Visas & long-stay options
Malaysia offers several routes for families, from MM2H to employment and dependent passes. We break down which paths fit a family and what each requires.
Country Guides · Updated for 2026
Moving to Malaysia: a family relocation guide.
Malaysia is our first country guide - what we’re learning as we plan our own move. Visas, cost of living, healthcare, schools, housing, and safety. More countries are in the works.
Cost of living
Kuala Lumpur and Penang can cost a fraction of Los Angeles for housing, food, and childcare - but international schooling and imported goods add up.
Healthcare
Malaysia has well-regarded private hospitals at a lower cost than the US. We cover how it works for expats and what insurance to pair with it.
Schools
A deep bench of international schools across British, American, and IB curricula, plus local options.
Housing & neighborhoods
Where families tend to land, what rent looks like, and tradeoffs between condo living and landed homes.
Safety & daily life
Getting around, language, food, community, and the adjustments that catch newcomers off guard.
More country guides
Where we’re headed next.