School, Malaysia

5. Garden International School, Malaysia

6. International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

7. Tenby Schools, Malaysia

8. The International School at ParkCity, Malaysia

9. IGB International School, Malaysia

10. Fairview International School, Malaysia

The fee of International schools tends to be a bit on the pricey side; keeping that in mind, when moving to Malaysia, it’s a good idea to negotiate the school fee in your salary package. It’s no harm asking for the fee to be being paid by the company.

Your salary needs to be much higher if you need to send your child to a good international school.

Question # 5

Is the Infrastructure Good in Malaysia?

The answer is a resounding yes! The country has some of the best infrastructure in Asia, with well-developed roads connecting city centers to rural areas. Public transportation around Kuala Lumpur is also top-notch.

But don’t expect your Western sensibilities when it comes to traffic. It has its own unique flavor that can be hard to describe. Not a very bike-friendly place either, although some suburbs do have special bicycle lanes. Cycling here is more of a recreational activity than an actual form of transport, thanks to the (sometimes) torrential downpours and frequent lightning storms.

You’ll find plenty of motorbikes here too – people love them for their convenience and cheapness, plus gas isn’t too expensive either. If you’re traveling on any given weekend or holiday, expect all the roads coming into or out of Kuala Lumpur to be packed with cars.

Question# 6

How is the Socialising scene in Malaysia?

“Social Life and Community for Expats in Malaysia“

Most expats end up working, going to school, or living in one of the following areas:

Mont Kiara,

Damansara/Bangsar.

Cyberjaya

People with similar budgets, jobs, and/or school requirements live nearby. Making it a very small expat community.

You will find that everybody knows everybody, and businesses are run in pretty much a similar manner.

You watch how hard you party when you first arrive. Things have a way of following you around, being a small ex-pat community.

Bringing this up because the nightlife and clubbing culture here is extremely active and vibrant, and alluring, making it effortless to be drawn into it. It’s due to its potential for networking or engaging with new people.

Don’t buy into the idea that Malaysia is exempt from any drug problems due to its stringent laws on drugs. The local system seems corrupted. Keep a lookout for signs of illegal drug use among those you meet.

In Kuala Lumpur, business and social life are deeply intertwined, and individuals here are more likely to place value on a person based on their job, knowledge, skills, or connections rather than how much they enjoy their company.

Question #7

What Extra Curricular activities are available?

If fitness is your thing, joining a dance class, a social club, or a meet-up group would be more likely to help you meet up with like-minded people.

There is another form of socialising in the form of hiking groups. It is a social form of hiking: they set a trail for you follow. Some trails are tough, and others are easy. Which usually ends with breakfast or Lunch at the local places called Mamak.

If you are more towards creative, there are ample things like art jams, Batik & Dance lessons. Cost ranging from 100RM to 200RM per month.

Other things like live music bars, Karaoke are pretty common too.

If you have kids, you will meet other parents quite easily. Horse riding clubs, Fencing, gymnastics, and scuba diving courses are common activities for kids of all ages.

Malaysian love to be out until late evenings & love to celebrate & have parties, as things are open until late into the night. 

Keep in mind that Malaysia is a very multicultural society, though predominantly an Islamic country, the drinking scene there but a bit low profile than in other major cities. But places like Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh & Penang have very active bar culture. Dropping in for a drink after work is very common & buzzing. 

Clubbing, Lounges, and cafes are prevalent sites at every nook & corner. The working hours are generally between 10–11 PM; high-end places and clubs are open until 3 AM.  

There is an unusual concept of hidden bars that add up to lots of excitement. Young professionals love to go to these places as they are always buzzing.

Question # 8

What activities are there for Kids?

It’s heaven for small kids as well as older kids. As far as kids socialising is concerned, most expat families and individuals live in a gated community where facilities like a swimming pool, tennis courts, Gym, and outdoor play areas are all available. 

One need not travel to find facilities or clubhouses too far away from home; they are all there in your condominium. All the facilities like Gym, and swimming pool are free of cost to you and included in your rent. Expat life in Malaysia is worth considering.

 Other than that there are a lot of indoor and outdoor activities and parks which are available. 

Within the city limits, there are hiking places that one can enjoy depending on the level of fitness.

 As I mentioned earlier, it’s a driving country, it’s easy to go camping and nature walks with children throughout the country. Malaysian locals, as well as expats, really enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that Malaysia has to offer.

Malaysia is blessed with an abundance of rainforests, waterfalls, and beaches. You can really plan a lot of outdoor and water activities. 

The only bummer is the weather and the humidity. So if you can ignore that, it’s a lot of fun to enjoy outdoor activities.

Besides that, there are really nice music and dance classes run by locals or Expats living in Malaysia.

Question # 9

What’s the weather like in Malaysia??

As an expat living in Malaysia, adjusting to the tropical climate takes some time. Once accustomed, however, you’ll find yourself enjoying life in lightweight clothing year-round.

Malaysia typically experiences two seasons – one hot and humid, the other rainy. Despite mild fluctuations throughout the year, temperatures tend to remain fairly constant in mid 30’s. Heavy rains occurs during specific periods of December to February, at that time of season ocean-based activities are best avoided.​ worth considering the Expat Life in Malaysia..

Question # 10

Which countries can I travel to while living in Malaysia?

Living in Malaysia, it offers you with a wide range of options. There are numerous countries that allows visit without any planning or visa requirements. Countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Southern India, Sri Lanka, Philippines and China, Japan, Nepal, Australia, and New Zealand are all easily accessible from Malaysia. 

https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/visa-requirement-by-country/

Question # 11

What Language do natives speak in Malaysia?

The current official Language in the country is Bahasa Malayu. Other languages, such as Chinese and Tamil, gets spoken by their respective communities. Futhermore, English is commonly used language. Locals living in bigger towns understand English pretty well. Although it is not necessary to know the local Language to get around the country, it may be beneficial to learn a few sentences of Bahasa when you wish to explore hidden islands or engage in conversation with locals. Which countries are easily accessible to which one can travel from Malaysia??

Question #12.

Is crime high in Malaysia?

When it comes to crime, Malaysia is very low on crime. It has either a very petty crime or a high-level corruption. Until and unless you’re dealing with the government, you really don’t have to worry too much about it. It is very safe for child safety and women’s safety. I traveled alone at 2 PM at night and never felt scared or worried about my safety while taking a taxi at night. Though, there are alleys and areas that needs to be avoided. But in general, Malaysia is a very safe country to be living in. Making it the Best things to consider it for Expat life in Malaysia!

Question 13.

How is Healthcare in Malaysia?

Expats can enjoy quality healthcare at a very affordable price and without much wait period. 

In Malaysia one can healthcare divided into private as well as government-aided healthcare. Expats and Foreigners living in Malaysia can use both forms. Bigger cities has most of the private hospitals, cities like Kuala Lumpur & Penang has the most concentration of Private hospitals. 

Malaysia is good for health tourism. People come here from far of places for the treatment. At a very reasonable cost. 

For more details, click on the attached link- 

https://expatfinancial.com/healthcare-information-by-region/asian-healthcare-system/malaysian-healthcare-system/

the Best things about Expat life in Malaysia! Is It Worth Considering!!!

Conclusion

“In conclusion, expat life in Malaysia offers a vibrant, diverse community that caters to families, singles, and retirees alike. From its affordable cost of living to its rich cultural tapestry, Malaysia is not just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive. Considering moving to Malaysia? It’s worth exploring further, especially for those looking for an adventure in Southeast Asia.” One can’t help but fall in love with this country! The food, culture, and friendly people make it a great spot for many expatriate families. Thanks to its good educational institutions and amenities, it is an ideal setting for creating a new home.

Worth considering the Expat Life in Malaysia!!