In this post, we answer 13 questions that will be on the mind of any foreigner considering Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur specifically, as their long-term home away from home. 

Whether for work, study, or to live out your golden years, this FAQ tackles relevant topics for all, including:

• Cost of Living, Accommodation, and Lifestyle
• Best Neighbourhoods
• Finances
• Healthcare and Safety
• Employment and Work Visas
• Transportation, and
• Education and Family Matters

By the end, we hope you’ll be assured that Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia by extension, is a great destination for expats from all four corners of the world.

Let’s begin!

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Cost of living and accommodation

What is the cost of living like in Kuala Lumpur?

We turn to Numbeo, a crowd-sourced online database of various quality of life metrics that help visitors compare major locations all over the world. 

Check out Numbeo’s Kuala Lumpur entry or read on for our summary of the key points:

• A single person’s estimated monthly costs are RM2,577 
• A family of four’s estimated monthly costs are RM9,118 

These figures don’t include rent, however, and as listed in our expat’s guide to renting in Kuala Lumpur, rent in a typical expat area for a single room apartment averages RM3,000 and RM4,000 for a three bedroom apartment.‍

Add them up and round them up and we get RM5,600 (USD1,180) for a single person and RM13,200 (USD2,780) for a family of four to live a comfortably middle to upper middle class life in Kuala Lumpur.

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How do I find accommodation in Kuala Lumpur?

In a perfect situation, you enlist the services of a trusted rental listing portal or property manager and a local network of trusted family and friends.

You find units via the portal, then a friend or family member physically inspects them for you.

Just make sure they don’t walk into a war zone of a unit and report back that everything looked great just because that’s how their apartment looks.

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What are the best neighbourhoods to live in Kuala Lumpur?

The term ‘best’ is subjective, but if you’re like most expats, your ideal neighbourhood will have:

• High English proficiency amongst locals
• Plenty of other expats in the community
• Easy access to train stations and malls, and
• Proximity to international schools for expat families

If that’s you, you’ll want to look at rental properties in the following six locations:

Bangsar

Located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur’s centre, Bangsar is an interesting location in that it’s got a huge selection of cafes and bars where drinks are prepared with vigorous twirling and shaking.On the other hand, it’s got an equally large number of budget-friendly restaurants selling local delicacies. It all depends on how far away payday is.

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Damansara Heights

Right next to Bangsar, Damansara Heights is an affluent residential area with upscale residences, high end dining spots, and several international schools close by, making it a good choice for expat families with school age children . 

Plus, we like how there are several train stations located nearby for those who dislike driving. 

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Desa Parkcity

The cool thing about Desa Parkcity is how it’s a newer township, which means it enjoys the benefits of modern day city planning from day one. 

If you like modern homes, lots of recreational facilities, pedestrian-friendly walkways, and green spaces with a focus on community living, then you’ll probably like it here.

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Bukit Bintang / KLCC

Bukit Bintang reminds us of Radiohead’s chorus in Idioteque: You’re allowed everything all the time. It is the place to be if you enjoy window shopping, street markets, and vibrant nightlife, while the KLCC area offers some of the most refined boutiques, eateries, and living spaces in all of the Klang Valley.

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Taman Tun Dr Ismail

For all intents and purposes, Taman Tun Dr Ismail is pretty similar to Bangsar in that you have a township right on the outskirts of the city center with a mix of budget and high end accommodation and eateries.

It does have a pretty established open air market in the neighbourhood, so if you enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients, the TTDI wet market may be what seals the deal for you.

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Mont Kiara

If TTDI is another Bangsar, then Mont Kiara is another Damansara Heights.

Think high-end condos, luxury apartments, exclusive restaurants, great international schools, and you’ve pretty much summed up Mont Kiara. Unsurprisingly, it’s heavily favoured by expats, especially those with families.

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What useful apps should I download?

Great question. We’ll try to keep this general and applicable to all:

• Grab: For ride-hailing services, food delivery, and parcel delivery.
• inDrive: An alternative ride-hailing service.
• Foodpanda: An alternative food delivery app.
• Touch 'n Go eWallet: For digital payments, toll payments, and more.
• WhatsApp: The instant messaging app of choice for Malaysians.
• Wise: For your international banking needs.
• Train Timetable Malaysia: For checking train schedules and routes.
• myTNB: For managing your electricity account with Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
• Air Selangor: For water supply and bill management in Selangor.

Oh, and while Tinder is the most popular dating app here, there are a few locally based ones too, but if you really want to know what they are, we’re sure you’ll find out for yourself!

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Finances

How do I open a bank account in Malaysia?

As a foreigner, you have two options:

1. (Best) If you have an account with an international bank like HSBC, visit your current branch and ask if they can help connect you to a Malaysian branch to start the account registration process.
2. (Second best) Wait until you have arrived in Malaysia and obtained the various necessary documents as proof of residence before visiting a bank outlet of your choice.

The necessary documents are part of a bank’s Know Your Customer process so just in case you turn out to be an internationally wanted fugitive, they can decline. 

These documents include but are not limited to:

1. Passports
2. Offer letters from employers or educational institutions
3. A valid work permit / visa
4. MM2H documents for retirees
5. Utility bills as proof of residence

Unless you’re planning on starting a business, all the banks generally offer the same things, so we’d recommend the bank with the most accessible branch.

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How do I handle taxes as an expat in Malaysia?

The great news is that if you’re here on a work visa, employers usually handle everything for you.

But just for your information, Malaysia’s federal tax agency is called the Inland Revenue Board. In our local tongue, it’s translated to ‘Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri’, and is often referred to as just ‘LHDN’.

Your tax obligations to LHDN depends on whether or not you’re a tax resident.

• If staying in Malaysia for at least 182 days in a year, you're a tax resident subject to progressive tax brackets up to 30% 
• If staying in Malaysia for less than 182 days in a year, you're a tax non-resident subject to a flat rate of 26%

Either way, you must register for a tax identification number with LHDN and file your taxes annually.

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Healthcare and Safety

What is the healthcare system like in Malaysia?

We think this boils down to two things: Is the quality any good, and is it reasonably priced?

To answer the first question, yes, the standard of hospitals in Malaysia is generally excellent. We have 18 medical facilities accredited by the Joint Commission, widely regarded as the international gold standard of healthcare.

To answer the second question, we can only say we think so.

The fees of Malaysia’s private healthcare sector are regulated by the government, and you can find a fairly comprehensive list of permitted rates for various treatment options here.

For context, a consultation can cost up to RM125 for a general practitioner and RM235 for a specialist. 

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Is Kuala Lumpur Safe?

For starters, the US Department of State lists Malaysia as a level 1 destination, which is their lowest category. 

If you compare crime statistics from Malaysia’s Department of Statistics from 2021 to 2022, you’ll find:

• A reduction all forms of violent crimes such as homicides and robbery
• A reduction in non-violent crime such as theft
• A reduction in property crimes such as break-ins

So while we can’t ever say a place is truly ‘safe’, Kuala Lumpur is no less so than any other metropolitan city..

The one thing you probably will need protection from is our tropical sun.

Other than remembering to wear sunscreen, don’t go looking for trouble and you’ll be fine!

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Employment and Visa

How do I find a job in Kuala Lumpur?

Employers in Malaysia must meet certain revenue thresholds before they can hire expatriates, so we recommend lurking on LinkedIn or other portals where large organisations conduct hiring rounds. 

If you get hired for a role, the company usually handles every step of the visa application for you.

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What are the visa requirements for living and working in Malaysia?

To qualify as foreign skilled talent in Malaysia, individuals must meet these requirements:

• Degree and above, with at least 3 years’ experience in the relevant field;
• Diploma, with at least 5 years’ experience in the relevant field;
• Technical Certificate or equivalent, with at least 7 years’ experience in the relevant field

If you meet any of those requirements, you qualify!

Now, there is a long list of work visa options, but the most common is going to be Employment Passes and Professional Visit Passes. 

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Employment Passes

There are three categories of Employment Passes each with different privileges and requirements.

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Professional Visit Passes

A Professional Visit Pass (PVP) is a more situational pass that allows expatriates to live in Malaysia for up to 12 months per pass issued for the purposes of:

• expertise transfer
• research
• volunteering
• training
• conducting exhibitions, or 
• internships with a local organisation 

While it may seem slightly similar to the Category III Employment Pass, there are three key differences, as the table below shows.

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So if you’re thinking of coming to Malaysia for volunteering or for work that pays below RM3,000, a Professional Visit Pass is the more suitable visa.

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Transportation

How do I navigate public transportation in Kuala Lumpur?

The majority of public transport in Kuala Lumpur is owned and managed by a single parent company called Prasarana, and overall, they’ve done a good job as commuters can reach most if not all of the city’s major spots via trains.

As you can see, there are numerous lines and stations, but for now you just need to know that the most important station of them all is KL Sentral.

It’s located close to the city centre and serves as a major commuting hub that connects multiple lines to each other. Basically, from KL Sentral, you can go anywhere else.

If you’ll be taking the train often, we recommend getting the RapidKL Concession Cards to enjoy a discounted ride.

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How do I obtain a driver's license in Malaysia?

If you already have a valid driver’s license in your home country, you can easily convert it into a Malaysian license provided it is still valid for over a year.

List of documents you need:

• A valid foreign driving licence
• A valid passport
• Visa or pass issued by immigration
• Passport-sized photos
• Translation of documents (if applicable)
• A completed JPL1 application form
• A completed Exemption Application Method 5 Appendix B-2 

Note: If your foreign licence isn’t in English or Malay, obtain an official, notarised translation from your country’s embassy or the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books. 

If all goes well, you'll be eligible for a class D (car) license. 

If your driving license is more than two years old, you'll get a competent driving license (CDL); otherwise, you'll obtain a probationary driving license (PDL) which will get upgraded to a CDL at the two year mark.

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Education and Family Matters

What are school or education options for expat families in Kuala Lumpur?

For early, primary. and secondary education, The Klang Valley (the correct term for Kuala Lumpur) has over one hundred international schools that cater to various budgets and specific requirements. 

For tertiary, there are multiple private colleges and universities, and you can find cost estimates of different undergraduate programmes on Education Malaysia Global Services’ page. They work directly under Malaysia’s Ministry of Education to promote Malaysia as a global education destination.

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Can foreigners send their children to public schools?

Yes, but it’s a lengthier process that requires you to visit a district education office in Malaysia and apply for a foreign student pass. 

If you choose this path, we strongly suggest engaging the services of an intermediary as much of Malaysia’s government documents and officials use Bahasa Melayu or Malay as the official language and this way you avoid any miscommunication issues.

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