Moving to Malaysia from Peru

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Peru to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 4.6% more expensive than Peru overall. A PEN254,104 salary in Peru would need to be roughly MYR380,865 in Malaysia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Malay. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kuala Lumpur averages 90°F vs 72°F in Lima, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

PEN254,104 MYR380,865

To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 23.0% less

Groceries

pay 41.3% more

Transportation

pay 13.2% less

Housing

pay 2.5% less

Childcare

pay 16.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 8.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PEN = 1.21 MYR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Malaysia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Peru.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PE
5.7
MY
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

PE
39%
MY
90%

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PE
$956
MY
$1,441
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PE
16.2
MY
23.2

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Peru leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PE
26.0
MY
63.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PE
2.0t
MY
8.3t

Peru performs 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

PE
9.3
MY
12.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PE
7.2%
MY
3.4%

Malaysia performs significantly better than Peru across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PE
4.8%
MY
3.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PE
$15,100
MY
$33,600

Malaysia performs significantly better than Peru across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PE
68.9 yrs
MY
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PE
10.8
MY
6.6

Malaysia generally does better on family life, though Peru leads in education spending.

Data: Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lima Rain: 0.5 in/yr (13 mm)
72° / 62°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lima Kuala Lumpur
Jan–Mar 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 91°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month Lima Kuala Lumpur
Jan 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C)
Feb 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C)
Mar 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C)
Apr 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C)
May 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C)
Jun 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C)
Jul 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C)
Aug 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C)
Sep 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Oct 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C)
Nov 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C)
Dec 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C)

Data: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú, Malaysian Meteorological Department Malaysian Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Peru passport

Peru passport holder visiting Malaysia

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

Malaysia passport holder visiting Peru

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

On average Malaysia is around 24% pricier than Peru, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?

Budget about MYR95,216 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a PEN254,104 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Malaysia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Malaysia: 12.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Malaysia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Malaysia safe for expats?

Malaysia generally does better on safety, though Peru leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.7 in Peru. About 90% of people in Malaysia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Malaysia compared to Peru?

Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Peru leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 16.2 in Peru. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Peru: 71).

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

The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 72°F in Lima. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Lima gets 0.5 in.

What language do they speak in Malaysia?

The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Peru, the official languages are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

PE MY
Population 32,275,736 33,871,431
Currency Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN) Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
Languages Aymara, Quechua, Spanish English, Malay
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +51 +60
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 105 999