Moving to Malaysia from Puerto Rico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Puerto Rico to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Puerto Rico to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 40.3% cheaper than Puerto Rico overall. A $75,000 salary in Puerto Rico would need to be roughly MYR200,777 in Malaysia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Puerto Rico and Malaysia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → MYR200,777
To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 64.8% less
Groceries
pay 34.8% less
Transportation
pay 33.0% less
Housing
pay 64.0% less
Childcare
pay 49.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 20.9% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Puerto Rico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Puerto Rico performs 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
share of households with internet
Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though Puerto Rico 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
Malaysia generally does better on employment & economy, though Puerto Rico 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Puerto Rico generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in education spending.
Data: Puerto Rican Department of Treasury, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Puerto Rico 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.
Malaysia passport holder visiting Puerto Rico
Visa RequiredData: 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 Puerto Rico?
On average Malaysia is about 35% less expensive than Puerto Rico, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?
Budget about MYR50,194 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a $75,000 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?
Puerto Rico generally does better on safety, though Malaysia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 14.2 in Puerto Rico.
What language do they speak in Malaysia?
The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Puerto Rico, the official languages are English and Spanish.
