Moving to South Korea from Malaysia
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Malaysia to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Malaysia to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 82.2% more expensive than Malaysia overall. A MYR307,192 salary in Malaysia would need to be roughly ₩145,007,706 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°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 South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
MYR307,192 → ₩145,007,706
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 86.1% more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 87.0% more
Housing
pay 86.3% more
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.4% 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 South Korea cost about 20% 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 South Korea, based on official data.
people moved from Malaysia to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to South Korea?
Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.
- 803,011
- 177,274
- 159,264
- 68,050
- 64,942
- 55,601
- · · ·
-
28.1,684
Malaysia
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Malaysia to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
South Korea 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 generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.
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
South Korea 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
Malaysia generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea 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
South Korea 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 | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuala Lumpur | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Malaysian Meteorological Department,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malaysia and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Malaysia passport holder visiting South Korea
Electronic Travel Authorisation
South Korea 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 South Korea than Malaysia?
No — South Korea is on average about 30% more expensive than Malaysia. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩36,251,926 in South Korea on a MYR307,192 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 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 South Korea safe for expats?
South Korea generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.7 in Malaysia. About 64% of people in South Korea feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Malaysia?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malaysia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 23.2 in Malaysia. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malaysia: 76).
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Malaysia?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 90°F in Kuala Lumpur. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuala Lumpur gets 95.6 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Malaysia, the official languages are English and Malay.
