Cost of Living in Malaysia

[imranexpat]

Respected
How are you, hope you fine, if dont mind and have sometime so please do me a favour and tell me some answers to my question.


Are you currently in Malaysia or Singapore
.
Which visa i required for job in Malaysia/Singapore (I am pakistani and did my BS
electronics engineering )

I need to ask the expected salary of engineer in Malaysia/Singapore


Regards
Zahid

[pinkgarden]

Hello all,

I am an american living in Malaysia. I have a blog that details my experience buying a house in Malaysia and also covers lots of things on the cost of living. Please check it out, it might be helpful if you are considering moving here... at the-malaysia-project dot blogspot dot com.

Very best!

[micksolo]

Originally Posted by pinkgarden

Hello all,

I am an american living in Malaysia. I have a blog that details my experience buying a house in Malaysia and also covers lots of things on the cost of living. Please check it out, it might be helpful if you are considering moving here... at the-malaysia-project dot blogspot dot com.

Very best!

thanks pinkgarden!

[Nemo.]

Hi this is an old thread but useful. The statement that malaysians earn 1,500 rm though is nonsense. Average salaries in KL are 7,000 rm and to be middle class two salaries of 10,000 rm is normal among locals so I would say a single expat needs at least 10,000 rm a month and a family 20,000 rm per month to make it worthwhile being there including holidays and savings/pension. Many expat are on far more 50,000 rm a month isn't uncommon among proper packages (adding on all
The perks at cash value) so I would caution all those families offered so little to work in KL. You can live off a lot less but why do it in a foreign country? Singletons I can understand want adventure and if young who cares. But don't sell yourselves cheap

[mediafocus4ever]

living in KL kinda Expensive...If u wanted to spend less money..better stay somewhere away from Major city

[UKCynthiaT]

Hi Ztempest,

I'm originally American and husband is English--the diversity is one of the things that appeals to us here as well. I imagine you'll like it!

We find it very cheap to eat, compard to the UK especially and compared to the US as well. About half the time we eat the local food and, in our area, that might mean under $10 for a meal out. A big treat is the sushi buffet brunch on Sunday--and that's about $15 per person.

I don't think anyone mentioned it but petrol is subsidised here and, compared to the UK, it's like being given it for free. It's really astonishing to us, and I believe it's still considerably cheaper than the US, especially these days.

We opted for a house and moved further out to have a good-sized one with a garden for the budget allowed. We love it here and are currently extending our one-year commitment to three years so it's been a good move for us.

The comments about dogs were correct. In many areas, dogs are not appreciated by most of the Malay (Muslim) population, though certainly not all. There are very few hotels that will take them (though I can recommend a beach resort that does and it's excellent!) though there are restaurants where you can dine with Fido, believe it or not. And a shopping mall or two where they're welcome.

On the subject of dogs, veterinary care seems dirt cheap compared to the US or the UK. We have been astonished--and we've even had an issue that required referral to one of the top orthopedic veterinary surgeons in the country. It was amazing and the care was excellent; we can get all prescription medicines, shampoos, etc, for less than in the UK as well.

Because we brought two very large dogs (Alaskan Malamutes) I can offer lots of information on that if you need it--importing, a local agent, vets, etc. Even though we live in Shah Alam, allegedly a difficult area to have dogs, we have been welcomed and our dogs are much loved by our neighbours--and photographed by everyone wherever we go with them. We just make sure we are 100% good dog owners, clean up after them, walk them at heel going by people we don't know--because of their size--and we've had no issues.

Many areas will require you to get a dog licence. If you live in an apartment/flat or attached housing, you will likely need to get written permission from your neighbours on both sides to keep a dog in the property. Many local people simply do this illegally, I am told, particularly since many people have small dogs. We could hardly hide ours and wanted to be completely legal, having heard some horror stories, so went through the process.

Some areas we looked at (one section of Desa Park City, for instance) we really liked and there were lots of dogs, even Siberian Huskies. But when we checked, technically, dogs were not allowed at all. Citizens simply kept them anyway; you may find that there are lots of rules which people who live here seem willing to break (road rules come instantly to mind!) but we weren't willing to risk it with ours.

A bit off your topic, with apologies, but I feel like I've done the groundwork on the dog thing so wanted to throw it out there in case it's of use to you. Good luck and "Woof!"

[Merapi]

Dear All,

I found this thread useful although it was started in 2008 and some figures and other information have changed.

I am considering an offer to relocate from Dubai to KL. Work location will be in KL City Center (the twin towers). Have two kids (4 and 8 y/o) attending an international school here in Dubai.
Some key allowances on offer are monthly housing allowance of RM 6,000 and school fee allowance of RM 3,000 per child per month. I wonder if RM 3,000 pm is adequate to send one child to a good international school or I will have to top up from my base pay. Appreciate if anyone with similar situation like me can share his/her thoughts. Also would like to know where would be the ideal location/area to live as well as mode of transport to work and school (for the kids).

Regards,
Merapi

[annie11]

True. Malaysia is considered expansive for expats. if you look up there was a report saying that kuala lumpur is the top high cost cities for expats.

[caroilnasteamer]

Originally Posted by sandielenton

Depends on your expectations! You don't say if you are on your own or with partner, children etc. Rent of a good 2 bedroom apartment from about $300 per month; running costs probably around another $100. Fuel is reasonable - to fill an average car costs about $20; Food is cheap - you can eat at hawker stalls for about $10. Plenty going on if you want to join things. I would guess for a single person with average requirements you probably need around $800 per month. I am sure that you can do it cheaper and I know that you can do it a lot more expensive!

Regards
Sandie

Hey just read your post ......could you give me some ideas about furnished places for cheap...not fancy just clean an safe...wifi /air condition...maybe a month to month type thing....lowest cost 200.00 us dollars or so.... maybe you have names of places or cities that this can be done.. thanks so much for your time..Curtis

[edinburgh78]

HI. can you tell me please (if you still read these messages) where you managed to find a house to take your dogs.. I can only see problems with bringing the dogs out with us.. I dont know what to do as they are a part of our life.. and KL seems nearly impossible...?
is there anywhere at all we can run dogs off lead? I have 2 elderly labradors and a 6 month old bernese... and I read that black dogs are supposed to be evil.. well a bernese has mostly black as well.. ?? any advice would be great.. thanks!



QUOTE=UKCynthiaT;572674]Hi Ztempest,

I'm originally American and husband is English--the diversity is one of the things that appeals to us here as well. I imagine you'll like it!

We find it very cheap to eat, compard to the UK especially and compared to the US as well. About half the time we eat the local food and, in our area, that might mean under $10 for a meal out. A big treat is the sushi buffet brunch on Sunday--and that's about $15 per person.

I don't think anyone mentioned it but petrol is subsidised here and, compared to the UK, it's like being given it for free. It's really astonishing to us, and I believe it's still considerably cheaper than the US, especially these days.

We opted for a house and moved further out to have a good-sized one with a garden for the budget allowed. We love it here and are currently extending our one-year commitment to three years so it's been a good move for us.

The comments about dogs were correct. In many areas, dogs are not appreciated by most of the Malay (Muslim) population, though certainly not all. There are very few hotels that will take them (though I can recommend a beach resort that does and it's excellent!) though there are restaurants where you can dine with Fido, believe it or not. And a shopping mall or two where they're welcome.

On the subject of dogs, veterinary care seems dirt cheap compared to the US or the UK. We have been astonished--and we've even had an issue that required referral to one of the top orthopedic veterinary surgeons in the country. It was amazing and the care was excellent; we can get all prescription medicines, shampoos, etc, for less than in the UK as well.

Because we brought two very large dogs (Alaskan Malamutes) I can offer lots of information on that if you need it--importing, a local agent, vets, etc. Even though we live in Shah Alam, allegedly a difficult area to have dogs, we have been welcomed and our dogs are much loved by our neighbours--and photographed by everyone wherever we go with them. We just make sure we are 100% good dog owners, clean up after them, walk them at heel going by people we don't know--because of their size--and we've had no issues.

Many areas will require you to get a dog licence. If you live in an apartment/flat or attached housing, you will likely need to get written permission from your neighbours on both sides to keep a dog in the property. Many local people simply do this illegally, I am told, particularly since many people have small dogs. We could hardly hide ours and wanted to be completely legal, having heard some horror stories, so went through the process.

Some areas we looked at (one section of Desa Park City, for instance) we really liked and there were lots of dogs, even Siberian Huskies. But when we checked, technically, dogs were not allowed at all. Citizens simply kept them anyway; you may find that there are lots of rules which people who live here seem willing to break (road rules come instantly to mind!) but we weren't willing to risk it with ours.

A bit off your topic, with apologies, but I feel like I've done the groundwork on the dog thing so wanted to throw it out there in case it's of use to you. Good luck and "Woof!"[/QUOTE]