Moving from Middle East to Malaysia

Your current salary converts to RM1373.12 per month. I don't know what your job is, but its a very low salary even if you have accommodation (worth about RM3-400 per month and that would be flat or room sharing). Its what a senior bar/restaurant worker might earn (RM1100 is about the starting rate). What kind of job do you do?

Here is a salary guide based on KL salaries which are a little higher than Penang in many cases.

http://www.academia.edu/9843873/Kelly_S … lary_guide

Your food is costing you about RM210 per month and it will probably cost a bit more in Penang.

Hello Gravitas,

As I checked the conversion, BHD350 is RM3644.45 per month. Please help, as I am now confuse if I'm looking for the correct conversion. I am a graphic designer actually. I know that I am underpaid in that amount here in Bahrain but I moved here for expat experience.

Thank you

Yes, sorry, you are right, I did something wrong !!

The exchange rate for your food costs was correct - so I think you will spend minimum RM300-400 per month for food etc. Otherwise rule of thumb for spending money is about RM30 per day if eating lunch out and having a nice coffee, but you can cut that down to much less by choosing street food and beverages (RM 15-20 might be sufficient).

So are you saying if you take a direct currency conversion of your  current salary the company will provide free accommodation and transport (or top it up with money representing those costs?  Not sure what you meant. So if you were to ask more, they would not pay your acc/travel?

It would be good to ask if you will have a room to yourself? And whether you have to pay utilities, internet, etc. on top.

Hi, they told me they will provide acc/transportation but I will pay for my own utilities like internet and electricity. Same as my package here in Bahrain, but here, they are paying the electricity bill.

Now I need advise on how much I can ask as salary expectation. If I ask RM4000 + overtime pay (ex.2hrs), can save the same as what I am saving here? Let's say I am saving around BHD280-300 (RM2900-3100) here in Bahrain. We don't have income tax here.

Thank you for your response!

Can you tell me where in Penang are you going to be working? If it is on Penang Island that is more pleasant than on the mainland part of Penang.

Here are the Malaysian income tax rates

Tax steps on annual salary (i.e. 12 x monthly salary) are:
                 2015
0-5,000                    0%                                                 
5,000-10,000      1%  which equals RM50
10,001-20,000    1%  +RM50
20,001-35,000    5%  +RM750
35,001-50,000   10%  +RM1,500
50,001-70,000   16% +RM3,200
70,001-100,000   21% +RM6,300
100,001-250,000  24% +RM36,000
250,001-400,000  24.5% +RM36,750
Exceeding 400 000  25%  +RM?

You can work out how much you will pay on your monthly salary from the above. The first 182 days a flat rate of 24% should be deducted, but that can be equalised i.e. the amount too much you pay will be returned.

You pay income tax on accommodation, transport, and overtime as well.

That is in Mainland Penang.