06 August 2023 · Country Matchups · Asia
Malaysia vs Vietnam: Cost of Living for Remote Workers
A veteran SEA expat lays out the numbers, the vibes and the hidden fees nobody tells you about.
“Choose your base like you’d choose a travel buddy: compatible budgets, compatible quirks.”
After six years of yo-yoing between Kuala Lumpur’s sky-bridges and Da Nang’s beach cafés, I’ve learned that cost of living isn’t a single receipt—it’s the sum of habits, neighborhoods and (let’s be honest) your weakness for third-wave coffee. This post breaks down the big-ticket items remote workers obsess over—housing, coworking, noodles, visas and safety—so you can decide whether to plant your laptop in Malaysia or Vietnam.
Quick-Glance Cost Table
Category (Monthly) | Kuala Lumpur (MYR) | Penang (MYR) | Ho Chi Minh City (VND) | Da Nang (VND) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1-bed apartment, central | 2,800–3,800 | 1,800–2,600 | 12–16 M | 9–13 M |
Coworking hot desk | 450–650 | 350–500 | 2–3 M | 1.5–2.2 M |
Street-food lunches (20x) | 280 | 240 | 1 M | 0.9 M |
Fancy barista coffees (15x) | 225 | 210 | 750 k | 675 k |
Mobile data 20 GB | 35 | 35 | 180 k | 180 k |
Grab/Bike Taxi budget | 350 | 250 | 1.2 M | 1 M |
Exchange rates used: 1 MYR ≈ 5,200 VND, 1 USD ≈ 4.6 MYR ≈ 23,500 VND.
Housing & Coworking Costs
Malaysia: Glassy Condos, Olympic Pools, Grab-able
I still remember my first KL apartment: 37th-floor studio, infinity pool with Petronas views, and rental of RM 3,100 (≈ US$675) including weekly cleaning. If your jaw’s on the floor, join the club—that’s the KL expat brag.
Pros: - Condo facilities: Pools, gyms, BBQ decks, even karaoke rooms. - Utilities & Internet: Fiber 300 Mbps for RM 130; electricity RM 150-250 if you’re an A/C fiend. - Availability: Facebook groups & iBilik list new units daily; leases flexible.
Cons: - Depreciating Ringgit = occasional rent hikes in foreign currency terms. - Commute time: Traffic is a villain outside the city’s rails.
Penang offers cheaper rents—think RM 1,800 for a quiet seaview 1-bed in Tanjung Tokong—but coworking options thin out past George Town.
Coworking snapshot: - Common Ground KL Sentral Hot Desk: RM 650/mo. - WORQ TTDI Flexi Pass: RM 500/mo. - Penang’s @CAT: RM 350/mo. plus all-day kopi-o.
Vietnam: From French Balconies to Beach Villas
Vietnamese rentals are more DIY. Expect to pay one month deposit, one month rent, and bargain (politely) via Zalo.
- Ho Chi Minh City: District 1/3 serviced studio, 35 m²: 14 M VND (≈ US$590).
- Da Nang: Two-bed beachfront villa split between three nomads: 18 M VND total (≈ US$760).
Utilities add 1-2 M VND; fiber internet is usually 300 k VND.
Coworking snapshot: - The Hive Thao Dien: 2.9 M VND/mo hot desk. - Enouvo Space, Da Nang: 1.8 M VND/mo, 24/7 access, free pho Fridays.
Pro tip: In Vietnam, “coworking” might just be a café with 50 Watt chargers under every table. Buy a 45 k VND latte and you’ve basically rented a desk for the day.
Food & Lifestyle Comparison
Malaysia: Hawker Heaven Meets Hipster Brunch
• Street food: Nasi lemak, char kway teow, roti canai—RM 6–10 a plate.
• Mid-range dining: RM 30 gets you ceviche at a Peruvian popup.
• Alcohol: Malaysia’s Achilles’ heel. Imported beer RM 20, cocktails RM 35-45. Local “Tiger” is cheaper but still taxed.
• Groceries: Jaya Grocer and Village Grocer stock burrata & blueberries but at 30-50 % mark-ups.
Lifestyle splurges: - Muay Thai classes: RM 180–220 monthly. - Weekend getaway to Langkawi: RM 60 flight + RM 80 duty-free gin (worth it).
Vietnam: Pavement Stools & Unlimited Condensed Milk
• Street food: Bowl of bun cha or pho ga: 35 k–50 k VND (≈ US$1.50-2).
• Mid-range dining: 200 k VND for tapas at a Spanish bodega in District 2.
• Alcohol: Bia hơi (fresh draft) costs as little as 7 k VND (US$0.30). Cocktails: 120 k VND.
• Groceries: WinMart for basics; Annam Gourmet for cheese at wallet-melter prices.
Lifestyle splurges: - Monthly gym: 600 k–1.2 M VND. - Weekend train to Hoi An: 150 k VND; suit up for tailor-made linen for 1.5 M VND.
Pull-quote:
“If your budget hinges on craft beer, Vietnam wins. If your happiness is measured in jackfruit curry and safe tap water, Malaysia edges ahead.”
Visa Flexibility
Malaysia: Friendly Stays & MM2H
Most Western passports receive a 90-day Social Visit Pass on arrival. Rinse and repeat via a quick hop to Singapore or Bangkok—plenty of nomads do a “Q3 visa shuffle.”
For longer commitments, the revamped MM2H program offers multi-year residency if you meet savings & income thresholds. It’s not free, but it beats perpetual visa runs once you’re earning Southeast Asia money yet paying OECD taxes (talk to an accountant—I’m not one).
Vietnam: 90-Day e-Visa—Finally!
As of August 2023, Vietnam rolled out a single-entry or multiple-entry e-visa valid up to 90 days. Processing costs US$25 and typically lands in your inbox within four working days. Extensions once in country are murky—immigration offices may grant 30 days more for an extra fee, but don’t bank on it.
If you need longer:
- Do the border bounce to Cambodia/Laos and re-enter.
- Use an agent for a business visa invite letter (prices fluctuate).
Comparative headache level: Malaysia ★☆☆ (easy), Vietnam ★★☆ (moderate).
Visa tip: Submit travel insurance proof—even when optional. It speeds approvals and shows you’re not a hospital hobo.
Community & Safety
Community
Malaysia: - Kuala Lumpur’s “Nomad Coffee Club” Telegram group hosts weekly meetups—they fill a 30-person table faster than you can say kopi ais. - Penang’s heritage streets attract artists more than SaaS founders.
Vietnam: - In HCMC, District 2 (Thao Dien) is a mini Chiang Mai: aerial yoga, keto bakeries, crypto bros. - Da Nang’s beach nomads gather for 6 am surf sessions before standups.
Given Vietnam’s lower booze prices and later closing times, networking often skips Slack and goes straight to rooftops. Malaysia’s Muslim majority means bars exist but nightlife feels tamer and pricier.
Safety
Both countries rank well for personal safety, but nuances matter.
Malaysia: - Petty theft uncommon in condo zones; pickpocketing at crowded Bukit Bintang malls. - Ride-hailers vetted; lone female riders report high comfort levels.
Vietnam: - Bag snatching on motorbikes does happen. Wear your backpack front-side while filming those TikToks. - Traffic is a gladiator arena—cross streets with a steady pace, no sudden zig-zags.
Healthcare: - KL’s private hospitals (Pantai, Gleneagles) rival Singapore’s at half the cost. - Vietnam offers international clinics (FV Hospital) but evacuations to Thailand aren’t unheard of for major surgeries. Insurance, always.
Putting It All Together: What Will a Month Cost Me?
Below are two archetype budgets: The “Frugal Freelancer” and the “Comfortably Funded Consultant.” Adjust where your lifestyle falls.
Malaysia Monthly Budget (Kuala Lumpur)
Frugal Freelancer (RM)
- Room in shared condo: 1,300
- Street food & groceries: 900
- Coworking (flex pass): 500
- Transportation (Grab + LRT): 350
- Misc/Entertainment: 400
Total: RM 3,450 (≈ US$750)
Comfortable Consultant (RM)
- 1-bed condo w/ pool: 3,200
- Dining out & groceries: 1,500
- Premium coworking: 650
- Fitness classes: 400
- Nights out & weekend travel: 1,200
Total: RM 6,950 (≈ US$1,510)
Vietnam Monthly Budget (Ho Chi Minh City)
Frugal Freelancer (VND)
- Studio in District 3: 8 M
- Street food overload: 3 M
- Café-hopping instead of coworking: 1.5 M
- GrabBike + occasional taxis: 1 M
- Misc: 1 M
Total: 14.5 M (≈ US$615)
Comfortable Consultant (VND)
- Serviced 1-bed D1: 15 M
- Dining & Netflix nights: 5 M
- Premium coworking: 3 M
- Gym + yoga: 2 M
- Social & travel: 5 M
Total: 30 M (≈ US$1,275)
Noticed the pattern? Vietnam undercuts Malaysia by roughly 15-25 % on core living costs, but Malaysia claws back points with smoother visas, infrastructure, and yes—safe tap water.
When Cost Isn’t Everything
- Power cuts: Vietnam sees more brownouts (especially central coast). Investing in a power bank saved my Monday deadlines more than once.
- Seasons: Monsoon in KL = flash floods; rainy season in HCMC = ankle-deep streets. Da Nang’s typhoons can shut the city for days.
- Cultural fit: Malaysia’s cultural mosaic makes Ramadan a unique experience; Vietnam’s Tết holiday can feel like a ghost town if you don’t plan ahead.
If island life is tempting but the spreadsheets say no, compare this matchup with our recent roundup: Thailand vs Philippines: Island Living Costs. Your Pareto-optimal paradise might be just one visa run away.
Final Verdict
Choose Malaysia if you: - Crave first-world infrastructure at second-tier prices. - Need hassle-free 90-day stays and an upgrade path via MM2H. - Value multicultural cuisine (halal to dim sum) and low language barriers.
Choose Vietnam if you: - Want to push living costs to the floor without sacrificing city energy. - Thrive in fast, frenetic environments and don’t mind a bit of bureaucratic dance. - Plan to drink your savings in craft beer—or invest them in strong Vietnamese coffee.
Still undecided? BorderPilot’s data engine can crunch your income, lifestyle quirks and visa tolerance to pinpoint your best SEA base. Start your free relocation plan today and turn that couch-bound daydream into a boarding pass.