Moving to Austria from Malaysia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malaysia to Austria, you would find that Austria is 3.0 times more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR305,250 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly €120,172 in Austria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vienna averages 58°F vs 90°F in Kuala Lumpur, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MYR305,250 €120,172

To maintain the same standard of living in Austria

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.2 times more

Groceries

pay 94.0% more

Transportation

pay 3.0 times more

Housing

pay 4.1 times more

Childcare

pay 2.9 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 88.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MYR = 0.2152 EUR (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Malaysia to Austria.

Moved in 2023
133 ↑ 25% vs 2022

people moved from Malaysia to Austria · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Austria?

Top countries of origin for Austria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Austria compared to Malaysia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

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

per 100,000 people per year

MY
13.9
AT
4.6

Malaysia generally does better on safety, though Austria leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

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

affects wait times and access to care

MY
23.2
AT
55.1

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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MY
8.3t
AT
6.3t

Austria performs significantly 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

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

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MY
3.4%
AT
8.7%

Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though Austria leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

MY
$33,600
AT
$64,600

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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MY
6.6
AT
3.2

Austria performs significantly better than Malaysia across all family life metrics.

Data: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Malaysia passport

Malaysia passport holder visiting Austria

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

Austria passport holder visiting Malaysia

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Malaysia 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 Austria than Malaysia?

On average Austria is around 83% pricier than Malaysia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Austria?

Budget about €30,043 for 3 months in Austria (based on a MYR305,250 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Austria?

Connectivity is usually fine (Austria: 29.6 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Austria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Austria safe for expats?

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

How is healthcare in Austria compared to Malaysia?

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

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

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

What language do they speak in Austria?

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

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At a Glance

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