Living in KL: 7 Reasons why Expats and Digital Nomads Love it

Last Updated on May 16, 2021 by Kirsten Raccuia

Let’s face it, these days, with the remote work economy becoming more the norm, expats and digital nomads have a lot of choices when it comes to places to move. The world is really their oyster. So why are there so many expats and digital nomads living in KL (Kuala Lumpur)?

If you want to know what it’s really like to live in KL, Malaysia, then keep reading.

The Cost of Living in KL

I’ve said this before, and it bears repeating – your lifestyle dictates your living cost in Kuala Lumpur.

If you’re living in KLCC, the city center, your rent will be more than if you choose an outer neighborhood. Makes sense. It’s like any big city.

It’s pretty much a guarantee that no matter what condo building you are in, there will be security guards, a swimming pool, and a gym. The higher-end condos might have a rooftop pool (or two), a lounge area with badminton courts, a garden, parking spaces, a sauna, a hot tub, and a squash court.

Unless you live outside the city center, you’ll most likely be living in a high rise. It’s also possible that your highrise condo is on top of a mall. That means you may never have to leave the building for your daily needs.

In Malaysia, most of the grocery stores are on the mall’s bottom level. So, you can pop downstairs, choose from a dozen restaurants and cafés, see a movie, buy a new pair of jeans, and then go to the supermarket without leaving the building.   

What Rentals in Kuala Lumpur Cost

We have friends living in KLCC in a fancy high rise with all the amenities. They view the famous Petronas Towers and pay RM6500/$1580USD* per month for a 3-bedroom condo. In Chicago, it would easily be $5000.

It is, however, just as easy to find places more affordable than that – it always depends on where, how long the lease is, and how upscale the building is.

An older but well-maintained condo can be RM2000-3000/$486-730.

If you are living in KL as a digital nomad or only need a crash pad for a few months, you can find a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in the city for well under RM2000/$486.

There are also rooms to rent if you are open to that idea.  

So, the bottom line is your Kuala Lumpur cost of living can be as little as you need it to be. It all depends on what standard and level of comfort you are accustomed to. But overall, there is a high standard of living at a relatively low cost.

Sometimes living in Malaysia as an expat feels like we’re really spoiled and living in a resort full time. Don’t hate me.

Hot tip: no matter which area you choose to live in, try to find a place near public transportation. The traffic in Kuala Lumpur is pretty horrific, so taking advantage of the trains is essential. Especially if you are downtown.  

The Leisurely Lifestyle in KL

I mentioned above that no matter where you live, you’ll have a pool. And with 85° weather 365 days a year, spending time in the pool is (almost) a necessary luxury.

Just because you live in a concrete jungle doesn’t mean your Kuala Lumpur life will be devoid of nature. On the contrary, KL is one of the greenest cities in Southeast Asia. Almost every neighborhood has green space.

So. when you’re not spending time at your pool, you could be in any number of green pockets that Kuala Lumpur does so well. The city is surrounded by jungle and rainforest and has a few hidden nuggets left inside the city’s limits.

There are numerous green pockets within every large neighborhood, even in KLCC. So even though Kuala Lumpur is a city full of skyscrapers, highways, and shopping malls, you can always find a green respite.

There is also a massive bird park and butterfly sanctuary.

If you are sick of being outside in the heat, head to any of the 3.7 mabilazillion malls. In fact, the malls are the most popular place to hang out because of the incessant heat. They have some of the best restaurants, cafes, bars in the city, and spas and movie theaters.

If you are working on an expat contract, one of the most significant advantages of living in KL (and Malaysia in general) is the number of national holidays you get. In the US, there are a few long weekends and a long break over the December holidays. In KL, there are 18 official holidays which means you get all those days off.

Most Americans never get 18 days off, let alone take 18 days off.

This leads me to the next reason why expats and digital nomads fall in love with the Kuala Lumpur lifestyle…

The Endless Travel Opportunities from KL

Malaysia is a centrally located country within Southeast Asia.

Our next-door neighbors are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Borneo. Two doors down are Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Around the block is Australia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India, and Nepal.

You get the point.

In less than half a day flying from KL, you can be in many exotic countries.  

The airport in Kuala Lumpur is the hub for Air Asia – Southeast Asia’s low-cost carrier. So, traveling far and wide is cheap and easy – just like I like it.

There are 56 direct flights to places as far away as New Zealand, the UK, and Turkey. Yes, I just counted them (heart you Skyscanner.com).

Unfortunately, living in Penang adds a stop. Although the flight to KL is only 45 minutes, sometimes the connections suck, making a four-hour trip an all-day affair.

So basically, living in KL means traveling this entire side of the globe is affordable and accessible.

Communicating is Easy

Living in Kuala Lumpur means expats and digital nomads can be super lazy (self-included).

Because Malaysia was British ruled, English is widely spoken. But, of course, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever have to play charades or get out google translate. It just happens infrequently in KL, especially compared to smaller towns. But you can totally get by with English living in KL.

Visas are Also Pretty Easy

This is a big one for digital nomads.

Most people get a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival. That means if you are just testing the living in KL waters, you can try it for 3 months and then skedaddle.

But, like many digital nomads, you might just decide to stay a bit longer.

If you decide to extend your stay in Malaysia, you must leave the country and come back in to get a renewed 90-days. But here’s the deal, I’ve heard rumors that you used to be able to drive over the border to Thailand and then turn around and come back in and voila, you get another 90 days.

That’s no longer the case. Don’t try it.

Just leave for a week or so. Take a vacation to any of the super cool places I listed above, and then return and get a renewed visa.

You are always at the mercy of the immigration agent so remember that. They don’t have to let you back in. And if they think you’re abusing the 90-day visa rule, they might not. And you have no leg to stand on.

Ok, you’ve been warned. Moving on.

Expat Visas

As far as expat visas go, if you’re coming here for work, the company that hires you will get you a visa. If you are married and only one of you has a job, the company will get the non-working spouse a visa as well. However, you won’t be able to work, at least not in Malaysia.

A remote or online job is perfect but taking a Malaysian paycheck is a big no-no.

Note on the visa situation: Covid has changed everything here. Like in many countries, the borders are closed for tourism, so I can’t promise that the same visa rules will apply when all of this is over. Always do your research for your country before planning a visit.

Cutting Edge Healthcare

Malaysia is becoming one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world. And KL has world-class hospitals and care to prove it.  

Almost all the doctors went to medical school in the UK, USA, or Australia, and have those same standards of care, even if they can’t charge that level of cost.

It’s not just the cost that makes the healthcare in Malaysia so incredible. On the whole, the doctors are fabulous and actually care. They aren’t doing it for the money or the prestige. They are doing it to help people, novel idea, I know.

The hospitals also have cutting-edge facilities, as do the dentists, which is another reason the Kuala Lumpur living costs are so low.

Eyecare is another thing you won’t need to save up for here. Buying prescription lenses costs less than ¼ of the cost in North America. So, it doesn’t matter if you need coke bottle lenses or not. It’s affordable.

Because healthcare is so affordable, many expats pay out of pocket for the basics but have health insurance for anything catastrophic. Some Kuala Lumpur expats working on a contract get health insurance as part of their expat package.

Many digital nomads have international health insurance or a travel policy, so they don’t have to worry about something major happening.

Food, Glorious Food

I know it seems ridiculous that expats would move abroad for the food. And maybe that’s a bit of a stretch. It’s not the most significant reason to be an expat in Malaysia. But it’s undoubtedly one of the reasons people stay and gain weight while they do.

And even the heartiest of local meals won’t break the bank. It’s the booze that makes you whip out your credit card.

One great advantage of Kuala Lumpur living is the sheer variety of cuisine. Yes, you can get all the delicious street food on the cheaps. However, you can also find practically every other type of fare.

Vegan? No problem.

Spanish? Yup.

Argentinian? You betcha.

Mexico? Si.

Greek? Ok, well, you can’t have everything.

So, no Greek food, but you can have Michelin star experiences. And then, after you spend a couple of hundred on tiny plates of food, you can go outside and eat a RM6/$1.50 plate of noodles to fill you up.

See, KL does have it all. And it really is a gastronomic hub.

The Final Say

No place is perfect. There are disadvantages of living in Kuala Lumpur, just as there are in any big city… traffic jams and noise to name a few. But there are a lot of advantages.

Is Malaysia a good country to settle down in? I’ve asked all my friends who’ve chosen a life in Kuala Lumpur, and the answer is always a resounding yes. Do they get annoyed and have pet peeves about it? Of course. But not so much they are planning to leave any time soon.

And it’s not just my friends who love KL. There are thousands upon thousands of expats and digital nomads who make it their home. They can’t all be wrong.

So, let’s get this straight, living in Kuala Lumpur means you can have a Western world lifestyle while speaking English without paying a ton of money for it.

Sounds like champagne taste on a beer budget.

Pretty good, right?

If you want to know ALL the living in Malaysia pros and cons, read this post.  

*BTW: All $ prices are USD.

So, what do you think? Is Kuala Lumpur a good place to live? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

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