Moving to Ireland from Malaysia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malaysia to Ireland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malaysia to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 3.1 times more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR307,192 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly €131,014 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°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 Ireland.
What does your salary buy?
MYR307,192 → €131,014
To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 4.2 times more
Groceries
pay 55.2% more
Transportation
pay 4.2 times more
Housing
pay 4.2 times more
Childcare
pay 3.8 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 times 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.
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 Ireland cost about 86% more 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 Ireland, based on official data.
Who's moving to Ireland?
Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.
- 305,197
- 146,211
- 44,229
- 35,190
- 25,371
- 25,104
- · · ·
-
26.4,798
Malaysia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malaysia to Ireland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Malaysia generally does better on safety, though Ireland 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
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Ireland performs significantly better than Malaysia 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 Ireland 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 Ireland leads in gdp per capita.
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
Ireland generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in education spending.
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 | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Dublin |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) | 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) |
| Feb | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) | 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) |
| Mar | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) | 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) |
| Apr | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) | 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) | 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) |
| Jun | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) | 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) |
| Jul | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) | 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) | 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) |
| Oct | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) |
| Dec | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) | 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) |
Data:
Malaysian Meteorological Department,
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.
Malaysia passport holder visiting Ireland
Visa Free
Ireland 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 Ireland than Malaysia?
No — Ireland is on average about 100% more expensive than Malaysia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Ireland?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €32,754 in Ireland on a MYR307,192 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Ireland?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Ireland has 32.1 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 Ireland safe for expats?
Malaysia generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia. About 75% of people in Ireland feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Ireland compared to Malaysia?
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 40.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Ireland, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. Ireland scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).
What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Malaysia?
The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.
What language do they speak in Ireland?
The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.
