Moving to Malaysia from Russia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Russia to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Russia to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 1.9% more expensive than Russia overall. A RUB5,859,336 salary in Russia would need to be roughly MYR294,077 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 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Russia and Malaysia.
What does your salary buy?
RUB5,859,336 → MYR294,077
To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 35.3% less
Groceries
pay 33.0% more
Transportation
pay 3.9% less
Housing
pay 40.9% more
Childcare
pay 31.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.5% 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 Malaysia cost about 20% less than cities in Russia.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Russia.
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 Russia 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 Russia 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
Russia generally does better on environment, though Malaysia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
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
Russia 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
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Malaysia leads in poverty 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
Russia generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in life expectancy.
Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, 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 | Moscow | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Moscow | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) | 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) |
| Feb | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) |
| Mar | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) | 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) |
| Apr | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) | 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) |
| May | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) | 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) |
| Jul | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) |
| Aug | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) | 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) |
| Sep | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) |
| Oct | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) | 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) |
| Nov | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) | 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) |
Data:
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring,
Malaysian Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia 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.
Russia passport holder visiting Malaysia
Visa Free
Malaysia passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-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 Russia?
On average Malaysia is about 4% less expensive than Russia, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?
Budget about MYR73,519 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a RUB5,859,336 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 Russia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia. About 90% of people in Malaysia feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Malaysia compared to Russia?
Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).
What's the weather like in Malaysia compared to Russia?
The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.
What language do they speak in Malaysia?
The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Russia, the official language is Russian.
