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Kuala Lumpur
#110 of 124
Asia

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Kuala Lumpur compare to Orlando?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Kuala Lumpur is 62% worse off vs in Orlando

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Kuala Lumpur compared to Orlando, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$21,670
-$98K (-82%) vs Orlando
Based on 126 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$15,169
-$70K (-82%) vs Orlando
Tax Rate: 30%

Community Insights

New

Kuala Lumpur offers a stark trade-off: you sacrifice high absolute earning potential for an incredibly comfortable, low-stress lifestyle. While the median software engineer salary (~$22k USD) is low by global standards, the purchasing power locally is massive, allowing mid-level devs to live like upper-class expats in other cities. It is increasingly becoming a hotspot for digital nomads earning foreign currency rather than career climbers seeking local employment.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment among expats is generally positive regarding lifestyle but mixed regarding career. Residents often express that they "live like kings" on modest salaries but admit that professional growth can feel stagnant compared to Singapore.

There is a strong consensus that the best way to enjoy KL is to "earn in USD, spend in MYR", with many advising against taking local employment unless it's an expat package with an MNC.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Orlando.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 12%

#15

of 124 cities

27/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Top 13%

#16

of 124 cities

10 events on luma

Current value

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#48

of 124 cities

30%

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Kuala Lumpur compared to Orlando?

Avg. Property Price
$2,575 / m²
9% cheaper than Orlando
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Kuala Lumpur to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
54% cheaper than Orlando
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia logo
AirAsia
Grab logo
Grab
MoneyLion logo
MoneyLion
Luxury Lifestyle on a Budget: Expats consistently report affording a high quality of life (modern condos with infinity pools and gyms) for ~$500-600 USD/month, which is impossible in Western tech hubs.
  • Digital Nomad Friendly: The introduction of the DE Rantau Nomad Pass makes it an accessible base for remote workers, with Reddit users praising the ease of visa processing compared to neighbors like Thailand.
  • Food Paradise: The local food scene is widely celebrated as affordable, diverse, and accessible 24/7, often cited as a major daily perk of living there.
  • English Proficiency: Unlike many other SE Asian tech hubs, English is widely spoken in the workplace and daily life, making the transition seamless for international engineers.
  • Strategic Travel Hub: Residents love the cheap and short flights to nearby destinations like Bali, Thailand, and Singapore, making it an excellent base for exploring Asia.

    • The Bad

    • Low Local Salaries: Reddit discussions frequently warn that local SWE salaries are significantly lower than in Singapore or the West (median ~$22k USD), making it hard to save significant amounts in absolute currency.
    • Traffic & Commute: Traffic is a major complaint, with commuters often stuck in jams for hours; the public transport (LRT/MRT) is improving but last-mile connectivity remains an issue.
    • Conservative Work Culture: Some users in local companies report a hierarchical environment where "bosses push subordinates," contrasting with the flatter structures found in Western tech firms.
    • Heat and Humidity: The relentless tropical weather is a common grievance, with the "sauna-like" heat making outdoor walking unpleasant during the day.
    • Pollution: Air quality can be poor (ranked #93 globally), with seasonal haze from regional burning being a specific health concern mentioned by residents.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Digital Nomads earning USD/EUR who want a luxury base with great infrastructure.

    Junior to Mid-level engineers looking for an "expat lite" experience in Asia where English is spoken and the barrier to entry is lower than Singapore.

    Remote workers who value having a condo with a pool, diverse food options, and a central travel hub over maximizing their savings account.

    Skip it if...

    Senior Engineers focused on maximizing Total Compensation (TC) or FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in USD terms—you will likely take a pay cut here.

    People who need a walkable city and hate traffic jams; KL is heavily car-dependent.

    Those expecting a fast-paced, cutting-edge Silicon Valley startup culture; the local tech scene is viewed as more "relaxed" or "outsourcing-heavy" compared to global hubs.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather1.5/10-74% vs Orlando
    Safety41-21%
    Pollution65+86%
    Events10+10
    1.5/10TechCities weather score vs 5.7/10 in Orlando

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    32°C(vs 28°C in Orlando)
    Average Low
    24°C(vs 18°C in Orlando)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,000h/yr-900h/yr(-31%)
    Hottest Month High
    33°C(vs 32°C in Orlando)
    Coldest Month Low
    23°C(vs 11°C in Orlando)
    Rainy Days
    159/yr+31/yr(+24%)

    Community & Quality

    Kuala Lumpur community pulse

    Kuala Lumpur has 10 Luma events listed.

    Orlando has no listed Luma events for comparison.

    Pollution Score

    Bottom 26%

    #93

    of 124 cities

    64.8/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 24%

    #96

    of 124 cities

    ≈13.6 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 17%

    #104

    of 124 cities

    40.9/100

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Bottom 12%

    #110

    of 124 cities

    Net Income

    Bottom 11%

    #112

    of 124 cities

    $15,169/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 9%

    #114

    of 124 cities

    15/100 weather score

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    13.6 years
    10.9 years longer than Orlando
    Muggy Days
    364/yr+178/yr(+96%)
    Cloud Cover
    86%(vs 47% in Orlando)