What if you were born in Malaysia?

If you had grown up in Malaysia instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Kuala Lumpur could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: James Kerwin from Tbilisi, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Malaysia

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in MYR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Malaysia: MYR 4,550Rs 309,000
Rent (city centre): MYR 1,320
Transport (public transport): MYR 232
Food: MYR 658
Saved: MYR 683

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Malaysia: MYR 10,500Rs 711,000
Rent (suburbs): MYR 2,670
Transport (public transport): MYR 533
Food: MYR 1,780
Saved: MYR 1,570

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Malaysia: MYR 16,900Rs 1,150,000
Rent (city centre): MYR 4,150
Transport (car): MYR 1,590
Food: MYR 2,070
Saved: MYR 4,740

Try it with my own income

A day in Kuala Lumpur

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Kuala Lumpur, a city of mild winters around 25°C and warm summers around 26°C, and an umbrella is never far away.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Malay at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be nasi lemak: coconut rice with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and egg.
Evening
You get home with MYR 1,570 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast, the mountains and forest trails.

Malaysia compared with Pakistan

	Malaysia	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.4× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	77 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	16 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	3.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	26°C	26°C
Languages	Malay	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	MYR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Malaysia, living in Malaysia and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Malaysia?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around MYR 10,500 a month at the same level in Malaysia (about Rs 711,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Malaysia more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.4 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Malaysia?

Mainly Malay. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Malaysia?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Malaysia page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.