Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia with nearly 2 million inhabitants. Among them are many foreigners who are currently living and working in this modern metropolis, which is also the technological, commercial and financial center of the country.
Public transportation is inadequate for the city, it is not very efficient, but at least the traffic is not as crazy as in other metropolises, and Kuala Lumpur is one of the few metropolises in this part of the world where you can even think about driving a car. Unfortunately, as in all major Asian cities, the problem of air pollution is particularly conspicuous, even if cars are only partly responsible for it, because the main cause of air pollution is industrial emissions.
As for education, it must be said that there is a big difference between public and private schools. The (paid) private schools are of a good standard, while not all private schools are adequate. Medical care in Malaysia is of good quality and free for residents. As an expatriate, you should make sure that your employment contract includes health insurance
In Kuala Lumpur, you can expect typical hot and humid tropical weather with abundant rainfall during the rainy season.
Although the cost of living in Kuala Lumpur is not too high, prices of everything from real estate to food have increased dramatically recently. Renting an apartment in the city center can be extremely expensive, partly due to the fact that many residential areas are fenced off and guarded 24/7 by security guards that you have to pay for. However, the cost of living is not as high as in other developed countries in Asia, but salaries are not very high either.
Being a Muslim country, it is much easier to make friends with people of the same sex than with people of the opposite sex. However, it is a multicultural and multiracial city where you can meet people from all over the world, but especially from Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of different cultures: Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian. All these cultures integrate and coexist in harmony.
Being the capital of the country, it offers many entertainment options, meeting places and restaurants of all kinds and nightlife takes place in the hundreds of bars and discos scattered throughout the city. Among other things, there are no particular language barriers, because English is widely spoken.
As for jobs and especially salaries in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia in general, they are not high unless in IT or STEM. Also, companies will always hire a Malaysian rather than a foreigner. Foreigners only have a real chance of getting a job in the technical, engineering or health fields if they have good work experience. For college graduates, on the other hand, there is only the possibility of doing an internship with a very low salary, but this is the only way to gain a foothold in the Malaysian job market.
Tourism and hospitality are one of the economic engines of Kuala Lumpur, one of the most visited cities in the world. Therefore, if you have good skills, it is possible to find employment in this sector. One of the advantages of working in Kuala Lumpur is that there is less competition than in other major Asian cities and it is easier to move up the hierarchy within the company and make a career. The work-life balance is also much better than in countries like Japan or Korea. In addition, employees enjoy a high level of protection in the workplace, so it is quite difficult to be fired.
For the job search, the usual advice applies, in addition to LinkedIn you can use the job search websites, you can use the various recruitment agencies or contact the companies directly. Remember that you need a work visa to work in Malaysia, and to get this visa you need to find a company that will sponsor you, and to be sponsored usually requires a degree.
Living and working in Kuala Lumpur – pros and cons
Living in Kuala Lumpur, pros
- Reasonable cost of living
- Good shopping opportunities at lower prices than in other countries
- Possibility to live only with English
- Strategic geographical location
- Good education and health
- People are not particularly racist
- Religious tolerance
- Warm weather all year round
Living in Kuala Lumpur, cons
- Low wages
- Wet weather and torrential rains
- Lack of security, presence of many thieves and pickpockets
- Lack of social system
- Inefficiency of public offices and a high level of bureaucracy
Living and working in Kuala Lumpur, conclusion
Kuala Lumpur is a great place to visit. The people here are friendly. The weather is good. You can find all the cuisines in the world. There are many sights, starting with the Petronas Towers, and it is possible to shop at very good prices. The only precaution is to beware of the many pickpockets in the city.
In conclusion, I would say that Kuala Lumpur is a perfect city if you want to visit it for a couple of days, I’m not so sure it’s a good option to live there.
For those interested in moving to Malaysia, I highly recommend reading the article: Living in Malaysia pros and cons
