Moving to Norway from Malaysia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malaysia to Norway? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malaysia to Norway, you would find that Norway is 2.9 times more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR304,320 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly NOK1,342,234 in Norway to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Oslo averages 49°F vs 90°F in Kuala Lumpur, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Malaysia and Norway.
What does your salary buy?
MYR304,320 → NOK1,342,234
To maintain the same standard of living in Norway
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.3 times more
Groceries
pay 91.5% more
Transportation
pay 3.5 times more
Housing
pay 3.5 times more
Childcare
pay 55.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.6 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Malaysia to Norway.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Norway compared to Malaysia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Norway performs significantly better than Malaysia across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway 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
Norway 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
Norway performs significantly better than Malaysia across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Norway generally does better on employment & economy, though Malaysia leads in top income tax 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
Norway 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kuala Lumpur | Oslo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 59°/43°F (15°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 66°/51°F (19°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Oslo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) | 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C) |
| Feb | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) | 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C) |
| Mar | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) | 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C) |
| Apr | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) | 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) | 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C) |
| Jun | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) | 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C) |
| Jul | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) | 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C) |
| Oct | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C) |
| Dec | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) | 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C) |
Data:
Malaysian Meteorological Department,
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia and Norway. To live, work, or study long-term in Norway, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Norway's immigration authority.
Malaysia passport holder visiting Norway
Visa Free
Norway 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 Norway than Malaysia?
On average Norway is around 88% pricier than Malaysia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Norway?
Budget about NOK335,558 for 3 months in Norway (based on a MYR304,320 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Norway?
Connectivity is usually fine (Norway: 45.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Norway offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Norway safe for expats?
Norway performs significantly better than Malaysia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Norway is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia.
How is healthcare in Norway compared to Malaysia?
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 51.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Norway, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. Norway scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).
What's the weather like in Norway compared to Malaysia?
The average high temperature in Oslo is 49°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Oslo receives around 30.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.
What language do they speak in Norway?
The official languages in Norway are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.
