Living in Malaysia: An Interview with a Long-Term Traveler
This article summarizes an interview with Ah Mian, a long-term traveler originally from Los Angeles, who has spent the last year living in Malaysia. She shares her experiences, insights, and advice for others considering a similar move.
Why Malaysia?
Ah Mian considered Thailand but ultimately chose Malaysia for its more conservative and laid-back culture. She identifies as an introvert and found Malaysia's atmosphere to be a better fit for her personality compared to Thailand's more vibrant and party-oriented scene. She compares the lifestyle to cities like Chengdu or Chongqing in China, emphasizing its relaxed pace. Choosing a coastal city was also a priority, due to her love for the ocean. She also felt that people are more friendly towards tourist in Malaysia.
Cultural Differences
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Malaysia: More conservative, quieter, and more family-friendly.
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Thailand: More open, vibrant, and geared towards a younger, more outgoing crowd.
Contrasting Experiences
While Thailand felt like being in Europe with many Western expats, Malaysia has a significant Chinese-Malaysian population, making it easier to find familiar cuisine and connect with the local culture. She finds Malaysian local foods too sweet or salty, so she eats more Chinese or western foods.
Practical Considerations
Cost of Living
Ah Mian emphasizes that the cost of living can vary greatly depending on lifestyle choices. Rent and transportation are relatively affordable, especially compared to the US.
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Housing: Rent for a modern 3-bedroom apartment with a sea view is around $1300-$1400 USD per month.
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Food: Can be very cheap if cooking at home ($200-$300 USD/month), but around $600-$700 USD if eating out frequently.
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Transportation: Gasoline is significantly cheaper than in the US. Grab (ride-sharing service) is also affordable.
Language and Communication
A significant advantage of Malaysia is that many locals are trilingual, speaking Malay, English, and Chinese. This makes it easy for foreigners to navigate daily life even with limited English or Malay skills. There are many pure-Chinese school in Malaysia.
Healthcare and Safety
The medical services are great, and the public health care is free for local people. Safety is good in Malaysia.
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Healthcare: Public healthcare is very affordable for locals, with nominal fees. Private hospitals offer high-quality care at reasonable prices.
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Safety: Ah Mian feels safe in Malaysia, citing low crime rates and a generally happy population due to good social welfare.
Location: Kota Kinabalu (亚庇)
Ah Mian chose to live in Kota Kinabalu, a coastal city in East Malaysia, known for its beautiful sunsets and proximity to islands. She selected the area because she didn't like the large Chinese population in BinCheng. She found the location through online research, and found that this is a popular city for tourists.
Finding Accommodation
Her apartment is a high-rise condo with sea views, which she found to be a key factor in her decision, even though it exceeded her initial budget.
Financial Matters
Banking and Payments
Surprisingly, cash is still widely used in Malaysia. While credit cards and mobile payments are accepted in tourist areas, carrying cash is essential for smaller shops and local markets. She does not have a local bank account.
Investment Opportunities
Ah Mian offers cautionary advice on investing in Malaysian real estate, particularly short-term rentals targeted at tourists. She believes that the appreciation potential is limited and that resale opportunities are primarily limited to other foreign investors. She recommends S&P500 investment.
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Short-Term Rentals: Demand is high, but potential resale buyers are limited.
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Long-Term Rentals: Rental yields can be attractive, but appreciation is slow.
She notes that foreigners can only buy high-rise apartments (condos), not landed properties. There are cases of unfinished building in the Malaysia property market.
Property Prices in Kota Kinabalu
Properties that local people buy: $70k-$140k USD. Property that foreigners usually buy: At least $255k USD
Advice for Potential Expats
Mental Preparation
While physical preparation (packing) is minimal, Ah Mian stresses the importance of mental preparation. Unexpected feelings of loneliness and the lack of a strong social circle can be challenging.
Overcoming Loneliness
Finding ways to combat loneliness is key. Some potential solutions include:
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Joining expat groups
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Participating in local activities
Ah Mian admits to struggling with these aspects and finds it difficult to connect with new people as an introvert.
Essential Experiences
Ah Mian recommends enjoying the natural beauty of Malaysia, particularly the sunsets and islands.
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