Moving to China from Malaysia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malaysia to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malaysia to China, you would find that China is 14.3% more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR307,192 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly CN¥411,871 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 90°F in Kuala Lumpur, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Malaysia to China.
What does your salary buy?
MYR307,192 → CN¥411,871
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 15.2% less
Groceries
pay 20.0% less
Transportation
pay 20.2% more
Housing
pay 18.3% less
Childcare
pay 2.4 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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 China cost about 18% less than cities in Malaysia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Malaysia to China, based on official data.
Who's moving to China?
Top countries of origin for China's foreign-born residents.
- 303,095
- 209,555
- 144,831
- 57,602
- 56,657
- 30,811
- · · ·
-
15.4,753
Malaysia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malaysia 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 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
Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
Malaysia generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty 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
Malaysia generally does better on family life, though China leads in literacy rate.
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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kuala Lumpur | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Malaysian Meteorological Department,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.
Malaysia passport holder visiting China
Visa Free
China passport holder visiting Malaysia
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 China than Malaysia?
Yes — China is on average about 19% cheaper than Malaysia. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CN¥102,968 in China on a MYR307,192 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from China?
Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is China safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in China compared to Malaysia?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malaysia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).
What's the weather like in China compared to Malaysia?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.
