Moving to Malaysia from Austria

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Austria to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Austria to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 54.4% cheaper than Austria overall. A €65,700 salary in Austria would need to be roughly MYR166,886 in Malaysia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Malay. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kuala Lumpur averages 90°F vs 58°F in Vienna, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Austria and Malaysia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 MYR166,886

To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 78.1% less

Groceries

pay 38.6% less

Transportation

pay 50.4% less

Housing

pay 63.3% less

Childcare

pay 65.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 42.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 4.65 MYR (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Austria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AT
0.9
MY
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AT
4.6
MY
13.9

Austria generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

AT
$8,250
MY
$1,441
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AT
55.1
MY
23.2

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AT
17.0
MY
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AT
6.3t
MY
8.3t

Austria performs better than Malaysia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AT
29.6
MY
12.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AT
8.7%
MY
3.4%

Austria generally does better on infrastructure, though Malaysia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AT
5.2%
MY
3.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AT
$64,600
MY
$33,600

Malaysia generally does better on employment & economy, though Austria leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AT
82.3 yrs
MY
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AT
3.2
MY
6.6

Austria performs better than Malaysia across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Vienna Rain: 24.4 in/yr (620 mm)
58° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kuala Lumpur Rain: 95.6 in/yr (2427 mm)
90° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vienna Kuala Lumpur
Jan–Mar 43°/31°F (6°/0°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/50°F (20°/10°C) 91°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/37°F (9°/3°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month Vienna Kuala Lumpur
Jan 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C)
Feb 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C)
Mar 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C) 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C) 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C)
May 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C)
Jun 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C)
Jul 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C)
Aug 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C)
Sep 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Oct 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Nov 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C)
Dec 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C)

Data: GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria, Malaysian Meteorological Department Malaysian Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Austria and Malaysia. To live, work, or study long-term in Malaysia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Malaysia's immigration authority.

Austria passport

Austria passport holder visiting Malaysia

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Malaysia without a visa.
Malaysia passport

Malaysia passport holder visiting Austria

Visa Free
Malaysia passport holders can enter Austria without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Malaysia than Austria?

On average Malaysia is about 45% less expensive than Austria, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?

Budget about MYR41,722 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Malaysia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Malaysia: 12.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malaysia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Malaysia safe for expats?

Austria generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Austria.

How is healthcare in Malaysia compared to Austria?

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 55.1 in Austria. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Austria: 85).

What's the weather like in Malaysia compared to Austria?

The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 58°F in Vienna. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Vienna gets 24.4 in.

What language do they speak in Malaysia?

The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Austria, the official language is German.

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At a Glance

AT MY
Population 8,913,088 33,871,431
Currency Euro (€) Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Languages German English, Malay
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +43 +60
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 999