Kuala Lumpur
MYR
Malay, English
UTC+8
Daily life
- Climate: Equatorial: hot and humid all year (about 25–33°C) with heavy showers; two monsoon seasons bring more rain, especially to the east coast from November to February. The Cameron Highlands are cooler.
- Safety: Bag-snatching from motorbikes in big cities, card and ATM fraud, and robberies around nightlife areas. The UK advises against all but essential travel to the islands off eastern Sabah because of kidnapping risk.
- English: widely spoken
- Expat community: large
Sources: UK travel advice: Malaysia, safety and security (checked 2026-10-22) · EF EPI 2025 rankings in Asia (Human Resources Online) (checked 2026-10-22) · Malaysian Meteorological Department (checked 2026-10-22)
Cost of living
| Monthly, USD | Kuala Lumpur | Penang (George Town) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | Couple | Single | Couple | |
| Rent | 372 | 489 | 230 | 323 |
| Food | 319 | 574 | 248 | 446 |
| Utilities | 89 | 99 | 66 | 74 |
| Transport | 102 | 173 | 40 | 68 |
| Health cover | 250 | 500 | 250 | 500 |
| Leisure | 88 | 150 | 80 | 136 |
| Total | 1,220 | 1,985 | 914 | 1,547 |
Amounts in US dollars. Rent and utilities from Numbeo (Oct 2026); food, transport and leisure from LivingCost (June 2026), both crowdsourced. Rent: a one-bedroom flat outside the centre for one person, between one and three bedrooms for a couple. Health: private insurance at 65–74 (see healthcare). Utilities include internet. MM2H participants must also buy a home (from RM600,000 for Silver), not counted here.
Sources: Numbeo: cost of living in Kuala Lumpur (rent and utilities, updated Oct 2026) (checked 2026-10-22) · Numbeo: cost of living in Penang (rent and utilities, updated Oct 2026) (checked 2026-10-22) · LivingCost: cost of living in Kuala Lumpur (food, transport, leisure; updated June 2026) (checked 2026-10-22) · LivingCost: cost of living in George Town (food, transport, leisure; updated June 2026) (checked 2026-10-22)
Visas and residence
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), Silver
From age 25: a fixed deposit of US$150,000 in a Malaysian bank (up to half can later be withdrawn for a home, medical care, education or tourism) and the purchase of a home worth at least RM600,000, which cannot be sold for 10 years. A 5-year renewable pass; from age 50 there is no minimum stay. No work or business. Gold (US$500,000, 15 years) and Platinum (US$1 million, 20 years) tiers also exist.
- Or savings: 150,000 USD
- Minimum age: 25
- Valid 60 months, renewable
- Spouse can be included
- Official page
MM2H Special Economic / Financial Zone (age 50+)
From age 50: a fixed deposit of US$32,000 and the purchase of a home in Forest City (Johor), which cannot be sold for 10 years. A 10-year renewable pass with no minimum stay.
- Or savings: 32,000 USD
- Minimum age: 50
- Valid 120 months, renewable
- Spouse can be included
- Official page
Trying it first: United States passport: 90 days without a visa; United Kingdom passport: 90 days without a visa.
Sources: MM2H (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture): categories and requirements (checked 2026-10-22) · MM2H: Silver category (checked 2026-10-22) · MM2H: Special Economic / Financial Zone (checked 2026-10-22) · UK travel advice: Malaysia, entry requirements (checked 2026-10-22)
Healthcare
Malaysia is a medical-tourism hub: private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang are modern and English-speaking, at a fraction of US prices. Public hospitals accept foreigners at much higher non-citizen rates, with long waits. Retirees use private insurance; premiums rise with age and medical inflation has been high.
- Public system: Public hospitals charge non-citizen rates; no subsidised scheme for foreign retirees.
- Private insurance, monthly (USD): age 55-64: 150 · age 65-74: 250 · age 75+: 400
- Pre-existing conditions: varies by insurer
Sources: Expat Focus: healthcare in Malaysia (checked 2026-10-22) · Malaysia4u: expat health insurance (2026) (checked 2026-10-22)
Taxes
Foreign-source income received in Malaysia by resident individuals is exempt from 2022 to 31 December 2036, subject to conditions (income through a Malaysian partnership excepted). The MM2H programme states "no tax on foreign funds or income". There is no wealth tax and no inheritance tax.
- When you become tax resident: Resident if you spend 182 days or more in Malaysia in a calendar year.
Coming from United States
The US keeps taxing its citizens; Malaysia adds no tax on foreign income until at least 2036.
- Tax treaty: no
- Public pension: There is no US–Malaysia income tax treaty, but Malaysia exempts foreign income received by residents until 2036, so US Social Security is taxed only by the US.
- Private pension: Taxed only by the US while the exemption lasts.
Sources: IRS: US income tax treaties A to Z (checked 2026-10-22) · PwC tax summaries: Malaysia, income determination (foreign-sourced income) (checked 2026-10-22)
Coming from United Kingdom
In practice little or no tax on UK pensions while the Malaysian exemption lasts. Your UK State Pension is paid but frozen: it does not rise each year while you live there (it goes back to the current rate if you return to the UK).
- Tax treaty: yes
- Public pension: Under the other income article, Malaysia may tax it but the UK keeps a right to tax income arising in the UK (usually covered by the Personal Allowance); Malaysia exempts foreign income until 2036.
- Private pension: Taxable only in Malaysia, annuities included (Article 19), which exempts foreign income until 2036. Most UK government pensions (such as civil service pensions) are taxed only in the UK.
Sources: GOV.UK: Malaysia tax treaties (checked 2026-10-22) · GOV.UK: countries where the State Pension is increased each year (checked 2026-10-22) · GOV.UK: tax on your UK income if you live abroad (State Pension, Personal Allowance, government pensions) (checked 2026-10-22) · HMRC International Manual INTM343190: pensions and annuities (State Pension under tax treaties) (checked 2026-10-22)
Coming from France
Malaysia exempts foreign income until 2036, so French non-government pensions are not taxed in either country.
- Tax treaty: yes
- Public pension: Basic state pension: Taxable only in Malaysia, as your country of residence (pensions for past employment). (Article 18). Civil-service pensions can be taxed by France (Article 19(3)).
- Private pension: Taxable only in Malaysia, as your country of residence (pensions for past employment). (Article 18).
Sources: Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia: Malaysia–France tax treaty, synthesised text, Articles 18 and 19 (checked 2026-10-22) · economie.gouv.fr: income tax for residents abroad (minimum rates, non-resident withholding on pensions) (checked 2026-10-22)
Coming from somewhere else? The general rules above apply; check your home country's tax treaty with Malaysia or ask a licensed advisor.
Sources: PwC tax summaries: Malaysia, income determination (foreign-sourced income) (checked 2026-10-22) · PwC tax summaries: Malaysia, residence (checked 2026-10-22) · MM2H (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture): categories and requirements (checked 2026-10-22)
Housing
Since 1 January 2026, foreign buyers of homes pay a flat 8% stamp duty; with legal fees, budget about 10–11% of the price. MM2H participants must buy a home anyway (from RM600,000 for Silver), but the state minimum price can be higher.
- Can foreigners buy? With restrictions: Each state sets a minimum price for foreign buyers (RM1 million or more in most states in 2026) and every purchase needs state consent; Malay reserve land and low-cost housing are excluded.
- Purchase costs: about 10% of the price (taxes and fees)
- Renting: Condos with pools and security are easy to rent in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Sources: Ministry of Finance, Budget 2026 tax measures, Appendix 14: 8% stamp duty for non-citizen buyers of homes from 1 January 2026 (permanent residents excluded) (checked 2026-10-22) · EdgeProp: Malaysia and foreign buyers in 2026 (checked 2026-10-22) · iProperty: foreigners buying property in Malaysia (checked 2026-10-22)
Settling in
Once you choose Malaysia, the settling plan takes you through 6 steps, from a year before the move to your first year there. The first ones:
- Choose an MM2H route and a licensed agent: Applications go through licensed MM2H agents; compare Silver and, at 50+, the Forest City zone.
- Apply for MM2H: Submit through your agent with medical report, criminal record and financial documents; approval in principle comes first. Silver: RM1,000 participating fee and RM5,000 processing fee for the main applicant (RM2,500 per dependant).
- Open the fixed deposit: After approval in principle, place the fixed deposit in a licensed Malaysian bank.
- Buy the required home: Buy a home at or above the category minimum (and the state minimum), with state consent.
The full plan, with costs, delays and official links, is in your personal space (coming soon).
Rules and figures change and we can make mistakes: confirm with the official source or a licensed advisor before acting.