Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Most Affordable Luxury?)

How much does it cost to live in the modern metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 1 month?
I'm an Aussie expat living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 2 years. In this video, I reveal my full cost of living, broken down by 16 categories (based on 735 days of line-by-line transaction data).
If you live in a western country one of your main concerns is probably money, but in Malaysia, you might not have to work that hard to access affordable luxury. I break down what it costs to cover all my major monthly expenses: rent, transport, food, travel, groceries, dating, haircuts, and more.
I convert every major number from MYR into USD & AUD, so you can understand the expenses in your major currency. We’ll also compare it to what my cost of living was in Sydney, Australia.
This video is not about how to live cheaply in Malaysia, it’s not about how to live in absolute luxury. It’s my raw, real expenses for the last 2 years, from 2022 to 2024. Maybe it will surprise you. Enjoy!
1:28 - How I Track My Cost of Living
2:22 - Sixteen Categories of Expenses
3:26 - How Much I Spend Living in Malaysia (overall number)
4:40 - My Most Expensive Month in Malaysia
5:10 - My Cheapest Month in Malaysia
5:28 - Comparing Malaysia (KL) to Australia (Sydney)
6:44 - RENT
7:52 - UTILITIES
8:36 - FEES
8:56 - GROCERIES
9:47 - FOOD
10:20 - HEALTH
11:12 - TRANSPORT
11:48 - PHONE / SIM CARD
12:40 - SUBSCRIPTIONS
13:24 - BUSINESS
13:43 - ENTERTAINMENT
14:09 - SHOPPING
14:37 - HOME
15:01 - GROOMING
15:46 - DATING
17:09 - TRAVEL
18:55 - Important Note
I am not an expert on Malaysia (yet), and I may get some things wrong, but this is my authentic opinion based on my experiences. Please correct me in the comments and we can all learn more about Malaysia.
Here's a cheap activity you can do in KL ►
• I Went Horse Riding at...
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#malaysia #kualalumpur #expat #expatlife #malaysiatravel #kualalumpurmalaysia #costofliving #southeastasia #malaysianfood #malaysiavlog #klcc #matsaleh #malaysiaworkvisa #malaysialife #digitalnomad

[@JackAlderton]

I hope you got at least one valuable takeaway from this video and it opened your eyes to another part of the world. Please let me know by leaving your thoughts or questions as a comment below right now. Connect with me ► instagram.com/mrjackalderton Join my newsletter ► jackalderton.beehiiv.com/ Let’s work together ► calendly.com/jackalderton/15min

[@yuriyzenda5857]

Thank you for being so detailed. Sooooo many KZbinrs with subpar financial whereabouts give super generic cost of living, that omit some of the details like gym membership, or work/business expenses, or vacations/trips, and then they come up with half-a$$ useless $1000/month story that is not realistic. I've watched nearly a hundred cost-of-living videos across many countries and yours is one of the most well put together realistic view.

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you mate, I really appreciate that. I'll be putting as much effort as possible into my future videos for this reason.

[@xiaomashitu]

Support 😍 Malaysia ~Affortable Luxury

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks mate, I love it here! 🇲🇾

[@OneJuanWon]

I don't fit the age demographic you focus on (I'm actually old enough to be your father) however, this budget video was very well done, great detail. As someone who is planning to retire in a few years and relocate overseas, this video gave me important data that I need to consider in my decisions. Keep up the good work 👍

[@Jack_the_rider]

I'll highly suggest you to checkout Da Nang and Nha Trang for retirement even on the small budget...Beautiful places❤️

[@JackAlderton]

Fantastic! Thanks for your comment and I'm really glad it helped. Feel free to reach out anytime if you need anymore info.

[@JackAlderton]

Yes, Da Nang is fantastic too. I went there end of last year. It's a more chill beach lifestyle, KL is very much a city lifestyle with infrastructure and diversity. Both are great!

[@Popeye0964]

Great real life info at last from someone 🙏. I don’t fall into your target audience( I’ll be 60 in September😅), the video will be very useful. Im ex UK, currently living in Perth (Oz) but looking to move to somewhere in Asia . I’ve been to KL a few times but not as a single guy. Thanks again for such a thorough cost analysis.👍

[@JackAlderton]

Haha you're the same age as my Dad - Popeye inspired me a lot as a kid! Glad it helped you get some perspective. No worries - let me know if you come to KL again.

[@mizzylamydean2936]

Hi there! You still can afford it. It all depend on location of your stay. Perhap you can live in Malacca or Penang. As Kuala Lumpur more on working people.

[@ngatravelvlog]

really nice, I will be moving to KL next year, this's gonne be very usefull video for me 😀

[@JackAlderton]

really? message me anytime mate, let's do a video together

[@ngatravelvlog]

@@JackAlderton that’s gonna be a great video bro, anyway your video is very high quality now, love the way you edit it, thumbs up 👍

[@TravAlligator]

May I know if you are moving under the MM2H program? Could you recommend a reputed solicitor who helped you to move? Thanks much!

[@WarrenAlderton]

Excellent detailed video Jack, great work!

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks! 👍

[@MarkBerrada]

Meticulously detailed breakdown. Well done!

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you Mark! Glad you got something from it. Thanks for watching.

[@ThisnametaKenny]

Finally....a breakdown we all needed. Thanks.

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks mate, glad you found it useful. If you have any suggestions for future videos let me know!

[@mohdzulhelmirozaini4866]

Thank You Jack for details review😀

[@JackAlderton]

You're welcome mate!

[@ivohahn]

Thank you for your impressive efforts in establishing such a comprehensive cost of living summary! Well done.

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it :)

[@rizwanshahzad3653]

Good information bro!

[@JackAlderton]

thanks for watching!

[@fwogiii9285]

This man makes great vids and hearts and replies to comments got yourself a new sub

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@dianepuri870]

very very detailed. and thx for converting to usd. many on youtube do not not convert. makes it hard for us to decide. and i have to look on your food tastes in malyasia 🍜

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you! Yes, lots of great food here. My all-time favourite is char kuey teow & any sambal-based dish.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Thank you for this video, your cost of living in KL, Malaysia, wonderful.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

I need to continue watching this video later tonight, it's quite near the time for iftar, time for breaking fasting of the day.

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks Yasin - enjoy your meal!

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@JackAlderton Thank you. 😀

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Thank you for sharing your real cost of living in KL. Out of the 16 categories, which has the most value for your money, accommodation, food, transportation, grocery etc.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Just like you said, every choice of expenditures in your 3 main categories, non-discretionary, discretionary and optional is adjustable to suit one's lifestyle. Since you are single, traveling, entertainment and dating could cost a bit more than usual depending on your budget. Have you been to the Petronas Philharmonic orchestra concert hall. It's located at the podium between the Petronas Twin Towers, the ticket is very affordable, if you are inspired by and enjoy philharmonic orchestra music. 😀

[@JackAlderton]

Great question Yasin! I'd have to say rent (accommodation) & travel. Rent in Sydney is just so expensive. You can live in a way better place here, for much less money. Also, in Australia I wasn't able to travel much, because flights are long & expensive. Here, you can travel around Asia for very cheap, and with short flights. Transportation is also great value. Here the train costs 1.5 RM, in Sydney it costs about $5 (or 15rm!!)

[@JackAlderton]

Love that suggestion! I'll add it to my list. I went to a ballet concert in KLCC convetion centre a few months ago and I enjoyed it.

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@JackAlderton Ballet performance in KLCC CEC, that sounds lovely. 😀

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@JackAlderton That sounds wonderful. Yes, luxurious accommodation is quite affordable in KL. And, yes, KLIA and KLIA2 are a travel hub across Asia. Local produce and processed products are very affordable, however, the healthier imported food options that are very expensive. The alcoholic drinks in Malaysia are also heavily taxed, I think the cost of alcoholic drinks in Sydney are also expensive. However, if you go for a quick escapade to the duty free islands like Langkawi, Pangkor, Tioman or Labuan, you can get alcohol and cigarette, half of the price from the mainland. I enjoyed shopping for chocolates but they aren't that cheap in the duty free island or at the duty free shops in the international airports. Glad that you made this video with your meticulously detailed expenses. 😀

[@SyaridzatYahya-mo1rx]

As a local, I spend a way way cheaper than yours. These are amount of my spending monthly. Renting room in Kg Baru around rm300. Food/drink rm350. Buses, LRT etc rm70 (mostly free KL bus). Electricity + water rm40 (sharing). Top up Handphone rm40. Some shopping rm100. Sport/futsal rm30 (sharing). Toiletress/medicine rm50. Hair cutting rm15. Cinema etc. rm40. So, total around rm1035 (US$220)..

[@jurajland]

I cannot imagine how much time and effort you put in this video! Your dedication must be on another level when you were able to keep track and record all your expenses on a regular basis. The only thing I was missing in the video was the amount you pay for taxes, social and health security. I understand it could reveal how much money you make, but honestly, a significant amount goes here, at least where I live (the Czech Republic, Prague): - around 1 000 USD (rent and all the related services), - 800 USD (taxes, social and health security) to simplify, my non discretionary spending without food is around 1800 USD.

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks Jures. Yes this is a good point, I'll try to break it down a bit: My tax rate is about 20%; many locals will effectively pay 0% as there are deductions and a very low rate for monthly salaries

[@jurajland]

@@JackAlderton thanks for this update! Still, MY seems way more affordable compared to Prague. And yeah, for sure you should visit Prague sometime in the future! I am sure you will enjoy your time here! :)

[@mizzylamydean2936]

Hi, Malaysian social is RM50/month. Which is about RM600/year. Option or we will say, we encourage. But it totally different system compare to other country. As hospital is free and subsidize. Unless you buy your own insurance or pay your self for private hospital. Tax depend on your salary. Above RM4500 or USD1k taxeable. Health insurance depend on you age or package that you purhase. Normally, USD100/month is the best one. Decent living, USD1000 is liveable in Malaysià. Roughly, earning between RM7k -10k are luxury. But having RM4k is affordable luxury.

[@ashaazuanissabtu884]

Like your video. Do you also do videos on healthy food you take; groceries, preps, cook, etc?

[@JackAlderton]

Yes I plan to make more of those videos - how to stay fit, eat well, do groceries and meal prep in Malaysia. Thanks for your comment and the suggestion!

[@ashaazuanissabtu884]

That would be great. Thank you 👍🏻

[@dimplypaprika7693]

great video. I am considering retiring soon so not so young as you but still found this very helpful. I figure my expenses and spending to be quite similar to what you show here, travel will be quite important to me when i retire and get settled in wherever I end up. Right now thinking between KL, Thailand or Phils. I will soon start doing some travelling to each of these areas to see which I feel more comfortable in. While I do not really want to be in Manilla or Bangkok if I end up in those countries, I feel like if I end up in Malaysia I WOULD want to be in KL. Anyway, thanks for the great information!

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks! Glad it helped. Yes, I recommend you research & experience all of these countries. I have been to all three of those places & each has it's positives and negatives. Here's my honest (unsolicited) opinion: Manila is a mess. I definitely wouln't settle there, but the Philippines itself is amazing. If I wanted a beach lifestyle, I'd pick PH, or even Vietnam (Da Nang is cheaper than PH). Bangkok is similar to KL but the culture is very different. Obviously TH is much more liberal and probably more of a young-person vibe (& there's less english than I expected). KL is probably the best city of the three IMO. It's chill and extremely flexible, if you vibe with the culture then happy days. Obviously there's more to consider but maybe someone will read this comment and find it helpful. Best of luck!

[@dimplypaprika7693]

@@JackAlderton It is helpful. In fact, Viet Nam is a consideration for me, just concerned about living in a communist country. Perhaps it would not be as bad as i think, but living in the United States you just hear so many horror stories about life in communist countries.

[@Shhamat221Latif]

​@@dimplypaprika7693Vietnam is great,... Safe and cheap.... It is Hybrid communism... Communism+Capitalism...

[@Millnar]

Great video Jack, what do you do for work?

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks! I'm a content producer for a company in financial services. Hopefully I can take KZbin full time though ;)

[@xMrPC]

You are right about Malaysia, most worries are actually covered quite well over here. Only thing someone need to focus on is increasing their income, there are a lot opportunities here.

[@JackAlderton]

I agree - thanks for your comment mate!

[@luckyluke1114]

Thanks Jack.

[@JackAlderton]

Welcome Luke!

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Very good infor

[@JackAlderton]

thanks for watching!

[@CoconutDreams123]

Excellent video. Paalam Philippines, Malaysia here I come!

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you, hope to see you!

[@glenmore100]

Super!!! I'd appreciate about KL info. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks! Will be posting more.

[@Blobbert_8]

Thank you for the details on paying for dates! I’m married and had a sigh of relief because your amount seemed high for one person until you clarified you pay for both you and your girlfriend’s meals. I’ll have to make sure my husband and I don’t eat out too much though! The food is too good and a friend gained 15 pounds in two weeks after moving there! Looking forward to more apartment tours and videos on entertainment (movie theatres, entertainment within malls maybe).

[@JackAlderton]

Haha yes the food is excellent, I can see how people put on weight easy! Thanks for your comment and suggestions. I'll do my best to showcase more of Malaysia. My next apartment tour is filmed and in production now ;)

[@FazrilHafeez]

Hey Jack, great video of your breakdown monthly living cost. I have a question do you invest or do a saving too? Does it cost you extra per month?

[@JackAlderton]

The original comment winner!! Yes, predominantly in the Aussie stock market or TDs. Another factor for expats is playing the exchange rate. You can wait for your home country's currency to fall and transfer at favourable times. Unfortunately, the RM hasn't been very cooperative lately 😆

[@lemonsplays]

My GOAT 🔥🔥

[@JackAlderton]

❤ baa baa

[@omarkhan1543]

Very detailed video. Thanks. New subscriber here. Can you rent condos for 3 months on a tourist visa? I’m looking to semi relocate from the uk.

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks Omar, no worries. Yeah it's an interesting predicament. Technically yes, but most leases will be 12 months only to get the advertised price. For shorter stays I'd recommend Airbnb monthly + stays so you get the discount. It's still very affordable. There's another site you could checkout called 'Speedhome' or try to negotiate with the agents directly via PropertyGuru/Iproperty - maybe some landlors would be ok with time-on, time-off type of deal for 3 months at a time. Hope this helps & glad to have you!

[@omarkhan1543]

@@JackAlderton thanks for a detailed answer. I will look into this. However I will also advise you as a subscriber. Maybe think about making a video about this as it is a conversation that is on many tongues and something that is creeping up more and more on forums and travel blog comment sections. If I’m correct after my research attempts, there are no videos discussing this. Especially on malaysia and KL. Food for thought my friend. And I’m not just saying it for my benefit but yours too, as I can instantly sense you are a genuine person. All the best my friend. Happy to be part of the community.

[@hijazzains]

Housing supply in Kuala Lumpur is diverse and ample...residents can find housing that cab fit their income.

[@JackAlderton]

Exactly right, it's fantastic for all kinds of people looking to meet their accommodation needs.

[@ajirizawa5743]

cool..love to live in Malaysia someday

[@JackAlderton]

It's a great place, thanks for watching!

[@eurekacomment5719]

This is amazing! How is it sooo inexpensive!!!

[@JackAlderton]

Pretty good right? I must emphasize it's so flexible. You can spend very little, or you can spend a lot. There's a lot more rich people than you might expect!

[@mizzylamydean2936]

Hi, thank you for your kind word. Nice to hear 'inexpensive' or i just learn 'affordable luxury'. Well, we don't like to hear when people mention 'cheap'. It sound like Malaysia to low. But in reality Malaysians really struggle to live like an expat or to live in condos with superb facilities or to live in good areas. Most Malaysians only can afford to live in Hong Kong style apartments. Two main factors, 1. Malaysia goverment policies and 2. what developers offer to goverment. Income/Household(monthly) in Malaysia; Luxury T20 M4O B4O So 80% of Malaysians are dreaming of 🇲🇾 DREAM.

[@adampopal7078]

Hey, great video. Quick question, here in the UK we have apps like Zoopla and Rightmove where you can find properties to rent or buy, what are the Malaysian equivalents of apps like these where you can find apartments to rent (long term, so not really talking about apps like Airbnb for example). Thanks

[@vivaliliy1562]

Check propertyguru & iproperty

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks Adam, great question. The two sites are Iproperty & PropertyGuru. Honestly both are fantastic and you will have no problem finding a rental using them. Another option is Speedhome that allows you to more flexibly rent without deposits etc. but you do pay a lot more so it becomes similar to AirBnb. Hope that helps!

[@MeLodiCarAma]

I can see through your eyes of sincerity. Yes, Malaysian are mostly underpaid. That's why most of the talented ones venture abroad for better fetch. Nice of you to cover Melaka too. It's my Dad's home city.❤

[@JackAlderton]

Lovely place! Thanks for your kind comment. I hope to help people in this predicament.

[@victoriakitty520]

Happy to see this angmo stay Malaysia longer ❤ but we want see you date n Marry Malaysia girl and have a mix Baby 👶❤

[@JackAlderton]

😆 maybe one day!!

[@sideecm]

That's a lot of effort to keep track of the records

[@JackAlderton]

True - became a habit, I'm glad i did it. Thanks for watching!

[@juliantagell1891]

Heya Jack, is there a particular walking tour you recommend in KL? I've just arrived.

[@sitimariambintibasharie9711]

Hi welcome to Malaysia. If u want do walking tour pls avoid outdoor tour on scorching hot day. It's very hot now in Msia. But i believe many parts of Msia have raining today and will have more in coming weeks. On typical hot day maybe u can do the tour in the morning before 10 or in the evening after 5. Between 11 - 3 maybe better do indoor like mall tour etc. Hope you enjoy Malaysia. 😊

[@JackAlderton]

Hey! Thanks so much for the comment above, that's fantastic advice. Yes, I'd recommend going around KLCC (petronas towers - go up them!) and definitely checkout Petaling Street & Changkat (Jalan Alor) for the full tourist experience. Also check out Batu Caves of course. You can get around easily with Grab and MRT/LRT. I personally also LOVE the hop on hop off bus tours wherever I go - I hope you enjoy your time here!

[@larsskold9199]

Hi Jack, We love your videos. We're living in Sydney and looking at moving to Malaysia. Can you recommend a job agency for English speaking jobs such as construction and ecommerce etc. Thanks for your help

[@JackAlderton]

Thank you, appreciate you watching and hope to see you here! I don't want to give advice that I'm not qualified for as I haven't used an agency myself but I got my job via LinkedIn, so I would recommend that as the first approach. Jobstreet is a Seek-owned (Aussie) job-board that I would point to next. Fortunately, the vast majority of jobs are English-speaking (pretty much everyone here speaks it) and you will be highly-regarded if you are a native speaker or similar. At least that has been my experience! Best of luck, I hope this helps in some way.

[@larsskold9199]

@@JackAlderton Thanks for your information, we'll have a look. Can I also ask you where the best areas in Kuala Lumpur are to live, best apartment hotels etc? If we make it to KL, we'll let you know. Thanks again for your help

[@ubaidullah7772]

Very nice

[@JackAlderton]

thank you

[@saf1999]

Ty!

[@JackAlderton]

Welcome!

[@deshwitat_2]

I'm malaysian ,at the moment age of 35,single..the cost of renting, groceries is reasonable if u looking for healthy food stuff,and renting i think cost more coz u are foreigner,i would get the same QOL condo if im making much as you are.. for internet mate,believe me,50mbps is enough,u dont need 100 mbps .. Overall,seeing u single guy expat have abit healthy,nothing luxurious for ur lifestyle..got to say,glad Malaysia to be the hub for ur saving+QOL (quality of life) what u wanted mate.. cheers & good video

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks mate, appreciate your comment. Hope you love it here, it's a great country. The internet is helpful when uploading 20gb KZbin videos 😆 Other than that, you're definitely right - even the slowest internet here is amazing. It's literally 5 times as fast as Australia haha

[@enrothable]

Thanks for the video.How did you get a visa to stay in Malaysia for so long?

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks for watching! I have an EP (work visa). Otherwise, most countries can get a 3 month visitor visa.

[@SaidurRahmanTV]

Gret vdeo thanks for making a detail expense video. Bangladeshi barbar, is cheaper Did you tried Bangladeshi food?

[@JackAlderton]

Thanks mate, he's really good. Yes I have a little bit, but I'd like to try more!

[@Chris-dw6cu]

I am coming to KL soon and would like to rent a condo for a month in the 2-3000 myr range you mention. If I like it after a month, I'd consider staying longer in that place. But where do I need to look or who should I contact to actually find a monthly rental in this price range? On Airbnb there are lots of people renting out condos. I'm assuming they are agencies doing it and they are charging at least double (and often more) the prices you give here.

[@JackAlderton]

Hey Chris - you're right with that assessment. Have a look at iproperty or propertyguru (websites) you'll be able to see what's available (with real prices) and contact agents directly via Whatsapp. They will literally drive you around and show you what they have available haha. Then I'd suggest Airbnb'ing a building you like for a week or two to see what it's like. To get the good prices you'll need to sign a 12 month lease usually, but it can be possible to get it down to 6 months via the agent. Best of luck!

[@TravAlligator]

Fantastic insight mate! Does the rent you've mentioned include maintenance costs? Do you know what's the average school fee per month in a decent school?

[@JackAlderton]

Hey mate, appreciate it! Yes it includes most. The only real maintenance cost I have is servicing the air conditioners twice a year. About 300rm a pop, so not much in the scheme of things. Local schools are negligible; a decent international school will set you back ~45k RM a year ( ~3.7k a month) - definitely a different ballgame with kids! Hope your journey goes well.

[@TravAlligator]

@@JackAlderton Thank you for the quick response, appreciate it 😊👍🏼

[@bbsonytv]

YNAB, bro. YNAB

[@JackAlderton]

The app? Looks pretty good but I actually prefer this manual approach to budgeting. Gives you a lot more tangible control.

[@riverleigh8]

For currency transfers did you include the arbitrage rate banks etc charge as well as the fees or did you use an option like wise or OFX cheers.

[@JackAlderton]

I use Wise, so there is essentially no FX spread, just the small fee they charge, which is what I recorded. Hope this helps.

[@riverleigh8]

@@JackAlderton Brilliant cheers for that, I thought it might be

[@sharilsamad9727]

This guy is a perfect husband material! His good with money and OK looking!

[@JackAlderton]

😆 thanks mate

[@kokchoongtan2456]

Hi Jack, didn't see you spending on insurance. Don't you need a health insurance?

[@JackAlderton]

Hey! Thanks for watching. Yes, maybe I didn't explain enough. My employer provides health insurance. Otherwise you can get affordable world-class healthcare here for ~100rm a month. A way better deal than Aus!

[@ivohahn]

Where would you include cleaning cost of your apartment (maid). What about home internet cost? If you buy a new iPhone, would you include the cost under shopping?

[@JackAlderton]

Hey! Thanks for your question. I don't have a maid but if I did, I'd put it under 'home' expenses. Internet falls under 'utilities', it's about 100rm a month. Yes, if i bought a new phone I'd include it in shopping. I'd probably 'amortise' the cost over a 6 month period since it's an asset with a long use-time.

[@shaqisumari304]

If you rent in the suburbs, its even more cheaper💁💁💁💁 , foreigners need to explore more

[@justrk3980]

Yes true KL are huge

[@JackAlderton]

Yeah you're right. I've explored a lot, and there are great options further out. But for now, I want to live very close to the office; that's why I chose this location 🙌

[@JackAlderton]

And there's many other cities and great places outside of KL too. Very diverse country.

[@zaki-pq1ps]

In australian dating culture is the men definitely need to pay for the cost of everything or is it split 50/50?

[@JackAlderton]

It's becoming very complicated. Women will split, but let's be honest, they're not happy about it and will be less likely to see the guy again. What's actually happening is that guys realise they're wasting their time and money (because it's so expensive), so they opt for 'cheap' dates instead, which is the way to go if you want a genuine connection not based on materialism imo.

[@tpunclelee]

What type of visa can stay in KL for long period.?

[@JackAlderton]

Hey mate, EP or MM2H. Other than that, a lot of countries can get a 3 month tourist visa.

[@MANCO513]

Can u plz make video about personal income tax there? And property tax too? Thanks

[@JackAlderton]

Sure, thanks for the idea. Tax is lower than western countries. About ~20% for a higher paid role. Property tax is negligable but I need to research this more.

[@Shaharadesert]

Hi Jack, do they have requirements for foreigners to rent? How did you safely find decent rents? Should we watch out for frauds?

[@JackAlderton]

Great questions. No real requirements, ideally you'll have a long term visa but you should have no issues. Agents are super friendly and will literally drive you around to see rentals. I found decent rents by dealing through reputable websites (iproperty, propertyguru) and with licenced agents. No issue with frauds, especially if you're paying for a higher end rental. I did have an issue where the owner was extremely slow to return the bond though. Not much you can do to possibly avoid that, but overall not many issues at all - smooth process.

[@Shaharadesert]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate it.

[@hamishwebb408]

I may have missed it, but when looking for an apartment could you recommend an agency that you would trust

[@JackAlderton]

Hi Hamish, check out iproperty and propertyguru. Honestly I don't have a particular agency but higher-end condos with agents that have good online reviews are almost always great. Everything is on the public register.

[@AmiradSai]

9k a month in Malaysia is literally living like a millionaire in Malaysia. Most of Malaysia usually spend 2k -5k a month.

[@JackAlderton]

Yes, it's a very flexible country. It's not uncommon for single-working expat families to spend 20k+ a month. i personally think living a healthy lifestyle for less than 5k would be very difficult. Thanks for your comment.

[@samerethsalliman1881]

Is sharing an apartment or room feasible with other roommates? I am will to sleep on the couch and pay a smaller share of the cost!

[@JackAlderton]

Yes absolutely! There are many options like this on Airbnb. You can also get a studio apartment for very cheap, so that would be my pick personally.

[@justrk3980]

You can save a lot more ..

[@JackAlderton]

yep, that's the plan!

[@mehdib1781]

Is data scientist in demand and with a good salary?

[@JackAlderton]

Absolutely. Have a look online but that is a solid career with worldwide demand. Depends what you classify as a good salary though.

[@mehdib1781]

@@JackAlderton thanks good day

[@joemichael5150]

Dah convert bagai memang la affordable.

[@pipis1245]

Memanglah..affordable dari kacamata expat..

[@JackAlderton]

Hey! Thanks for your comment. Yes, I would back myself and say Malaysia is affordable compared to most countries & especially the West.

[@JackAlderton]

In the video I mention that Malaysians are underpaid. I completely understand and I wish it would change. All i can recommend is to look at overseas opportunities and find ways to work with global clients online.

[@tantangpenn5496]

'Dating is cheaper in Malaysia, and easier'. Highly sensitive statement in the current local trend of boycotting. And you are young.

[@JackAlderton]

I speak my truth mate - food, drinks & events cost less in Malaysia. It is what it is.

[@dzakisuda]

​@@JackAldertonYou're so very right, mait! I can't agree more.

[@peoplecaringsharing]

How are you today Jack? Luckily you don't move to Dubai... right now no more climate mercy to people there??!

[@JackAlderton]

Hi there, I am great! Yes, that was terrible to see. Actually when I moved here in 2022 (stuck in quarantine) there were massive floods in KL city. Fortunately it hasn't happened that bad again since then.

[@ImranAnsari-iu4og]

How much do you earn per month

[@JackAlderton]

Hey Imran, I do want to keep that private but it's consistently more than I spend here. I am saving a lot. Thanks for watching.

[@dzakisuda]

​@@JackAldertonHes just being sarcastic, I think.

[@user-zf6yd1cc5g]

My gosh, you are so handsome, i can't focus haha. Do you date guys too? Lol

[@JackAlderton]

haha thank you. No sorry, I am straight only.

[@lwrgbr]

very nice info

[@JackAlderton]

thanks for watching!

[@ninoy3808]

Not many Malaysian could spend RM 5000 per month. I mean a single person

[@JackAlderton]

I understand. I'd say most people in the company I work for spend more than that but it doesn't represent the country as a whole. Malaysians are underpaid - I hope it changes over time.

[@leoshanbob]

Get a haircut for just RM25 at Joe's Barbershop

[@JackAlderton]

Yep that's where I've been going for the last 18 months! But I always give a tip so ends up a bit more. Lately they've been closed on Fridays so i switched to the guy next door. He does a good job, but Joe's is great too!

[@dzakisuda]

I just got a hair cut for rm10 & I tip him rm5.

[@SSxxx18]

Very very real.

[@JackAlderton]

thanks for watching!

[@princessunknown3158]

Can tell us how process for expands to rent in malaysia

[@JackAlderton]

Very simple! You'll get fantastic service from most agents as there is an oversupply of apartments. Leases run for 12 months and you'll have to pay about 3 months rent as a deposit (that's probably the only downside). Other than that, just sign the lease and pay each month. Keep in mind it's acceptable to transfer the landlord directly (this is different to Australia)

[@WarrenAlderton]

Excellent detailed video Jack, great work.

[@JackAlderton]

Glad it was helpful!