Job at sungai petani, kedah, malaysia @ RM 5000 + accommodation

Hi  shalini77],

Welcome to expat-blog!

A new topic was created from your post for better views and interactions on the Kuala Lumpur forum.

I suggest you to go through some topic on the Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur forum might help you get more information.

Thank you,

David.

Readers will not be able to tell how much your expenditure will be as it depends on your lifestyle, i.e. do you need a car (probably you will), do you go out to eat, drink alcohol and entertain?  Do you want to travel?

First you need to deduct income tax. It is 26% if you work less than 182 days in Malaysia in any calendar year.  If you work more than 182 days the rate is about 20%.

Is the employer offering health care?  That is an important aspect especially when you have a children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungai_Petani

This is an approximation of costs - based on Alor Setar which is also in Kedah. You can change the town/city to get more prices (KL has the largest range)

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ci … Alor+Setar

If the place you have been given to live only has air con (no ceiling fans) and you want to use it regularly your electricity bill could be as much as RM500 per month. Do you have to pay management fees for the upkeep of the condo where you are staying? That could be quite a bit of money.  Do you have to pay the ground rent or local property tax?  Again this will be a sizeable payment?

If you have to pay sewerage it is RM24 per 3 months, water will be about RM15-20 per month, cooking gas about RM40-50 per month max.

If you have a car you will need to either rent it for an all-in figure per month (includes insurance). Petrol is RM2.10 (Ron 95)-RM 2.85 (Ron 97) per litre and diesel is RM 2.00.

A good exercise would be take your current expenditure and then find out the equivalent in Malaysia from the links provided.

You may also have to think about pre-school (Tadika) charges for your child within a year or so - to ensure a good start.

Tax does not work like that. Each calendar year is assessed separately. 

You should ask your prospective employer if they will deduct 26% for the first 182 days (6 months) in 2014 - if you arrive before January 2014 (which will be taxed at 26% automatically for 2013). Sometimes employers still deduct the 26% until you have completed the 6 months (182 days) in 2014 as if you left suddenly or went back to your home country for a visit and stayed more than 14 days in aggregate - then it affects your Malaysian tax situation. The second part of 2014 would be taxed at around 20% (although as you have accommodation it's value is also taxed). If you are taxed at 26% and have been in Malaysia in accordance with the tax residency rules, when you file your tax papers in early 2015, any repayment due will be returned.

Here is a good tax resource for you to use:

http://www.mia.org.my/new/psp_taxation_ … d=9&id=945

If you are not paying the health insurance yourself, then that may also be taxed as a benefit in kind.

Cars cost what you want to spend. Take a look at Mudah to get some idea of the age and price of vehicles.  There is little or no local transport so you will almost certainly need at least a motorbike to get to work.

http://www.mudah.my/li?fs=1&ca=9_s&q=&c … e=&rs=&re=