Nice video. I have visited Malaysia several times, 20yrs ago. The country impressed me. It was a modern, clean and serious country. Also the people were really friendly. Greetings from Greece
Hi, thanks for commenting on our video. Yes we fully agree with you. It has all the ingredients for a country to move to. Greece is beautiful too by the way, and we only encountered incredibly friendly people when we visited this beautiful country. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Hi, thank you for your comment! That is even more than half of what we estimated. Good to know! We found groceries difficult to budget since we tend to choose Western products as well when abroad, such as oatmeal, almonds, cheese, and yogurt. But we can imagine that once you live in a country for a longer period of time, grocery bills will decrease over time once you find a 'routine' and are familiar with the products. Cheers! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 Western products are more expensive due to import tax and what not. The demand isn't really there since locals do not consume these products. They are more into their local cuisine which is heavy on their local pork, fish, poultry, and rice.
Cheers for all the useful information, I love that you divided the video into simple to understand information and showed us the cost. I am going to be a solo traveler, planning on staying no more than 6 months (since that's usually how long US citizens can stay in most country without a visa) and my eating habits consist of potatoes, coffee, rarely meat, usually some vegetables and not a lot of take out food due to allergies. I heard Malaysia is a great place for Americans to move and that its safe. For work, I have experience in digital marketing but also in the hospitality sector , jewelry design as well as the spiritual sector (tarot reading, energy reading)and speak 2 language fluently (English and Spanish, though can't see Spanish being very useful in Malaysia haha) Thank you again for making the information so easy to digest! Def gonna be following this channel! Blessing to your family and you🙏🏽
Thank you so much for letting us know that you thought our video is useful. Really appreciate the feedback! Malaysia is a very good option for solo travelers, you will feel very comfortable there. Not only do most people in Malaysia speak english (even paper work is in english) but you will meet a lot of friendly people. You can stay for three months straight in Malaysia and if you want to extend the visa again for 3 months you can do a boarder crossing to Singapore or Thailand. Buses and trains work very well in Malaysia. Malaysia is a good starting point if you are digital marketing. You will get a lot of inspiration here and learn a lot of new things. As for food....enough choice, don't worry about not finding anything you like. Rice and noodles are often the substitute for patato but you can easily explore new dishes in the many food courts often located on the top floor in the malls. Try the roti canai (bread) it is delicious! Have fun planning your trip to Malaysia and lots of luck once there! Matt and Monico
Malaysia is very clean, food is good and the price is right. Malaysian and more honest. Compare to Vietnam where trash can be found everywhere, sellers are dishonest, cheating and price are increased from month to month.
Hi thank you for your comment. We haven't been to Vietnam yet, so we can not compare. For us, Malaysia feels very organised and proper, especially if you compare it to Indonesia. Perhaps this is also the case for Vietnam. I guess, every country has its own attraction. For a sense of stability I would suggest Malaysia, for a bit of an adventurous feel and being out of your comfort zone, countries such as Vietnam or Indonesia is more appropriate. Do you have any plans visiting or living in Malaysia? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Can’t comment on that….but perhaps it’s a common thing between countries. Dutch aren’t rude to the Belgians but we do make fun of them while the Belgians think we are loud and perhaps even rude
Fantastic content. You're both a pleasure to listen to! I'm planning on staying in Malaysia in 2024. Not sure which area yet - I'll probably check out KL, Ipoh and Penang and see which I like best.
Hi, thank you for your lovely feedback! We are sure you are going to love staying in Malaysia. We will be uploading a new video on housing where we look at all three: KL, Ipoh and Penang. Hopefully, this video can help you to make a decision. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
If you love scuba diving and fishing and also islands hopping, you may like to check out Kuala Terengganu (KT) it is a state of Malaysia on the east coast facing South China Seas. There are several islands nearby with crystal clear water and corals. It was rated as one of the beautiful islands in the world. It is much cheaper than in major cities like KL Ipoh or Penang. It is 2 hours' drive (210km) to Thailand visit neighboring country.
Great video and information. Being someone who lived in countries, East and West, I would say Malaysia is a good country to stay for both locals and expats depend on choices of your lifestyles. Welcome to Malaysia. You will not regret.
Thank you! Yes, Malaysia is high on our list for moving abroad. When we lived there in the past we really enjoyed it. It is a really nice country to be able to live in. Thank you for commenting! Cheers. Matt and Monico
expats is an insult to non white people, it was made by white people to put themselves above others while degrading them.... if you move to live in another country you are an immigrant.... full stop.
*Welcome to Malaysia, Malaysian likes to lepak2 at mamak restaurant drink teh Tarik - you can joining me to or any Msian if you likes , is no problem for Malaysian 🇲🇾❤️💝💖🧡💙🧡💖💝❤️🇲🇾*
Hi! Thank you so much for commenting and your warm welcome.....We wouldn't mind eating together and having teh tarik😃 Food and drinks bring people together🇲🇾 🇳🇱 Cheers! Matt and Monico
Thanks for an interesting video Matt & Monico. We have been to Malaysia couple times and also considering Malaysia as a possible home/base to spend more time in Asia. Our experiences in Malaysia so far has only been good and Penang would also be our preference to stay. Think your budget is very fair and from what we have seen can absolutely be done. What I do like about most rental properties is that they come fully furnished and when you still finding your feet that is probably the way to go.
Hi, thank you for commenting and sharing your ideas! Yes we totally agree. Fully furnished is the best option if you are just starting out. We also learnt from past experience that there is a chance that you will moving again soon enough. Once you know more about the country/city/island you learn about the areas then it is easier to move if you don't have to bring all your furniture with you. Plus moving involves a lot of costs. It can save you some hassle if you don't have to budget for furniture yet. Thanks for watching and hope you will be able to find a nice home in Malaysia! Matt and Monico
You might also consider Johor Bahru, the main advantage being the proximity to Singapore. We lived there for four years, and it's a very livable city. It has grown quickly in the past few years, and will soon have a rapid rail connection with Singapore.
Hi, thank you for your comment and suggestion! We will definitely check it out. We think it is always good to check out cities that are more down on the list of popularity. They might not seem that great initially but once living there you will discover their charm. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
@@SyedAli-r4e The Majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims, you always get halal food. Secondly, the information being provided is about the cost of living that caters to the needs of all - you don't bring in your personal religion-based issues to the public.
@@SyedAli-r4e "...if the food is not halal it doesn't matter I just don't eat pork": wow, sir, that makes you infinitely more flexible (and reasonable) than many of the local Muslims. 👏. But with halal food being so readily available, it shouldn't be a problem anyway.
11/28/2023; 9:30 a.m. This video is excellent! It is balanced & informative for any who are researching studying and/or working in Malaysia. Thank you so much for the effort you put into this project! 😊.
Hi there! Thank you so much for the great positive feedback. We are really happy to hear that you liked the video and appreciate your comment! Cheers Matt and Monico
Thanks for your comment! Yes, our next video will be on visas for Malaysia. Let's see if there are more options then the digital nomad visa or working visa. Cheers! Matt and Monico
me and my wife living and working in Bintulu , Sarawak for 6 years now and it not so cheap in Sarawak or Malaysia , groceries -+RM 1500 , rent RM 2000 for a three bedroom house, electricity RM 360 per month , unifi RM 260 , we stay here on a work visa, if you want to get citizenship ( Malaysia my second home) it very expensive , house of RM 350000, also bank accounts of at least RM 450000 deposit and a monthly external income of RM 10000. Also the medical services not so high standard . But i love Sarawak , so safe and people very friendly , west Malaysia people different , the best city will be Kuching , love the City . Our daughter born in Bintulu , Sarawak and she cannot get citizenship , citizenship rules very strict in Malaysia .
Hi, thank you for commenting on our video. Your groceries, rent and utilities seem less then what we budgeted however yes, if you add the requirements for a long term visa then the costs will increase. We don't consider this as monthly costs, but more financial requirements you will need if you want to move to Malaysia on the MySecondHomeVisa. Unfortunately the requirements for the MM2H have changed this last year and you need to have a pretty good monthly income to become eligible. Getting a citizenship for Malaysia is definitely hard, but that is the case for many countries even though you are born there. We have been considering Sarawak too. Kuching is a wonderful city. Thanks again for your info! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 i bought house in Davao City , Philippines , my wife Filipino , for our budget it will be better and cost of living lower , Philippines can also be expensive if you live a Western lifestyle . The house is a boarding house with a shop and will generate good monthly income .
@@margaretekalaiabdullah8745 Thank you so much for your comment! Kuching is a great option to move to. It seems it has a lot to offer for those who don't want to live in a huge city and be close to nature. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Hi! Thanks for sharing your experience of KL. It is a wonderful city to visit. Hopefully you have the chance to visit again, and see more of Malaysia. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Hi thank you for your comment. I can fully understand. I lived in KL when I was younger for 4 years. But my dad’s job sent us back to the Netherlands and I missed Malaysia a lot. I also only have good memories. Have you ever been back? Thanks for sharing your experience! Monico
If you like lay back environment with beautiful islands, amazing sunsets, chilling mountain side and very close to the tropical rainforests, Kota Kinabalu will be a good choice.
Hi, thank you very much for your comment. Kota Kinabalu sound good! We visited Kota Kinabalu and the beautiful nature around it and loved it! Cheers, Matt and Monico
You are very much welcome! Are you considering moving or do you, like us enjoy checking out how living in other countries can be? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Great information guys thank you so much for sharing this. We also do a monthly budget video, nice to see the comparison. Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico. 🇲🇽✌🏼🥰
Thanks for your video. Very good content. I am previously from Ipoh and then moved to Singapore for my college and now a US citizen in California. I am also thinking of retiring in Ipoh to be near my brother who has a medical practice as I am older now. Still I have to consider the humid weather. Thanks again.
Hi! Thank you for watching our video and leaving a positive comment. We are happy to hear you liked it. Weather has a huge influence on our daily life, especially in the tropic with the humidity and everything that comes with it. Good luck on making your plans and at the end it is nice to be close to family. Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I would say Johor/Johor Bahru is quite underrated too as a potential city to live in Malaysia. Its almost unspoken of on RUclips. In the coming years, imho its going to rise as one of the most bustling and prosperous cities in Malaysia, due to its closeness with Singapore and increased economic activity and improving transportation access between both. Its already looking very promising now but in 5 years things are going to be much better, I think, inshAllah.
Outside KL, one could also check old rustic towns such as Ipoh & Sungai Petani ... Sungai Petani, for example ... Accommodation is cheap ... International school is abundant nearby ... And excellent healthcare facilities all around ... And it is just 30 minutes to Penang Island (non-peak hours, off course) ...
Thank you for your suggestion! We heard a lot of positive things about Ipoh. We haven't checked Sungai Petani yet. At the end we believe you need to check out several places out before fully deciding on where to live 'permanently'. Malaysia is so diverse and has lots to offer. Cheers Matt and Monico
Rule of thumb, spending on local product especially the fresh ingredient and will save your wallet tremendously. Import product will cost much more therefore it is recommended to adjust your dietery. It is interesting to have a fusion recipe of your own that suits your taste bud.
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, local products are the best, no matter which country. But you know human nature.....food is something cultural. Every now and then the body (or more the mind) is craving 'home food'. There is a reason why there are so many Chinese shops around the world. In the Netherlands, we have a lot of Surinam, Chinese and Indonesian stores. However, once living in a country for a longer period you will learn more about local products and how to prepare them the way you like it. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Wow, that's quite enormous amount of positive informations that would surely drive back all the brain drain back to Malaysia especially with the current news about technology & semiconductor investment flowing into this part of the world. Thank you....sweet couple ❤
Hi, thank you for your comment. We are always happy to hear if our video has been helpful. You must be excited to start moving and living in Malaysia. Hope your move goes smoothly so you can enjoy Malaysia to the fullest and call it your new home soon. Cheers! Matt and Monico
And Kuala Lumpur is one of the Cheapest places to fly out of to all the neighboring countries. Even the more distant ones like the philippine and Nepal.
Hi, thank you for your comment. Yes it's an excellent hub for traveling further into Asia. We have used KLIA as a transit many times. This makes Malaysia even more interesting as a place to live. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
You cannot get the digital nomad visa if you are not making more than 2000 USD per month. Also you have to show bank statement for one year and payslips.
Hi, thank for you comment. Yes, we didn't go into detail about the visas in this video. We didn't want to make it too long. But we mentioned all the requirements in a later video: ruclips.net/video/a_D40S-CJXQ/видео.html Cheers! Matt and Monico
Yes Malaysia has become a popular destination to move and travel to. The cost of living is very doable but as a country it is also a wonderful place to live
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, Malaysia is a great place to visit and to live. Happy to hear you had a great time! Any places that you really loved and recommend visiting? Cheers! Matt and Monico
Great job, good energy, and actually good information on what it costs… I am nearing retirement and I am definitely looking at Malaysia and Philippines, Panama, and The DR, the USA has just become so dam expensive, worked all my life and the thought of living very poor is just not appealing… I will be watching you two, best of luck with all your endeavors…
Thank you for watching our video and taking the time to leave a positive comment. Retiring in an other country often involves certain financial requirements, but if you can meet them then often life will be more comfortable. We covered a bit of visa requirements for several asian countries in an other video. Perhaps this will be helpful too ruclips.net/video/imvVvGWwKko/видео.html Wishing you all the best as you explore your retirement options. Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 yes wow thanks for getting back yes I need a break from all the hustle and bustle so I think I would first time need 2 month stay than return to Toronto then we'll see
If you are thinking of 2 months in Malaysia, then I would suggest staying in different places. Malaysia is so diverse, you can easily enjoy yourself traveling around for 2 months. But if you want to stay longer in a place, then Air BNB would be the option for you considering you would go for short term rental.
Hi, thank you for commenting! Yes, being solo does make costs of living somewhat lower. You can go for a studio or a one bedroom condominium, however if you want luxury then expect to still pay around 500USD a month in Kuala Lumpur. And as a traveler you don't need to worry about visa cost. You can enter Malaysia for free and stay there for 3 months. Are you planning to go to Malaysia? Happy travels! Matt and Monico
@@ashtriana1 Thank you for your tips! There must be so many places that are beautiful but still overlooked in Malaysia! There is a lot to explore! Have a good day, Matt and Monico
I would recommend to stay in Ipoh... in between Kuala Lupur and Penang. It is cheaper and the town is calm even though on mid day weekdays.. Food are good and utilizes such as broadband internet is at par with in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Hi thank you for watching our video and your valuable tip! Yes, the more we read and hear about Ipoh the more interesting it has become. We can imagine that it is a great place to live. Cheers, Matt and Monico
I live on USA's social security pension and another pension as regular income sources. I also make investments in securities. All my income is taxed by my government. Information about my potential Maylaysian taxes is difficult to obtain. The only way I could be relieved of my US taxes would be to renounce my US citizenship. I would have to obtain other citizenship in order to do that. That would take many years, ordinarily. How can I learn how Maylaysia would treat me with regard to taxes if I were only a permanent resident - so that I could buy a house or condo?
Hi thanks for watching our video. Yes we heard that US citizens will pay tax despite not living in the USA. You will of course need to pay tax when settling in Malaysia. To get the correct information we suggest reaching out to a tax professional or accountant that specializes in these matters. You can find a lot of information and contacts through Malaysia expat forums. Sorry we couldn't give you details info but we hope our suggestions will help! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Thank you! Always so nice to hear that we were able to provide useful information. We also have a video on Visas for Malaysia, just in case you need more information. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Thank you very much for your valuable comment. The costs of visa itself but perhaps the costs that come with it such as agency costs are something that is often overlooked. That's why we prefer to budget more to be able to handle unexpected 'miscalculations'. Have a nice day! Matt and Monico
Hi! Thank you for your comment. You need to have an insurance that offer plans for expats. The well known players are for instance AllianzCare, Cigna and ALC. Hope we have answered your question. Cheers, Matt and Monico
You can save a lot if you guys living in the outskirt of town or rural area. In rural area, you need to have 1 scooter & learn local language. The air quality also better & enjoy quiet surrounding..
@@makethemove101 Thank you! I have an older parent that will need options that are too expensive in the U.S. (where older people are "warehoused" because the U.S. culture does not revere old people). Any chance you would do something on options for senior living options?
I am not a Malaysian, however, I did put a down payment on a Mivi (local decent car and much cheaper than a Toyota, Honda or Mazda) there. Perhaps if you need a loan, then you cannot buy without a job or are a resident there. It's also VERY hard for a US citizen to open a bank account there.
Hi thank you for sharing your experience! From the info we gathered, it seemed very easy to open a bank account and to buy a car. But in practice, it is a whole different story. Thanks again for commenting! Matt and Monico
Thank you! Malaysia has always been very diverse and we can imagine that Malaysia is getting more popular for people to move to if possible. Thank you for commenting! Matt and Monico
Good vlog. Only thing peculiar is that at the start of the video Malaysia a good place to retire or to move in... a diverse country... and you showed the probosque monkey 😄😄😄😄😄😄
can you make a video on the BEST GYMS in malaysia, or at least in your locale? i know the country is large of course but some top gyms would be nice to see here. a lot of young ppl are into fitness (i am nearly 50) so this would be a nice video that i think no one has made yet...
Hi, thanks for your suggestion. We know that in KL you can choose from upscale gyms to regular gyms, it all depends on how much you want to spend. We can imagine this is the same for Penang. But if we have the possibility we could make a video, we can imagine a lot of people would want to know more about the gyms. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Malaysia is not perfect but it is a charming, less polluted and peaceful country.. Standard of living is affordable..gas and petrol charges is the cheapest among the SEA countries.. Btw, you may consider interesting places like Malacca and Johor Bahru too..
Hi thank you for watching and commenting on our video. Every country has its pros and cons right? At the end if you are able to choose where you want to live then the pros should out way the cons. Besides being an affordable place to live, luckily Malaysia has more to offer for a large group of people. Thanks for the tip on malacca and Johor Bahru! Have a good day! Matt and Monico
I don't fully support the NEP policy simply because I feel that, after more than 50 years, the poor Malays, especially those in the countryside, have not benefited much. Most went to a certain PM's cronies, like Syed Mokhtar, one of the richest billionaires in the world. A friend now visiting New Zealand said eggs are NZD1 each, uncooked, tomato NZD14 per kilo, sweet potatoes, NZD13+. I have only this to add. We in Malaysia should thank China for supplying us with cheap agricultural produce and household products and also thank the Malays, without whom, there would be no petrol subsidies and price controls on essential goods.
Hi, thank you for your comment and insight. Corruption is always killing however hard to tackle, in any country. The diversity in Malaysia is beautiful but I can imagine with unequal opportunities and benefits it can cause more devision among the population. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Hi! Yes we are aware that Matt said Rupiah instead of Ringgit when talking about housing. The video was already uploaded when we realized the mistake. A huge slip of the tongue of course. 😔I guess, after doing videos on Indonesia we are still used to saying rupiah instead of ringgit. But good thing that the mistake is getting noticed....😉Cheers! Matt and Monico
@@amrimd73 thank you for your clarification. It seems that it is used interchangeably. The currency convertor uses MYR while when looking at housing it is RM. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Hi, thanks for you comment. Yes we can imagine that Malaysia is an interesting place to invest considering it being a pretty stable country in Asia. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Hi, thanks again for watching our video! The useful website on international schools is www.international-schools-database.com/ The nomad visa can be extended once for 1 more year. Hope we have been of some help! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
All such videos concentrate on west Malaysia and ignore east Malaysia. East Malaysia is even more diverse. Their retirement program is easier. Cost of living is much lower and life is much less stressful.
Hi, thank you for your valuable comment. Maybe the reason is because the accessibility, infrastructure and facilities are more a present in West Malaysia, making it interesting for those considering moving to Malaysia. East Malaysia is beautiful, has a lot of nature and less bigger cities. We can imagine life goes at a slower pace than in West Malaysia. You might be able to compare this 'trend' the same as Bali vs. the rest of Indonesia. Foreigners tend to focus a lot on Bali because there is a 'comfortable' balance between local and expat life. The same for west vs east Malaysia perhaps? Cheers Matt and Monico
Hi! Thanks for commenting. Eventually your monthly budget will depend on your lifestyle, I guess. In a video on housing in Malaysia (ruclips.net/video/itotkUNoXlY/видео.html) we only selected houses that were a min. of 100sqm plus two rooms. You will of course fall into a more expensive category unlike those who are happy with a studio. Are you considering living in KL? Cheers, Matt and Monico
1. Choose a town/city that has i. a highway passing nearby ii. rail with frequent connection to KL iii. good private hospitals iv. private schools v. easy connection to KLIA, by train/s or flight. vi. 5G. vii. A university that allows the public to be a member of its library. 2. The requirement for a foreigner to purchase a house cannot be RM1 million. In some towns, there are no houses that cost that much. This condition should vary from state to state. 3. If you decide to live outside KL, you will need a car. A good cheap one is the Myvi. 4. You'll need medical insurance to get a long term visa. 5. With USD3,500, you'll lead an upper middle class life in Malaysia.
All are welcomed but do mind the local customs. Malays after all is a muslim majority country and most Muslims want it to remain with conservative values and will not compromise on things like same sex marriage, sodomy, homosexuality and other practices that we find abhorrent. If you are able to accept this about us, then we are more then happy to have you in our country. As they say, when in Rome...
Of course, when visiting or living in a country you should respect the local customs. No matter which country. If you are lucky to be able to choose a country you want to live in then you should respect its people etc..
wow thanks you so much for your kind comment! We are not uploading as much as we used to, but we are working on it. Thanks for subscribing! Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 you and Andrew Taylor are my go to channels for preparing for malaysia next year hopefully. Tysm for your thorough videos. May the universe take care of you. Btw youtube algorithm changed and youtube channels is what's key ATM. So creators are creating shorts of their long videos and using them to convert people to clicking to the long one. Just a thought Take care!
@@VirtousStoicThank you so much for your wonderful comment and useful tip concerning RUclips! Good luck with the preparations for Malaysia! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 society is building on giving. You gave us knowledge least we can do is offer any small info we can as a ty and carry your kindness forward. I am honored u replied. Have a wonderful day!
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, you are right. Prices are increasing everywhere. I guess if you could eat for so cheap at the food stalls then an increase of just RM1 would be noticeable. That's why we always prefer to budget more. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Hi, thanks for commenting! Yes visa's can be an expensive part of the whole move. Not just the visa itself, but the paperwork and optional agent will cost money. And not to forget prove of a certain amount of fixed deposit. The requirements for the retirement visa for Malaysia has changed at the end of 2023. We will be uploading a video this week. Perhaps this will give you more options too. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Very lavish life style....usd3500....many local only live with usd1000 only... Those who are not sure ask the local in the Kampong and LALA move or Grap employees....or go to any factories and ask the supervisor/s how much he earns and how much the factory hands are paid.......it is only one's choice on how to spend and live....your choice to spend more....good for the economy...
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, from our experience of living abroad foreigners tend to spend more. Perhaps is it the lifestyle you choose, but also we added costs that locals do not have such as international schooling, visa fees, back up travel expenses. But if USD 1000 is doable, then it makes it even more attractive for many people to consider Malaysia. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 I mean local...we live average lifestyle of usd1500...for a family of four...including moderate rental... many live below usd1000....The gap between rich and average is wide and similarly between average and low income group....
@@SyedAli-r4e Eventually it depends on where you decide to live if you are living by yourself or have children. Additionally, if you adjust your lifestyle you will decrease your monthly cost significantly. Our monthly cost is quite high since we are a family, need to consider school plus we added savings to our budget too.
Hi thank you for your comment. It’s tough if costs increase. We can imagine locals are struggling. We are experiencing high cost of living here in the Netherlands as well and many people don’t have enough at the end of the month. Take care! Matt and Monico
this is worldwide inflation, in Thailand butter one piece ringgit 35, petrol there also expensive. Tourists from Taiwan, HK China holiday here and they said their countries are more expensive, our cost per meal only their 1/3 of their cost. Praise our food cheap and taste good.
Hi, thank you for your questions. Unfortunately, we have no clue when it comes to boat license etc in Malaysia. We briefly looked some things up and found a Facebook page 'Malaysia Boating Journey'. It's a private group and mostly about owning or purchasing a boat, but perhaps the members of the group can help you out! Good luck! Matt and Monico
Hi, thank you for the time to comment. Great tip! We will definitely look into Johor Bahru as we haven't considered it at all yet. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Never buy property in Malaysia - difficult to sell. Local cant afford above 1mil ringgit. Not many foreigner will buy. Price of property doesnt go up and may drop. - even if price is up, foreign exchange always drop. Thus wont earn. - rent might be a better choice. Can choose different places to stay. Dont need to worry on fees like tax, maintenance, utilities etc. - will need a car to commute. - expenses might be cheap in Malaysia but depend on the standard of living. Change of mindset. Try to earn more and not to save more. Cheers.
Thank you for the valuable comment. It doesn't make it very attractive if the possibilities are limited for selling a house. We also suggest renting as you never know how things are in the near future. Great mindset. We aim to create income through different sources. In the past, we focused on just one but when conditions changed we had to start all over again. Thanks again for watching and taking the time to provide useful info! Matt and Monico
Can you buy a two bedroom condo as opposed to a house? Any price difference? I mean can the condo be a bit cheaper in terms of the minimum buying price for a house a set by the government for expats.
Hi thank you for watching our video and your question. Overall it's RM1million minimum if you want to buy property. However there are also (sky-rise) exceptions. Check out this article and the table at the end to see the difference: www.iproperty.com.my/guides/foreigners-buying-property-malaysia-complete-guide-12332 Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
Hi thanks for watching our video. There aren't much options when you want to live/retire in Malaysia, unless you meet their (high) financial requirements. We have the requirements for Malaysia and other SE asia countries in this video: ruclips.net/video/imvVvGWwKko/видео.html Hope this will answer your question. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Hi thank you for your comment. Yes to be honest, we haven't visited the east coast along the peninsula. We did visit Tioman, Kapas and Perhentian. The islands and water was stunning. Do you recommend any nice places in the east for living? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Hi thanks for the tip. Local markets are the best places to keep grocery bills low. We can imagine that once you are living in Malaysia a while you know where exactly you can find the stuff you need for cheaper. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Yes, just like Singapore you can get a long way with English.In the past the Britsch were present there, so that is why. This makes it easier to connect with people in Malaysia when you decide to live there. Thank for commenting! Matt and Monico
What kind of business do well as an expat over there in Malaysia? Or businesses of nomads? I’d rather be paid by the U.S but I don’t know what business is hot rn in Malaysia that could really sore! Please help ❤
Hi thanks for watching our video and leaving a comment. It’s a though question, if we had the final answer for this question then we would go immediately! 😊 best to look at what qualities you have and see in what way it can be applied. Remote working from the US is the best. You will be earning dollars and living in Malaysia. Check out expat Malaysia Facebook pages, you can find a lot of practical info there too. Good luck! Matt and Monico
Hi, thank you for your insights! Always good to hear other experiences and that it can be cheaper if you want. As for motorbike in KL, no we wouldn’t do that. The motorbike idea was for Penang, as we would rather live there then KL. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Hi, thanks for commenting! Yes, it is funny how it goes. There are people who want to move to one place, while those living there prefer to move away. If you can, aim for USA, where you have more chances for snow😃 Have a good day! Matt and Monico
If we are not wrong, all income created outside Malaysia will not be taxed. But always double check financial/tax advisor in Malaysia before actually going there. Cheers, Matt and Monico
how about dental cleaning and emergency hospital services, and women's beaty treatments such as laser hair removal, hairstyle and cut, and pedicures are they clean and good quality and what are the prices?
Malaysia has invested a lot to increase their quality in health care, they aim to attract more medical tourists. So you can imagine that the quality is pretty good, plus prices more interesting then in Europe or USA. As for beauty treatments etc, it all depends which clinic/salon you choose. You can go for 'cheap' which are reasonable local prices but if you head to the upscale salons then you will get more service then you are used to when coming from Europe. That is for sure. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Im a British citizen. I want to buy a property in Malaysia to rent out for 15 years and move in when i retire. I am a train driver and earn minimum £4000 a month so i know i wont earn the same in Malaysia. I want to move when i start getting my pension.
Hi thanks for leaving a comment! There is a quick guide on buying property in Malaysia: www.propertyguru.com.my/property-guides/complete-guide-to-foreigners-buying-property-in-malaysia-30975 We only mentioned that the value of the property must be a minimum of 1M Ringgit (depending on the state) plus we read that you have to pay 25% tax on your rental income. But make sure you dive deeper into this topic (connect with other who have done this already via facebook for instance) before making final plans. Good luck! Matt and Monico
Nice video. I have visited Malaysia several times, 20yrs ago. The country impressed me. It was a modern, clean and serious country. Also the people were really friendly. Greetings from Greece
Hi, thanks for commenting on our video. Yes we fully agree with you. It has all the ingredients for a country to move to. Greece is beautiful too by the way, and we only encountered incredibly friendly people when we visited this beautiful country. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
20 years ago was a lifetime away. the WORLD has changed in that time. your view is pointless. no one is living in 2004 today.
Im a malaysian and my girlfriend of close to two years is half greek) and before that I was with a turkish girl from Izmir (Smyrna😂)
well we have a city of Malakas (Mallacca/Melaka) here ... so ...
My grocery bills are less than RM800 a month for two persons and we got the usual beef chicken pork fish veg etc
Hi, thank you for your comment! That is even more than half of what we estimated. Good to know! We found groceries difficult to budget since we tend to choose Western products as well when abroad, such as oatmeal, almonds, cheese, and yogurt. But we can imagine that once you live in a country for a longer period of time, grocery bills will decrease over time once you find a 'routine' and are familiar with the products. Cheers! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 Western products are more expensive due to import tax and what not. The demand isn't really there since locals do not consume these products. They are more into their local cuisine which is heavy on their local pork, fish, poultry, and rice.
Thank you for the video! I’m a Malaysian living in the States. Cant wait to retire in Malaysia 🇲🇾
Hi, thank you for watching and commenting! We can imagine you are looking forward to heading back. Wishing you all the best! Matt and Monico
Sama.
-- which US State btw & circa when are You thinking would be a good time to move back/retire...?
Cheers for all the useful information, I love that you divided the video into simple to understand information and showed us the cost. I am going to be a solo traveler, planning on staying no more than 6 months (since that's usually how long US citizens can stay in most country without a visa) and my eating habits consist of potatoes, coffee, rarely meat, usually some vegetables and not a lot of take out food due to allergies. I heard Malaysia is a great place for Americans to move and that its safe. For work, I have experience in digital marketing but also in the hospitality sector , jewelry design as well as the spiritual sector (tarot reading, energy reading)and speak 2 language fluently (English and Spanish, though can't see Spanish being very useful in Malaysia haha)
Thank you again for making the information so easy to digest! Def gonna be following this channel! Blessing to your family and you🙏🏽
Thank you so much for letting us know that you thought our video is useful. Really appreciate the feedback! Malaysia is a very good option for solo travelers, you will feel very comfortable there. Not only do most people in Malaysia speak english (even paper work is in english) but you will meet a lot of friendly people. You can stay for three months straight in Malaysia and if you want to extend the visa again for 3 months you can do a boarder crossing to Singapore or Thailand. Buses and trains work very well in Malaysia.
Malaysia is a good starting point if you are digital marketing. You will get a lot of inspiration here and learn a lot of new things.
As for food....enough choice, don't worry about not finding anything you like. Rice and noodles are often the substitute for patato but you can easily explore new dishes in the many food courts often located on the top floor in the malls. Try the roti canai (bread) it is delicious! Have fun planning your trip to Malaysia and lots of luck once there! Matt and Monico
Most countries do not allow 6 months btw. Most are 3 months even for US citizens. (and total 3 for all of EU/Schengen in 6 month period.)
Malaysia is very clean, food is good and the price is right. Malaysian and more honest. Compare to Vietnam where trash can be found everywhere, sellers are dishonest, cheating and price are increased from month to month.
Hi thank you for your comment. We haven't been to Vietnam yet, so we can not compare. For us, Malaysia feels very organised and proper, especially if you compare it to Indonesia. Perhaps this is also the case for Vietnam. I guess, every country has its own attraction. For a sense of stability I would suggest Malaysia, for a bit of an adventurous feel and being out of your comfort zone, countries such as Vietnam or Indonesia is more appropriate. Do you have any plans visiting or living in Malaysia? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
We hold steadfast to religion, be it Islam, Buddhism, hinduism, Christianity. Cheating means bad karma.
why are malaysian so rude to its neighbouring countries?
Can’t comment on that….but perhaps it’s a common thing between countries. Dutch aren’t rude to the Belgians but we do make fun of them while the Belgians think we are loud and perhaps even rude
I think so too but my favorite is thailand for sure.
I'm moving to Sarawak Malaysia 3 years time 😊 with my wife she from Malaysia...
That are exciting plans! Wishing you all the best. Cheers Matt and Monico
@@smilangkendu5941
Sarawak is a relaxing place.
Fantastic content. You're both a pleasure to listen to! I'm planning on staying in Malaysia in 2024. Not sure which area yet - I'll probably check out KL, Ipoh and Penang and see which I like best.
Hi, thank you for your lovely feedback! We are sure you are going to love staying in Malaysia. We will be uploading a new video on housing where we look at all three: KL, Ipoh and Penang. Hopefully, this video can help you to make a decision. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
If you love scuba diving and fishing and also islands hopping, you may like to check out Kuala Terengganu (KT) it is a state of Malaysia on the east coast facing South China Seas. There are several islands nearby with crystal clear water and corals. It was rated as one of the beautiful islands in the world. It is much cheaper than in major cities like KL Ipoh or Penang. It is 2 hours' drive (210km) to Thailand visit neighboring country.
@@MDin5001 will keep this in mind, tyvm!
Great video and information. Being someone who lived in countries, East and West, I would say Malaysia is a good country to stay for both locals and expats depend on choices of your lifestyles. Welcome to Malaysia. You will not regret.
Thank you! Yes, Malaysia is high on our list for moving abroad. When we lived there in the past we really enjoyed it. It is a really nice country to be able to live in. Thank you for commenting! Cheers. Matt and Monico
expats is an insult to non white people, it was made by white people to put themselves above others while degrading them.... if you move to live in another country you are an immigrant.... full stop.
*Welcome to Malaysia, Malaysian likes to lepak2 at mamak restaurant drink teh Tarik - you can joining me to or any Msian if you likes , is no problem for Malaysian 🇲🇾❤️💝💖🧡💙🧡💖💝❤️🇲🇾*
Hi! Thank you so much for commenting and your warm welcome.....We wouldn't mind eating together and having teh tarik😃 Food and drinks bring people together🇲🇾 🇳🇱 Cheers! Matt and Monico
Thanks for an interesting video Matt & Monico. We have been to Malaysia couple times and also considering Malaysia as a possible home/base to spend more time in Asia. Our experiences in Malaysia so far has only been good and Penang would also be our preference to stay. Think your budget is very fair and from what we have seen can absolutely be done. What I do like about most rental properties is that they come fully furnished and when you still finding your feet that is probably the way to go.
Hi, thank you for commenting and sharing your ideas! Yes we totally agree. Fully furnished is the best option if you are just starting out. We also learnt from past experience that there is a chance that you will moving again soon enough. Once you know more about the country/city/island you learn about the areas then it is easier to move if you don't have to bring all your furniture with you. Plus moving involves a lot of costs. It can save you some hassle if you don't have to budget for furniture yet. Thanks for watching and hope you will be able to find a nice home in Malaysia! Matt and Monico
Yup.I live in a fishing village in Phillipines.$275 rent. food 300.
You might also consider Johor Bahru, the main advantage being the proximity to Singapore. We lived there for four years, and it's a very livable city. It has grown quickly in the past few years, and will soon have a rapid rail connection with Singapore.
Hi, thank you for your comment and suggestion! We will definitely check it out. We think it is always good to check out cities that are more down on the list of popularity. They might not seem that great initially but once living there you will discover their charm. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
I'm a Pakistani Muslim but if the food is not halal it doesn't matter I just don't eat pork
@@SyedAli-r4e The Majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims, you always get halal food. Secondly, the information being provided is about the cost of living that caters to the needs of all - you don't bring in your personal religion-based issues to the public.
@@honestyfirst2165 cool
@@SyedAli-r4e "...if the food is not halal it doesn't matter I just don't eat pork": wow, sir, that makes you infinitely more flexible (and reasonable) than many of the local Muslims. 👏. But with halal food being so readily available, it shouldn't be a problem anyway.
11/28/2023; 9:30 a.m. This video is excellent! It is balanced & informative for any who are researching studying and/or working in Malaysia. Thank you so much for the effort you put into this project! 😊.
Hi there! Thank you so much for the great positive feedback. We are really happy to hear that you liked the video and appreciate your comment! Cheers Matt and Monico
Thanks for the video. Looking forward to seeing the future video on visas.
Thanks for your comment! Yes, our next video will be on visas for Malaysia. Let's see if there are more options then the digital nomad visa or working visa. Cheers! Matt and Monico
me and my wife living and working in Bintulu , Sarawak for 6 years now and it not so cheap in Sarawak or Malaysia , groceries -+RM 1500 , rent RM 2000 for a three bedroom house, electricity RM 360 per month , unifi RM 260 , we stay here on a work visa, if you want to get citizenship ( Malaysia my second home) it very expensive , house of RM 350000, also bank accounts of at least RM 450000 deposit and a monthly external income of RM 10000.
Also the medical services not so high standard . But i love Sarawak , so safe and people very friendly , west Malaysia people different , the best city will be Kuching , love the City .
Our daughter born in Bintulu , Sarawak and she cannot get citizenship , citizenship rules very strict in Malaysia .
Hi, thank you for commenting on our video. Your groceries, rent and utilities seem less then what we budgeted however yes, if you add the requirements for a long term visa then the costs will increase. We don't consider this as monthly costs, but more financial requirements you will need if you want to move to Malaysia on the MySecondHomeVisa. Unfortunately the requirements for the MM2H have changed this last year and you need to have a pretty good monthly income to become eligible. Getting a citizenship for Malaysia is definitely hard, but that is the case for many countries even though you are born there.
We have been considering Sarawak too. Kuching is a wonderful city. Thanks again for your info! Matt and Monico
Bintulu n Miri are known to be expensive n have high standard of living. Kuching city is still affordable n popular too among expatriates...
@@makethemove101 i bought house in Davao City , Philippines , my wife Filipino , for our budget it will be better and cost of living lower , Philippines can also be expensive if you live a Western lifestyle . The house is a boarding house with a shop and will generate good monthly income .
also the different Visas and pension Visa more affordable , many expats prefer to pension in Philippines .
@@margaretekalaiabdullah8745 Thank you so much for your comment! Kuching is a great option to move to. It seems it has a lot to offer for those who don't want to live in a huge city and be close to nature. Cheers, Matt and Monico
I visited Kuala Lumpur for 2 days last year and absolutely loved the city and people. The Batu caves was very interesting.
Hi! Thanks for sharing your experience of KL. It is a wonderful city to visit. Hopefully you have the chance to visit again, and see more of Malaysia. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Lived there for 5 years when I was younger due to my dad's job (KL). Never had any issues every treated me well. Really miss it to be honest.
Hi thank you for your comment. I can fully understand. I lived in KL when I was younger for 4 years. But my dad’s job sent us back to the Netherlands and I missed Malaysia a lot. I also only have good memories. Have you ever been back? Thanks for sharing your experience! Monico
@@makethemove101 I recently got married and have thought about taking my wife. Nothing in concrete yet though :)
If you like lay back environment with beautiful islands, amazing sunsets, chilling mountain side and very close to the tropical rainforests, Kota Kinabalu will be a good choice.
Hi, thank you very much for your comment. Kota Kinabalu sound good! We visited Kota Kinabalu and the beautiful nature around it and loved it! Cheers, Matt and Monico
It’s in Sarawak and they have a very cheap permanent residency scheme for foreigners.
Lovely place too .
@@joeblue2492 thank you so much for the info! I can imagine it is a popular choice for foreigners too
Thank you for taking me virtually to Malaysia and sharing many useful information - following you from East Africa
You are very much welcome! Are you considering moving or do you, like us enjoy checking out how living in other countries can be? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 both, thanks
@makethemove101 Yes, I am considering moving and will continue following your videos.
Great information guys thank you so much for sharing this. We also do a monthly budget video, nice to see the comparison. Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico. 🇲🇽✌🏼🥰
Hi thanks for watching our video. We checked out your channel. Mexico looks great, wishing you all the best living there! Matt and Monico
Thanks for your valueable information.... Alhamdullilah Syukur... Sgt Indah dan Aman Damai Malaysia ku...
Terima kasih banyak! Malaysia is a beautiful country. Matt and Monico
Indeed, we must appreciate and treasure our country 😊
Thanks for your video. Very good content. I am previously from Ipoh and then moved to Singapore for my college and now a US citizen in California. I am also thinking of retiring in Ipoh to be near my brother who has a medical practice as I am older now. Still I have to consider the humid weather. Thanks again.
Hi! Thank you for watching our video and leaving a positive comment. We are happy to hear you liked it. Weather has a huge influence on our daily life, especially in the tropic with the humidity and everything that comes with it. Good luck on making your plans and at the end it is nice to be close to family. Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I would say Johor/Johor Bahru is quite underrated too as a potential city to live in Malaysia. Its almost unspoken of on RUclips.
In the coming years, imho its going to rise as one of the most bustling and prosperous cities in Malaysia, due to its closeness with Singapore and increased economic activity and improving transportation access between both.
Its already looking very promising now but in 5 years things are going to be much better, I think, inshAllah.
Another city that has a very good potential is Malacca, due to its proximity to KL and Johor/Singapore.
Thank you for your useful tip. We never considered Johor Bahru or malacca yet but have heard many positive things so far. Cheers Matt and Monico
Johor Bharu is slightly expensive ( almost as KL) due to its proximity to Singapore. Else it is a very good location to stay.
I’m so moving there in a few years when I hit empty nester status I’ll live like an absolute king, holy shit!
🤣 thanks for watching our video and commenting!
Outside KL, one could also check old rustic towns such as Ipoh & Sungai Petani ...
Sungai Petani, for example ...
Accommodation is cheap ...
International school is abundant nearby ...
And excellent healthcare facilities all around ...
And it is just 30 minutes to Penang Island (non-peak hours, off course) ...
Thank you for your suggestion! We heard a lot of positive things about Ipoh. We haven't checked Sungai Petani yet. At the end we believe you need to check out several places out before fully deciding on where to live 'permanently'. Malaysia is so diverse and has lots to offer. Cheers Matt and Monico
Check out Taiping in Perak state, the wettest town in Malaysia and also the town with the most historical firsts in Malaysia 😉
The most blessed thing about Malaysia, you will never have to worry about earthquakes, tsunami or typhoons.
We can imagine who have experienced one of those three, would consider you point. Thanks!
There are floods.
Hope u guys will be able to stay here for long time. Welcome to Malaysia friends
Thank you very much! That is very kind. Matt and Monico
Rule of thumb, spending on local product especially the fresh ingredient and will save your wallet tremendously. Import product will cost much more therefore it is recommended to adjust your dietery. It is interesting to have a fusion recipe of your own that suits your taste bud.
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, local products are the best, no matter which country. But you know human nature.....food is something cultural. Every now and then the body (or more the mind) is craving 'home food'. There is a reason why there are so many Chinese shops around the world. In the Netherlands, we have a lot of Surinam, Chinese and Indonesian stores. However, once living in a country for a longer period you will learn more about local products and how to prepare them the way you like it. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Rupiah is Indonesian currency. MALAYSIA currency is RINGGIT😢
Hi thanks for your comment. Yes, we are aware. Can't change it once the video is uploaded. Won't make this mistake again! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Wow, that's quite enormous amount of positive informations that would surely drive back all the brain drain back to Malaysia especially with the current news about technology & semiconductor investment flowing into this part of the world. Thank you....sweet couple ❤
Thanks for comment! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 you're welcome, MeL 👍
Thank you for your informative program - every tid-bit helps for getting prepared to live in the best country in the world ! 👍
Hi, thank you for your comment. We are always happy to hear if our video has been helpful. You must be excited to start moving and living in Malaysia. Hope your move goes smoothly so you can enjoy Malaysia to the fullest and call it your new home soon. Cheers! Matt and Monico
And Kuala Lumpur is one of the Cheapest places to fly out of to all the neighboring countries. Even the more distant ones like the philippine and Nepal.
Hi, thank you for your comment. Yes it's an excellent hub for traveling further into Asia. We have used KLIA as a transit many times. This makes Malaysia even more interesting as a place to live. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
You cannot get the digital nomad visa if you are not making more than 2000 USD per month. Also you have to show bank statement for one year and payslips.
Hi, thank for you comment. Yes, we didn't go into detail about the visas in this video. We didn't want to make it too long. But we mentioned all the requirements in a later video: ruclips.net/video/a_D40S-CJXQ/видео.html Cheers! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101pp
This after too many hippies taking advantage of living cheap in Malaysia.
Wow, Malaysia seems like a budget-friendly destination! Considering the cost of living per month, it's definitely tempting to make the move. 🤔💼
Yes Malaysia has become a popular destination to move and travel to. The cost of living is very doable but as a country it is also a wonderful place to live
i have been there last month, had a great time )
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, Malaysia is a great place to visit and to live. Happy to hear you had a great time! Any places that you really loved and recommend visiting? Cheers! Matt and Monico
Great job, good energy, and actually good information on what it costs… I am nearing retirement and I am definitely looking at Malaysia and Philippines, Panama, and The DR, the USA has just become so dam expensive, worked all my life and the thought of living very poor is just not appealing… I will be watching you two, best of luck with all your endeavors…
Thank you for watching our video and taking the time to leave a positive comment. Retiring in an other country often involves certain financial requirements, but if you can meet them then often life will be more comfortable. We covered a bit of visa requirements for several asian countries in an other video. Perhaps this will be helpful too ruclips.net/video/imvVvGWwKko/видео.html Wishing you all the best as you explore your retirement options. Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I live i Toronto Ontario Canada planning on coming to come to Malaysia in 4 months nice helpful video
Thank you for your positive feedback. Planning to live long term or a couple of months? Cheers Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 yes wow thanks for getting back yes I need a break from all the hustle and bustle so I think I would first time need 2 month stay than return to Toronto then we'll see
How long have you guys been there
If you are thinking of 2 months in Malaysia, then I would suggest staying in different places. Malaysia is so diverse, you can easily enjoy yourself traveling around for 2 months. But if you want to stay longer in a place, then Air BNB would be the option for you considering you would go for short term rental.
Matt lived in KL for a year, Monico lived there when she was 8 years old (so a long time ago) But we have visited Malaysia many times afterwards
As a solo traveler, I may survive with 1,500 dollars per month. Hopefully ❤
Hi, thank you for commenting! Yes, being solo does make costs of living somewhat lower. You can go for a studio or a one bedroom condominium, however if you want luxury then expect to still pay around 500USD a month in Kuala Lumpur. And as a traveler you don't need to worry about visa cost. You can enter Malaysia for free and stay there for 3 months. Are you planning to go to Malaysia? Happy travels! Matt and Monico
Top places in malaysia for expats.
1. Penang
2. Kota Kinabalu
3. KL
Thanks! We can imagine that other places are going to more popular among expats. Ipoh is getting more popular too.
Next checkout Kuantan (Pahang) or its nearby town of Balok, Cherating, Paka or Kemaman. Melaka and Johor Bahru too.
@@ashtriana1 jb accommodation is higher than kl.
@@ashtriana1 Thank you for your tips! There must be so many places that are beautiful but still overlooked in Malaysia! There is a lot to explore! Have a good day, Matt and Monico
@@keangwooichoo6138 Why is that? Because it Johor Bahru near Singapore?
I would recommend to stay in Ipoh... in between Kuala Lupur and Penang. It is cheaper and the town is calm even though on mid day weekdays.. Food are good and utilizes such as broadband internet is at par with in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Hi thank you for watching our video and your valuable tip! Yes, the more we read and hear about Ipoh the more interesting it has become. We can imagine that it is a great place to live. Cheers, Matt and Monico
I live on USA's social security pension and another pension as regular income sources. I also make investments in securities. All my income is taxed by my government. Information about my potential Maylaysian taxes is difficult to obtain. The only way I could be relieved of my US taxes would be to renounce my US citizenship. I would have to obtain other citizenship in order to do that. That would take many years, ordinarily. How can I learn how Maylaysia would treat me with regard to taxes if I were only a permanent resident - so that I could buy a house or condo?
Hi thanks for watching our video. Yes we heard that US citizens will pay tax despite not living in the USA. You will of course need to pay tax when settling in Malaysia. To get the correct information we suggest reaching out to a tax professional or accountant that specializes in these matters. You can find a lot of information and contacts through Malaysia expat forums. Sorry we couldn't give you details info but we hope our suggestions will help! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Where are or what are some expat forums you suggest?
In Batu Ferringhi,Penang you can rent a nice condo ( walking distance to the beach) with nice gym n swimming pool for just300 to 500 usd
Hi thank you for commenting and valuable input. Malaysia has a lot to offer when it comes to housing for any budget. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Thank you great video and I loved the information about the 1 year visa
Thank you! Always so nice to hear that we were able to provide useful information. We also have a video on Visas for Malaysia, just in case you need more information. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Malaysia is wonderful if you can afford the high cost of a long term visa. Daily living costs are reasonable but the cost of the visa is not.
Thank you very much for your valuable comment. The costs of visa itself but perhaps the costs that come with it such as agency costs are something that is often overlooked. That's why we prefer to budget more to be able to handle unexpected 'miscalculations'. Have a nice day! Matt and Monico
Thanks for the information. Very helpful. What about health services? Do we need to have additional Insurance like Southern Cross here in New Zealand?
Hi! Thank you for your comment. You need to have an insurance that offer plans for expats. The well known players are for instance AllianzCare, Cigna and ALC. Hope we have answered your question. Cheers, Matt and Monico
You can save a lot if you guys living in the outskirt of town or rural area. In rural area, you need to have 1 scooter & learn local language. The air quality also better & enjoy quiet surrounding..
Hi, thank you for your useful comment. We will keep this in mind. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Can you do a comparison of Indonesia vs Malaysia (and include health care & health insurance)?
That's a good idea. We will keep that in mind. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers, Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 Thank you!
I have an older parent that will need options that are too expensive in the U.S. (where older people are "warehoused" because the U.S. culture does not revere old people). Any chance you would do something on options for senior living options?
I am not a Malaysian, however, I did put a down payment on a Mivi (local decent car and much cheaper than a Toyota, Honda or Mazda) there. Perhaps if you need a loan, then you cannot buy without a job or are a resident there. It's also VERY hard for a US citizen to open a bank account there.
Hi thank you for sharing your experience! From the info we gathered, it seemed very easy to open a bank account and to buy a car. But in practice, it is a whole different story. Thanks again for commenting! Matt and Monico
thank you guys so much for the video, wish u joyful & peaceful life
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! Matt and Monico
You are most welcomed guys..the most diverse etnicity in the region..haha
Thank you! Malaysia has always been very diverse and we can imagine that Malaysia is getting more popular for people to move to if possible. Thank you for commenting! Matt and Monico
Good vlog One thing peculiar at the start of the video... Malaysia a good place
Good vlog. Only thing peculiar is that at the start of the video Malaysia a good place to retire or to move in... a diverse country... and you showed the probosque monkey 😄😄😄😄😄😄
Thank you for your comment. Not sure what you are referring to but no intention to offend anybody 💖 Enjoy your day! Matt and Monic
Lovley vid and breakdown of cost of living enjoy your stay
Thank you for watching our video and taking the time to comment. Happy to hear you like it! Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Welcome to KL, Malaysia. Thank you for this wonderful video together with the insightful information . Happy New Year 2024 to you guys.
Hi! Thank you for taking the time to let us know you liked our video! Happy new year too. All the best for 2024! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 Thank you. 😀
can you make a video on the BEST GYMS in malaysia, or at least in your locale? i know the country is large of course but some top gyms would be nice to see here. a lot of young ppl are into fitness (i am nearly 50) so this would be a nice video that i think no one has made yet...
Hi, thanks for your suggestion. We know that in KL you can choose from upscale gyms to regular gyms, it all depends on how much you want to spend. We can imagine this is the same for Penang. But if we have the possibility we could make a video, we can imagine a lot of people would want to know more about the gyms. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
Welcome to Malaysia =)
Thank you for your friendly comment! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Great video, thank you!
Thank you for taking you time to let us know, really appreciate it! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 make malaysia your home guys, malaysians welcomes good people like you
Malaysia is not perfect but it is a charming, less polluted and peaceful country.. Standard of living is affordable..gas and petrol charges is the cheapest among the SEA countries.. Btw, you may consider interesting places like Malacca and Johor Bahru too..
Hi thank you for watching and commenting on our video. Every country has its pros and cons right? At the end if you are able to choose where you want to live then the pros should out way the cons. Besides being an affordable place to live, luckily Malaysia has more to offer for a large group of people. Thanks for the tip on malacca and Johor Bahru! Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Actually .. Petrol is cheaper in Brunei :)
I read it is one of the most polluted places?
@@zz23-de6zq Most polluted cities in the world are Chiengmai, BKK and Jakarta
@@rickyp6815 nope
I don't fully support the NEP policy simply because I feel that, after more than 50 years, the poor Malays, especially those in the countryside, have not benefited much. Most went to a certain PM's cronies, like Syed Mokhtar, one of the richest billionaires in the world.
A friend now visiting New Zealand said eggs are NZD1 each, uncooked, tomato NZD14 per kilo, sweet potatoes, NZD13+.
I have only this to add. We in Malaysia should thank China for supplying us with cheap agricultural produce and household products and also thank the Malays, without whom, there would be no petrol subsidies and price controls on essential goods.
Hi, thank you for your comment and insight. Corruption is always killing however hard to tackle, in any country. The diversity in Malaysia is beautiful but I can imagine with unequal opportunities and benefits it can cause more devision among the population. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Yes, with 1 million ringgit, you can get a nice house, but 1 million rupiah, you probably can get a fishhead curry meal for 2..
Yes we have received a lot of comments about our mistake but yours is probably the funniest....🤣
😝😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🙃
😂😂😂
Careful with your comments the hooligan ppl will come after u 😂😂😂
The currency of Malaysia is the ringgit, which is abbreviated as RM or MYR.
Hi! Yes we are aware that Matt said Rupiah instead of Ringgit when talking about housing. The video was already uploaded when we realized the mistake. A huge slip of the tongue of course. 😔I guess, after doing videos on Indonesia we are still used to saying rupiah instead of ringgit. But good thing that the mistake is getting noticed....😉Cheers! Matt and Monico
MYR is currency code use internationally. RM is use internally eg. £5 = GBP5. So RM 5 = MYR5
@@amrimd73 thank you for your clarification. It seems that it is used interchangeably. The currency convertor uses MYR while when looking at housing it is RM. Cheers! Matt and Monico
sekarang mata uang pun diklaim sama malaysia wkwkwk
RM is stand for Ringgit Malaysia...
its good for those interested to do business in Malaysia.
Hi, thanks for you comment. Yes we can imagine that Malaysia is an interesting place to invest considering it being a pretty stable country in Asia. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Which websites did you use to check those schools? you are the first RUclipsr I found that include schools. Also, can the nomad visa be extended?
Hi, thanks again for watching our video! The useful website on international schools is www.international-schools-database.com/ The nomad visa can be extended once for 1 more year. Hope we have been of some help! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
All such videos concentrate on west Malaysia and ignore east Malaysia. East Malaysia is even more diverse. Their retirement program is easier. Cost of living is much lower and life is much less stressful.
Hi, thank you for your valuable comment. Maybe the reason is because the accessibility, infrastructure and facilities are more a present in West Malaysia, making it interesting for those considering moving to Malaysia. East Malaysia is beautiful, has a lot of nature and less bigger cities. We can imagine life goes at a slower pace than in West Malaysia. You might be able to compare this 'trend' the same as Bali vs. the rest of Indonesia. Foreigners tend to focus a lot on Bali because there is a 'comfortable' balance between local and expat life. The same for west vs east Malaysia perhaps? Cheers Matt and Monico
I am local+can live with usd250/month..we need to asjust our lifestyle to minimise overspending.. Cheers
That is true. You can set a budget and make sure your lifestyle is within it. Thanks for sharing! Matt and monico
Damnn, Getting all this in just $650/month is crazy which means in Kaula Lumpur you can live very comfortforly in just $2000/month.
Hi! Thanks for commenting. Eventually your monthly budget will depend on your lifestyle, I guess. In a video on housing in Malaysia (ruclips.net/video/itotkUNoXlY/видео.html) we only selected houses that were a min. of 100sqm plus two rooms. You will of course fall into a more expensive category unlike those who are happy with a studio. Are you considering living in KL? Cheers, Matt and Monico
Wow..... let's move to my hometown Kuching. Subscribed done 🤗🌹
thank you for subscribing ❤! Kuching is on our list!
All the best for both of you
Thank you for your kind words! Have a good day! Matt and Monico
1. Choose a town/city that has
i. a highway passing nearby
ii. rail with frequent connection to KL
iii. good private hospitals
iv. private schools
v. easy connection to KLIA, by train/s or flight.
vi. 5G.
vii. A university that allows the public to be a member of its library.
2. The requirement for a foreigner to purchase a house cannot be RM1 million. In some towns, there are no houses that cost that much. This condition should vary from state to state.
3. If you decide to live outside KL, you will need a car. A good cheap one is the Myvi.
4. You'll need medical insurance to get a long term visa.
5. With USD3,500, you'll lead an upper middle class life in Malaysia.
Hi, thanks for you input! Appreciate your insight and additional info! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Thank you for such a great video. Full of useful info :)
Hi thank you so much for your nice comment. It always makes us very happy to hear that we have provided useful info. Have a great day! Matt and Monico
All are welcomed but do mind the local customs. Malays after all is a muslim majority country and most Muslims want it to remain with conservative values and will not compromise on things like same sex marriage, sodomy, homosexuality and other practices that we find abhorrent. If you are able to accept this about us, then we are more then happy to have you in our country. As they say, when in Rome...
Of course, when visiting or living in a country you should respect the local customs. No matter which country. If you are lucky to be able to choose a country you want to live in then you should respect its people etc..
❤New susbriber, hope you didn't abandon your channel. Amazing videos
Tysm❤
wow thanks you so much for your kind comment! We are not uploading as much as we used to, but we are working on it. Thanks for subscribing! Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 you and Andrew Taylor are my go to channels for preparing for malaysia next year hopefully. Tysm for your thorough videos. May the universe take care of you. Btw youtube algorithm changed and youtube channels is what's key ATM. So creators are creating shorts of their long videos and using them to convert people to clicking to the long one. Just a thought
Take care!
@@VirtousStoicThank you so much for your wonderful comment and useful tip concerning RUclips! Good luck with the preparations for Malaysia! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 society is building on giving. You gave us knowledge least we can do is offer any small info we can as a ty and carry your kindness forward. I am honored u replied. Have a wonderful day!
Right now the food price keeps increasing but I guess it's the same in other countries too.
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, you are right. Prices are increasing everywhere. I guess if you could eat for so cheap at the food stalls then an increase of just RM1 would be noticeable. That's why we always prefer to budget more. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Great personal insights. Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to let us know you liked our video! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I would like to but a long term visa is really costly. The financial qualifications wer very steep.
Hi, thanks for commenting! Yes visa's can be an expensive part of the whole move. Not just the visa itself, but the paperwork and optional agent will cost money. And not to forget prove of a certain amount of fixed deposit. The requirements for the retirement visa for Malaysia has changed at the end of 2023. We will be uploading a video this week. Perhaps this will give you more options too. Cheers, Matt and Monico
To get low cost groceries items in Malaysia country are from Sri Ternak supermarket
Hi! Thank you for your useful tip! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Another one important thing is - no earth quake
Good point! Thanks for your comment. Matt and Monico
Great video and very realistic
Hi! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Happy to hear you liked our video. Have a great day, Matt and Monico
It is cheaper than Dhaka where costs are skyrocketing due to inflation and financial mismanagement
Thanks for you comment! Didn't realise that...meaning that Dhaka might be even more expensive to live in then Europe
@@makethemove101More expensive than Malaysia. All prices increasing in Dhaka
Very lavish life style....usd3500....many local only live with usd1000 only...
Those who are not sure ask the local in the Kampong and LALA move or Grap employees....or go to any factories and ask the supervisor/s how much he earns and how much the factory hands are paid.......it is only one's choice on how to spend and live....your choice to spend more....good for the economy...
Hi, thank you for your comment! Yes, from our experience of living abroad foreigners tend to spend more. Perhaps is it the lifestyle you choose, but also we added costs that locals do not have such as international schooling, visa fees, back up travel expenses. But if USD 1000 is doable, then it makes it even more attractive for many people to consider Malaysia. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
@makethemove101 I mean local...we live average lifestyle of usd1500...for a family of four...including moderate rental... many live below usd1000....The gap between rich and average is wide and similarly between average and low income group....
Yes I'm hoping I can live with 1000 us per month u have any advice for me please
@@SyedAli-r4e Eventually it depends on where you decide to live if you are living by yourself or have children. Additionally, if you adjust your lifestyle you will decrease your monthly cost significantly. Our monthly cost is quite high since we are a family, need to consider school plus we added savings to our budget too.
So I'm a single not so religious so I'm going to be looking for nite life
so details your budget list. due to ringgit fall, cost of living a bit high for local in malaysia..
Hi thank you for your comment. It’s tough if costs increase. We can imagine locals are struggling. We are experiencing high cost of living here in the Netherlands as well and many people don’t have enough at the end of the month. Take care! Matt and Monico
this is worldwide inflation, in Thailand butter one piece ringgit 35, petrol there also expensive. Tourists from Taiwan, HK China holiday here and they said their countries are more expensive, our cost per meal only their 1/3 of their cost. Praise our food cheap and taste good.
Can i keep and pilot my own boat in penang? know anything about Mooring? licencing?
Hi, thank you for your questions. Unfortunately, we have no clue when it comes to boat license etc in Malaysia. We briefly looked some things up and found a Facebook page 'Malaysia Boating Journey'. It's a private group and mostly about owning or purchasing a boat, but perhaps the members of the group can help you out! Good luck! Matt and Monico
Podría compartir la web donde buscar las escuelas internacionales. Gracias
We used this one: www.international-schools-database.com/
Johor Bahru should be top choice because you have the best of both worlds.
Hi, thank you for the time to comment. Great tip! We will definitely look into Johor Bahru as we haven't considered it at all yet. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
I'm planning to move there
That's exciting! Good luck and hope you will feel at home in not time. Matt and Monico
Never buy property in Malaysia
- difficult to sell. Local cant afford above 1mil ringgit. Not many foreigner will buy. Price of property doesnt go up and may drop.
- even if price is up, foreign exchange always drop. Thus wont earn.
- rent might be a better choice. Can choose different places to stay. Dont need to worry on fees like tax, maintenance, utilities etc.
- will need a car to commute.
- expenses might be cheap in Malaysia but depend on the standard of living.
Change of mindset. Try to earn more and not to save more. Cheers.
Thank you for the valuable comment. It doesn't make it very attractive if the possibilities are limited for selling a house. We also suggest renting as you never know how things are in the near future.
Great mindset. We aim to create income through different sources. In the past, we focused on just one but when conditions changed we had to start all over again. Thanks again for watching and taking the time to provide useful info! Matt and Monico
Can you buy a two bedroom condo as opposed to a house? Any price difference? I mean can the condo be a bit cheaper in terms of the minimum buying price for a house a set by the government for expats.
Hi thank you for watching our video and your question. Overall it's RM1million minimum if you want to buy property. However there are also (sky-rise) exceptions. Check out this article and the table at the end to see the difference: www.iproperty.com.my/guides/foreigners-buying-property-malaysia-complete-guide-12332 Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I moved to kuantan in 2021. USA.
And have you settled in nice after 3 years?
Penang is also suitable to be considered as a place to live
Yes definitely! It is very popular for those coming to and living in Malaysia. Do you live in Penang?
How does a retired military guy with 20 years. Go about living in Malaysia. What are the qualifications to live there?
Hi thanks for watching our video. There aren't much options when you want to live/retire in Malaysia, unless you meet their (high) financial requirements. We have the requirements for Malaysia and other SE asia countries in this video: ruclips.net/video/imvVvGWwKko/видео.html Hope this will answer your question. Have a lovely day! Matt and Monico
I am surprised that you are not looking at the east coast of Malaysia. A long stretch of beach......
Hi thank you for your comment. Yes to be honest, we haven't visited the east coast along the peninsula. We did visit Tioman, Kapas and Perhentian. The islands and water was stunning. Do you recommend any nice places in the east for living? Have a good day! Matt and Monico
Malaysia is heaven
Thanks for commenting! Have a lovely day, Matt and Monico
I have cost of living spreadsheet. If you an expat, you can justify your salary if you want to work and stay in Malaysia.
Hi thank for the info! Cheers, Matt and Monico
Go to wet market example chowkit not supermarket, cheaper.
Hi thanks for the tip. Local markets are the best places to keep grocery bills low. We can imagine that once you are living in Malaysia a while you know where exactly you can find the stuff you need for cheaper. Cheers! Matt and Monico
Wow I did not know it was a English speaking country.
Yes, just like Singapore you can get a long way with English.In the past the Britsch were present there, so that is why. This makes it easier to connect with people in Malaysia when you decide to live there. Thank for commenting! Matt and Monico
@@makethemove101 Nice Channel by the way. I give you a Sub.
What kind of business do well as an expat over there in Malaysia? Or businesses of nomads? I’d rather be paid by the U.S but I don’t know what business is hot rn in Malaysia that could really sore! Please help ❤
Hi thanks for watching our video and leaving a comment. It’s a though question, if we had the final answer for this question then we would go immediately! 😊 best to look at what qualities you have and see in what way it can be applied. Remote working from the US is the best. You will be earning dollars and living in Malaysia. Check out expat Malaysia Facebook pages, you can find a lot of practical info there too. Good luck! Matt and Monico
Great video
Hi, happy to hear you like the video! Cheers, Matt and Monico
700 for food? With half , you have enough . Rental , you can find cheaper too. Motorbike in kl ? No way
Hi, thank you for your insights! Always good to hear other experiences and that it can be cheaper if you want. As for motorbike in KL, no we wouldn’t do that. The motorbike idea was for Penang, as we would rather live there then KL. Have a good day! Matt and Monico
I by myself prefer usa or uk,all off them very reach people and i love snow season🤣🤣🤣👍💕
Hi, thanks for commenting! Yes, it is funny how it goes. There are people who want to move to one place, while those living there prefer to move away. If you can, aim for USA, where you have more chances for snow😃 Have a good day! Matt and Monico
I think you better move to african,your behavior is not suitable here@@makethemove101
The question is if they tax monetary assets, income and pension?
If we are not wrong, all income created outside Malaysia will not be taxed. But always double check financial/tax advisor in Malaysia before actually going there. Cheers, Matt and Monico
how about dental cleaning and emergency hospital services, and women's beaty treatments such as laser hair removal, hairstyle and cut, and pedicures are they clean and good quality and what are the prices?
Malaysia has invested a lot to increase their quality in health care, they aim to attract more medical tourists. So you can imagine that the quality is pretty good, plus prices more interesting then in Europe or USA. As for beauty treatments etc, it all depends which clinic/salon you choose. You can go for 'cheap' which are reasonable local prices but if you head to the upscale salons then you will get more service then you are used to when coming from Europe. That is for sure. Cheers, Matt and Monico
Im a British citizen. I want to buy a property in Malaysia to rent out for 15 years and move in when i retire. I am a train driver and earn minimum £4000 a month so i know i wont earn the same in Malaysia.
I want to move when i start getting my pension.
Hi thanks for leaving a comment! There is a quick guide on buying property in Malaysia: www.propertyguru.com.my/property-guides/complete-guide-to-foreigners-buying-property-in-malaysia-30975 We only mentioned that the value of the property must be a minimum of 1M Ringgit (depending on the state) plus we read that you have to pay 25% tax on your rental income. But make sure you dive deeper into this topic (connect with other who have done this already via facebook for instance) before making final plans. Good luck! Matt and Monico