Moving to Malaysia from Taiwan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Taiwan to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Taiwan to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 26.8% cheaper than Taiwan overall. A NT$2,377,215 salary in Taiwan would need to be roughly MYR248,503 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.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Taiwan and Malaysia.
What does your salary buy?
NT$2,377,215 → MYR248,503
To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 28.6% less
Groceries
pay 35.5% less
Transportation
pay 33.7% less
Housing
pay 10.8% less
Childcare
pay 64.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.3% 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 18% less than cities in Taiwan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Taiwan.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Malaysia performs significantly better than Taiwan 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
share of people below the poverty line
Taiwan 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Taiwan performs better than Malaysia across all family life metrics.
Data: Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance, R.O.C., The World Factbook
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Taiwan 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.
Taiwan passport holder visiting Malaysia
Visa Free
Malaysia passport holder visiting Taiwan
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 Malaysia than Taiwan?
On average Malaysia is about 20% less expensive than Taiwan, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Malaysia?
Budget about MYR62,126 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a NT$2,377,215 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Malaysia?
From major Malaysia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Taiwan and Malaysia are what actually decide it long-term.
What language do they speak in Malaysia?
The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Taiwan, the official language is Chinese.
