The capital and largest city of Malaysia is a vibrant and bustling city that draws thousands of tourists every year. Recently many foreigners have been choosing to relocate there too, and it is beginning to compete with destinations which have historically been more popular, such as Thailand and Singapore.
So, what has led to this steady rise in expats moving there? Low cost of living, extraordinary diversity, and amazing food in Kuala Lumpur all help, and they are just some of the many reasons that will be outlined in this short article.
- Modern conveniences: Living spaces that are modern and comfortable are easy to rent in Kuala Lumpur. They typically contain all of the modern conveniences that people moving from Western countries might expect, with the addition of air conditioning to help you cope with the country’s tropical climate.
Many expats in the city stay in condos such as pavillion damansara heights. Kuala Lumpur is full of skyscrapers, so there are always condos available and because the market is so competitive, you can find ones that offer perks such as gyms, swimming pools, security staff, and roof gardens at very low cost relative to other countries.
- Low cost of living: Expats moving to Malaysia are often able to dramatically increase their living standards relative to what the same money would get them back home. We’ve already mentioned the kind of apartments and facilities that can be had, which are often cheap even compared to condos in Bangkok and other traditionally popular expat locations.
Food and gas also tend to be very cheap. Malaysia is still a very agricultural society so there is lots of locally grown produce available at low cost, and the oil and gas industry represents a large part of its economy. Less need to import fuel means lower costs for locals.
- Healthcare: Malaysia is also growing its market for medical tourism, and many of the country’s best hospitals are based in the capital. Fees for private hospitals there tend to be much lower than in other countries, but this is not because the quality is inferior. In fact, many of the doctors qualified overseas, meaning that expats can get the same standards of care they can at home but at lower cost.
While healthcare costs are cheaper there, some procedures and hospital visits probably still cost too much for most people to easily pay the full amount in one go. The best way is to get great health insurance coverage.
- Public transport: Like most capitals, Kuala Lumpur has its traffic issues. But it makes up for them with great transport links. Trains, buses, and the monorail make it easy to reach every part of the city very cheaply. Taxis can also easily be hailed or booked through an app.
5. Food: The local fare is of course one of Kuala Lumpur’s big selling points, but actually you can find basically any cuisine there. And since meals out are unlikely to hurt your wallet, you can enjoy them much more often than in other places.
Malaysia’s location in southeast Asia makes it exotic and exciting for foreigners, but Kuala Lumpur offers all the modern amenities they enjoy at home, giving them the best of both worlds.
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