Moving to Malaysia from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 8.6% more expensive than China overall. A CN¥500,000 salary in China would need to be roughly MYR331,000 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 68°F in Shanghai, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Malaysia cheaper than China?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 10.0% more
Groceries
pay 27.3% more
Transportation
pay 0.6% more
Housing
pay 15.1% more
Childcare
pay 55.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 16.7% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Malaysia?
What does your salary buy?
CN¥500,000 → MYR331,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Malaysia cost about 28% more than cities in China.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from China to Malaysia.
Who's moving to Malaysia?
Top countries of origin for Malaysia's foreign-born residents.
- 1,241,634
- 585,864
- 415,717
- 350,605
- 148,096
- 117,990
- · · ·
-
13.12,024
China
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malaysia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malaysia performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
China generally does better on infrastructure, though Malaysia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
China generally does better on employment & economy, though Malaysia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
China performs better than Malaysia across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Administration of Taxation (2016), Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Malaysia vs China
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Shanghai | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Shanghai | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) |
| Mar | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) |
| Apr | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) |
| May | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) |
| Jun | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) |
| Aug | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) |
| Sep | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) |
| Nov | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
Malaysian Meteorological Department
Can you move from China to Malaysia?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.
China passport holder visiting Malaysia
Visa Free
Malaysia passport holder visiting China
Visa FreeData: 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 China?
On average Malaysia is around 9% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?
Budget about MYR82,750 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a CN¥500,000 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: 13.6 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?
China generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 90% of people in Malaysia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Malaysia compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malaysia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 31.1 in China. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Malaysia compared to China?
The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 68°F in Shanghai. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Shanghai gets 43.8 in.
What language do they speak in Malaysia?
The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In China, the official language is Chinese.
