How We Found a Slower, More Affordable Life in Malaysia

How We Found a Slower, More Affordable Life in Malaysia
Life in Malaysia gave us more freedom, less stress, and better balance.|©iStock/San Hazize

About a decade ago, my wife came home from work after another exhausting 12-hour shift. She woke me up and said, “I can’t do this anymore.”

At the time, our lives revolved around work. I taught school during the week, while Emily regularly worked long shifts that ran late into the night and often into the weekend. We felt like we barely saw each other.

We knew something had to change.

So we made an escape plan.

By leaving the U.S. and lowering our cost of living, we realized we could retire much earlier than we ever imagined. More importantly, we could finally build a life that didn’t revolve around stress, traffic, and work schedules.

That decision eventually led us to Malaysia, and we immediately fell in love with the country. Life there looked nothing like the one we left behind. We traded stressful commutes for sunset walks on the beach, and rushed 15-minute lunch breaks for long, leisurely meals filled with flavorful local dishes.

Why Malaysia?

If someone asked me for the number-one reason we love Malaysia, I’d say the people.

Malaysians are incredibly warm and welcoming. One man we met at a bus stop invited us to a local celebration within minutes of meeting us. Another friend welcomed us to her family farm to pick fresh produce. Encounters like these became a regular part of life.

Malaysia also made daily life easy in a way we hadn’t experienced elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Almost everyone speaks English, which removes one of the biggest hurdles many expats face overseas. Ordering food, visiting a doctor, setting up cellphone service, or chatting with neighbors all felt simple and comfortable.

That ease of communication helped us settle in quickly.

Then there’s the food.

The food in Malaysia is one of the country’s biggest highlights. Almost everywhere we go, the scent of sizzling curries, grilled satay, and fragrant spices drifts through the streets. Malaysia’s food scene blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences, giving residents an incredible variety of dishes to enjoy.

One day we might order spicy nasi lemak or flaky roti canai, while the next we’re digging into noodles or Chinese stir-fry. And for anyone craving familiar comforts from home, international restaurants are easy to find in most cities.

Plenty to See and Do

Malaysia offers an impressive variety of activities packed into a relatively small country.

We snorkeled in the crystal-clear waters of the Perhentian Islands, wandered through museums in Kuala Lumpur, and explored the historic streets of Melaka. In Ipoh, we spent afternoons paddleboarding on a quiet river outside the city. In Kuching and near Taiping, we visited orangutan reserves and learned more about Malaysia’s wildlife conservation efforts.

One of our favorite things about Malaysia is how easy it is to explore. Weekend trips are simple, affordable, and convenient.

Whether you prefer beaches, cooler mountain towns, modern cities, or jungle adventures, Malaysia offers something for almost everyone.

Affordable Healthcare and Everyday Costs

Another thing that impressed us was Malaysia’s healthcare system.

We found private hospitals modern, efficient, and remarkably affordable compared with costs in the U.S. During one visit to Penang, my wife had a medical procedure that cost about $700. The same procedure in the U.S. would have cost close to $3,000.

Malaysia also combines low living costs with well-developed infrastructure—something that’s surprisingly rare.

Malaysia is one of the few places we’ve found that combines a low cost of living with modern, reliable infrastructure. Day-to-day expenses are dramatically lower than in the U.S., especially when it comes to housing, transportation, and food. Even familiar Western restaurant chains cost less.

For example, a plate of chicken fajitas at an American chain restaurant costs about $18.59 in the U.S., compared with roughly $9.42 in Malaysia. But we save even more by eating local food, where delicious meals from hawker stalls often cost just $2 to $3. Comfortable apartments can be rented for around $700 a month, sometimes less, depending on the location, and utilities are also far more affordable than what we paid back home.

Today, we estimate that our comfortable lifestyle in Malaysia would cost around $1,800 per month for two people, but is possible to live on less

Sample Monthly Budget for Two

ExpenseMonthly Cost
Housing and utilities$800
Food$400
Health and insurance$350
Miscellaneous$125
Entertainment$75
Transportation$50
Total$1,800

What Does Daily Life Look Like?

Weekend adventures are easy in Malaysia thanks to its compact size.
Weekend adventures are easy in Malaysia thanks to its compact size.|©iStock/Nalidsa Sukprasert

A typical morning in Malaysia might begin with a cup of coffee on the balcony, watching the waves roll onto the shore. After a light breakfast, we usually head to the gym or swimming pool—amenities commonly included in many high-rise apartment buildings. Later in the morning, we might stop by a local wet market for fresh vegetables, seafood, and tropical fruit. If we’re near a hawker center around lunchtime, we’ll grab inexpensive street food like noodles, rice dishes, or satay skewers.

Afternoons are relaxed. I often work on videos for our YouTube channel, Snail Travelers, while my wife spends time sewing or meeting friends. Most evenings end with a light dinner at home, an expat gathering, or a walk along the beach to watch the sunset. But the best part of our daily life in Malaysia isn’t the scenery or even the affordability. It’s the absence of stress. For the first time in years, we no longer feel exhausted all the time.

Where Are the Best Places to Live?

We spent time living in several different parts of Malaysia, and each offered something unique.

Penang gave us the strongest sense of expat community. It was easy to meet people from around the world, and the island combines beaches, city conveniences, and incredible food.

Cameron Highlands offered a completely different lifestyle. The cooler mountain climate was a welcome break from tropical heat, and the slower pace felt peaceful and refreshing.

Ipoh became one of our favorite cities because of its lower cost of living, relaxed atmosphere, and central location.

We also spent time in Kuching, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Langkawi.

That variety is one of Malaysia’s greatest strengths. Whether someone wants a modern city, a beach lifestyle, a cooler mountain town, or a quieter retirement destination, Malaysia offers an option that fits.

Could We Live There Forever?

We arrived in Malaysia in March 2020, just as the world began shutting down during the pandemic.

At the time, we started applying for the MM2H visa program, which would have allowed us to remain in the country long term. Unfortunately, the program was suspended before we completed the process.

Still, Malaysia treated us well during a difficult period. We ended up staying for more than a year and developed an even deeper appreciation for the country during that time.

Today, we live in Türkiye, but we continue returning to Malaysia whenever we can. Every visit reminds us why we fell in love with it in the first place. The affordable lifestyle, excellent food, welcoming people, and relaxed pace of life continue to make Malaysia one of our favorite places in the world.

And if we ever decide to move again, Malaysia will be at the top of our list.

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