When an expat Indian couple posted a YouTube video explaining why they left Singapore after nearly a decade to raise their family in Kuala Lumpur, the response from Malaysian viewers was not quite what they might have expected.
Alongside the warm comments were pointed ones, particularly from locals who questioned whether the Malaysia being described in the video was a Malaysia most Malaysians could actually afford.
A different Malaysia, depending on your salary
The couple, Sowmya and Mothi, originally from Tamil Nadu, run a lifestyle YouTube channel with around 189,000 subscribers. In the video, they described renting a near 2,000 square foot home in Bangsar at a significantly lower cost than the 750 square foot two-bedroom condominium they used to rent in Singapore for SGD4,000 a month.
But as Malaysian viewers pointed out, the comfort the couple enjoys is tied to the salary packages typically offered to foreign executives. With rent in Bangsar starting at around RM2,500 and roughly half of Malaysians earning between RM4,000 and RM5,000 a month, the math looks very different for locals.
The same commenter said they were actually planning to move in the opposite direction, from Malaysia to Chennai, where a post-tax monthly income of INR80,000 (roughly RM3,500) would stretch considerably further than it does in KL.
Another viewer put it more plainly: the couple were living a T20 life in Malaysia, and most locals could not afford their lifestyle. The same commenter noted that even a local senior engineer might only earn around RM10,000 a month, a fraction of what foreign expats in the same role often take home.
Other viewers defended the couple, arguing that the point isn’t which country pays more, but what you can do with what you earn.
What the couple actually said
The video itself, uploaded by Sowmya and Mothi, documented their decision to leave Singapore in 2024 after nearly 10 years.
“We lived in Singapore for almost 10 years. Then one day, we decided to pack everything and move to Malaysia,” Mothi said.
He added that friends and family questioned the decision, given Singapore’s reputation for safety, efficiency, and career opportunities.
Beyond housing, the couple said their weekly grocery spending dropped from around SGD250 to SGD300 in Singapore to RM400 to RM500 in Kuala Lumpur, despite buying more items.
“You can buy 200 grams or even just RM3 worth of something. It reminds me of India,” Sowmya said.
Where Singapore still wins
The couple were open about Singapore’s strengths. They described its public transport as more efficient, noting that owning a car there is optional while it is almost necessary in Kuala Lumpur.
They also praised Singapore’s safety standards, with Mothi noting that women there can walk alone at night comfortably, while in Malaysia people tend to take more precautions. Tap water in Singapore is drinkable straight from the tap, while they now rely on a water filtration subscription in their KL home.
Why Malaysia still felt like home
Beyond the cost, the couple described Malaysia as having a warmer sense of community and a more relaxed pace of life. They said Malaysians were friendlier, more open to social interaction, and more likely to invite neighbours over.
“We feel more at home here,” they said.
Their conclusion: Singapore suits young professionals building their careers, while Malaysia better suits those raising a family.
“Singapore gave us a foundation, but Malaysia gave us room to breathe as a family.”
Whether that room is equally available to everyone living here is a different question, and some Malaysian viewers have already started asking.
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Read also: ‘I gave up my family to pursue my dreams’ Shares 34 YO M’sian woman – In Real Life
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