Pros & Cons of moving to Kuala Lumpur- Article for Expat Arrivals Website

Expat Arrivals Website 

Pros and cons of living in Malaysia

Malaysia is a melting pot of a country, like many others in the world, yet encompasses a uniqueness all its own. Today, I want to hone in on the pros & cons of living in Malaysia’s largest city- Kuala Lumpur. The variety of religious celebrations, the marriage of modern sky-rises & historical buildings, the harmonious blend of indigenous locals & expats, and the world famous cuisines all make Malaysia stand out among the crowd as a force to be reckon with within SE Asia. This (arguably) 3rd world country is growing by leaps & bounds and shows no signs of slowly up anytime soon. The good of this all is the openness and acceptance of change and forward-moving progress. The bad of it all is the obvious growing pains that the country can and will face, sweeping all residents up with it in the process. As long as you are aware of the pros & cons, you will not only survive the good & bad, but you will more importantly find yourself getting swept away by the glory of it all.

Cultural Expression of Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Variety & Freedom

Kuala Lumpur is home to a variety of cultures. Traditionally (but not always), the following holds true: the Indigenous Malay are Muslim, the Indian Malay are Hindu, and the Chinese Malay are Buddhists. Add to all of that the Expats from Western countries with their various forms of Christianity, and you have yourself a melting pot of holidays! Its wonderful in that the Malaysian government honors a variety of holidays, with Islamic ones being more prominent of course. There are always vibrant colors from the various festivals and holidays around town at the appointed times. It’s truly a beautiful sight to see, throughout the entire year! You can also find, on any given day, protests being held throughout the city for various reasons, both positive & negative ones. It’s such a freedom of expression that the people take quite seriously, depending on their cause. 

Cons: Closed streets & shops

The downfall of all these glorious holiday celebrations & the multiple public protests are the closed roads, making for tons of traffic in the already congested city. Its also quite amazing the amount of public holidays the government honors. With that comes abbreviated work & shop hours, so you must be aware of what kind of business or shop you intend to visit and whether or not it will be open, as well as what roads lead to it!

Accommodation in Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Large open living plans

Due to KL becoming such a large SE Asia destination, the buildings being constructed are new, modern, and spacious. The living plans are wide open and most contain floor to ceiling windows, allowing the year-round sunshine and magnificent sights to shine through. The newer homes are at least 3 bedrooms, up to 5 or even 6, which you can find in larger condos or bungalows, both of which are readily available throughout the city and suburbs. The older homes & condos are typically a bit smaller, but still the rooms tend to be on the larger side, making enough room to purchase all those gorgeous Asian furniture pieces you’ve had your eye on.

Cons: Soaring prices

Because everything is so new, the prices can be a bit steep, both for rental and purchases. This is also due to the fact that safety is a concern in KL, so many of the condos and bungalows can and should have gates and guardhouses. Certain amenities within the home, such as hot water in the kitchen, microwaves, ovens, dishwashers, washer/dryer units, are all considered “extras”, many of which can be negotiated into the rental/sale price.

Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Petrol is cheap; locally sourced items sold for less

There is a very large market in Malaysia for oil & gas companies, much of which is locally sourced. Because of this, petrol tends to be on the cheaper side, in comparison to various western countries. Additionally, for the homes that require gas for stovetops will find prices for that low as well.

Due to the climate in Malaysia (year round warm & humid), there are a huge variety of Asian fruits and vegetables grown here. Add to that the chicken, beef, and fishing industries, and you have yourself a plethora of options.

Malaysia is also home to a variety of manufacturing plants. From wooden furniture to clothing to textiles and ceramics, you can really find a great assortment of items to fit the bill of what you are in the market for.

Cons: Expensive imports due to taxes

Along with the amazingly cheap finds, also prepare yourself for a dramatic increase for anything not made in Malaysia. This includes vital items such as cars. There are a couple of auto manufactures within Malaysia, but the quality is sub-par at best. So that means that anything else you want to purchase will come with a much higher price tag…and even if you think of importing your current car, customs will still slap you with an insane import tax. Either way, prepare to spend a fortune on even the most basic of cars.

We all have those moments when we just want that taste of home- a certain kind of potato chip, a seasoning or sauce, pork products (Malaysia is a predominantly halal country), and more. In these instances, the products are imported from other countries such as Australia, Japan, China, the UK, and the USA. Anytime something is imported, the cost skyrockets. Sometimes its worth it, but more often than not after a certain amount of time, you learn to live with something local, even if just to satisfy the craving.

The one other thing found to be ridiculously expensive is the cost of maternity, baby, and children goods. From clothes to furniture, products and necessities, it seems that these items also come with higher price tags.

Finally, the cost of wine, beer, and liquor is atrocious in Malaysia due to their strict taxes on anything containing alcohol. Duty Free is the best bet when flying through town.

Healthcare in Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Doctors are trained in western cultures; services are cheaper

Malaysia is unique in that it is quickly becoming a top medical tourism destination worldwide. The doctors are all highly educated, starting their education in Malaysia and finishing up in various western countries, before returning to their home country to practice. The costs are extremely low in comparison and with the burgeoning market; business has demanded more and more modern hospitals and private clinics. Health insurance is also quite reasonable, if not downright cheap and most plans cover much of the expenses needed.

Cons: Muslim culture may stipulate type of assisted care

Even though medically speaking the country is very advanced in comparison to other SE Asian countries, there is still an element of tradition in relation to nurses specifically. They tend to be a bit more conventional and not as open to western style practices, or even patient driven. The key is to find a doctor who employs a staff with a mind like their own, creating a peaceful environment and one you would be akin to come back to time and time again.

Transportation in Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Ever expanding light rail & cheap taxis

Kuala Lumpur is a growing city and with that comes a need for more public transportation. KL’s light rail line has been able to satisfy much of that need. Within the city itself, the light rail has quickly become a more viable mode of transportation for locals, expats, and tourists alike. The government also built a high-speed non-stop line to and from the international airport. The cost is minimal and the compartments are clean and have aircon.

Taxis are also plentiful around KL and charge a very low rate. You can get around in taxis quite easily and many times can hire them for the day for multiple stops or tourists in town.

Cons: Heavy traffic on a daily basis

The downfall of KL’s quickly expanding city is the amount of traffic. Cars clog up the roads every day between 7-9am and again from 4-7pm. The government is working on expanding lanes but with the scarce police not enforcing traffic rules, it quickly becomes a free for all, sometimes causing more harm than good.

The light rail system needs to be expanded to include more stops and more frequent intervals in the surrounding suburbs. They are working on this, although it does take time. Taxis can also sometimes try and “fix price” to tourists and expats who look like westerners so it’s always good to be aware before sitting in the taxi.

Cuisine in Kuala Lumpur

Pros: Variety

Kuala Lumpur is known as a gastronomical hub of Asia, and it’s easy to see why. Cuisines range from the typical Malaysian to Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai, and various western style outlets. Malaysia is also knows for its “hawker stalls”, which are stands on the side of the street dishing out insanely aromatic dishes at a fraction of the price in restaurants. The food in Malaysia is delicious!

Cons: lack of decent western food

Although there are a ton of western style outlets around the city, there are only a few that seem to get it right, when it comes to western cuisine. Those establishments tend to be a bit pricier, but are worth the cost when you need that taste of home. Also be prepared for the high cost of alcohol when eating out.

Conclusion of the Pros & Cons of Kuala Lumpur

As you can see, there is a ton of options to choose from when deciding on whether or not to live in Kuala Lumpur. There are many pros that vastly outweigh the cons, but at times the cons can be a huge part of daily life, making management of the quality of life a precarious balancing act. All in all, Kuala Lumpur is a force to be reckon with and is changing the landscape of SE Asia dramatically, drawing in more and more expats from surrounding countries as well as western ones. It’s a wonderful place to live for a season of life!

Happy Expat Adventures~

Kimbra