Moving to Malaysia from Vietnam
What to Expect
Considering a move from Vietnam to Malaysia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Vietnam to Malaysia, you would find that Malaysia is 41.7% more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,972,386,622 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly MYR357,487 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. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Vietnam and Malaysia. What does your salary buy? ₫1,972,386,622 → MYR357,487 To maintain the same standard of living in Malaysia How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 38.3% more Groceries pay 38.0% more Transportation pay 26.5% more Housing pay 54.0% more Childcare pay 31.8% less Entertainment and Sports pay 2.4 times 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. 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. What the data shows about people moving from Vietnam to Malaysia. Top countries of origin for Malaysia's foreign-born residents. The numbers behind daily life in Malaysia compared to Vietnam. per 100,000 people per year per 100,000 people per year Malaysia performs significantly better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. 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 Vietnam leads in healthcare spending per person. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year Vietnam performs better than Malaysia across all environment metrics. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet Malaysia generally does better on infrastructure, though Vietnam leads in broadband per 100 people. 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 Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Malaysia leads in gdp per capita. 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 Vietnam generally does better on family life, though Malaysia leads in life expectancy. Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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. Vietnam passport holder visiting Malaysia Malaysia passport holder visiting Vietnam Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average Malaysia is around 17% pricier than Vietnam, with notable variation by city. Budget about MYR89,372 for 3 months in Malaysia (based on a ₫1,972,386,622 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees. 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? Malaysia performs significantly better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Malaysia is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam. Malaysia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vietnam leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Malaysia, compared to 8.3 in Vietnam. Malaysia scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68). The average high temperature in Kuala Lumpur is 90°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Kuala Lumpur receives around 95.6 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in. The official languages in Malaysia are English and Malay. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Hanoi Kuala Lumpur Jan–Mar 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) Apr–Jun 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) Jul–Sep 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) Oct–Dec 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) View all months
Month Hanoi Kuala Lumpur Jan 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.5°C) Feb 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.8°C) Mar 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) 92°/74°F (33.2°/23.2°C) Apr 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) 92°/75°F (33.1°/23.7°C) May 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) 91°/75°F (32.9°/23.9°C) Jun 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.6°C) Jul 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.2°C) Aug 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) 90°/74°F (32.3°/23.1°C) Sep 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) Oct 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) 90°/74°F (32.1°/23.2°C) Nov 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) Dec 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) 89°/73°F (31.5°/22.9°C) 
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, 
Malaysian Meteorological Department Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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