Malaysia offers a superb quality of life at prices that most Europeans will find hard to believe. Property prices are relatively low: a three-bed room condominium in Malaysia is available from US$50,000 - or less. Utility charges are low and with temperatures never dropping below 22oC at night, there is no need for central heating. Air-conditioning is normally considered essential, at least for the bedrooms. Even if air-conditioning is used regularly, the total electricity bill should not exceed US$600 per annum and many families only use half that amount.

Imported cigarettes cost less than US$3 a packet – local brands even less – while premium imported spirits are about US$20 a bottle. Locally bottled gin, vodka, rum, brandy and whisky are available for less than US$10 per bottle. They serve the purpose but for most expatriates the whisky is noticeably inferior to their usual proprietary brands.

Wine is available from US$4 per bottle upwards and excellent wines are available from Europe, Australia and South America. Beer in the supermarkets fluctuates according to the current special offer and, when bought by the case, varies between US$1.5 to US$2 per standard can. Incoming international passengers are allowed to bring in a litre of duty free spirits and the island of Langkawi, just a short inexpensive flight away, is totally duty free. Eating out is one of the great joys of life in Malaysia, a social activity that takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week and seems to involve the entire population. Costs range from less than a US$1 per person for a casual – but delicious – snack at one of the hawker stalls, to US$5 for a delightful dinner in a small restaurant or club. A sumptuous buffet – wine and beer included - in a premier hotel - will set you back less than US$12 per person. Food of every variety and flavour is available in Malaysia, a true melting pot of culinary styles.


Local domestic help is readily available and while it is not necessary to have a maid if living in a condominium, it certainly makes life more pleasant. Maids are available for US$1.50 an hour and, for many couples, hiring a maid for just a few hours a day to do the washing, ironing and cleaning is sufficient.

A full-time live-in Indonesian maid can be hired for about US$150 per month compared to US$350 for an English-speaking maid from the Philippines. They can be obtained through an agency, but the best method is to take over a maid from a friend who is leaving, or to hire one on the recommendation of a friend. Most larger properties have an additional maid’s sleeping quarter. Public transport is much cheaper than in the US (a 6-km bus ride costs about 30 cents).

Malaysia recognizes all international driving licenses. Therefore you do not need to obtain a new driving license in Malaysia as long as your license is still valid. Cars, however, are more expensive to buy than in the US, especially imported models with a large engine capacity, while locally-assembled cars are about 10-15 per cent higher. Foreigners coming in on the MM2H scheme are entitled to buy or import one car, tax and duty free, making it considerably cheaper than in the US. Running costs are very cheap; petrol is less than US$1 per litre.


* MM2H - Malaysia My Second Home programme