[Complete Guide] Our Family's 6 Years in Malaysia
Hello. Our family relocated to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2019, mainly for our children's education, and spent about six years there before returning to Japan in the summer of 2025. Unlike a typical travel piece, this series focuses on what you only learn by actually living somewhere. Alongside six year-by-year articles, this hub page covers practical information for anyone considering a similar move — the MM2H program, international school fees, and more.
What you'll find here
- A year-by-year overview of six years of life abroad
- An overview of the MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) program
- International school fee ranges
- Climate and cost-of-living estimates, plus practical notes for anyone considering relocating
- A roundup linking to each year's detailed article
1. Six years at a glance: what our life abroad looked like
Our six years changed year by year — our home, our children's school, and how we lived all shifted along the way.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| Year 1 (2019) | Moved into a high-rise condo in Mont Kiara; life with a rooftop infinity pool began |
| Year 2 (2020-21) | Pandemic lockdowns, a move to a landed home in Cyberjaya (Symphony Hills), enrollment at Epsom College Malaysia (official: epsomcollege.edu.my), a year-end trip to Langkawi |
| Years 3-4 (2022-23) | A quieter stretch with fewer big events — life abroad simply became "daily life," with small realizations like indoor playgrounds and pest control adding up |
| Year 5 (2024) | Epsom College's Speech Day, where we really felt how much our child had grown |
| Year 6 (2025) | The realities of tap water and delivery services, and our last ordinary days before returning home |
Mont Kiara is an internationally diverse area clustered with upscale condominiums, while Cyberjaya is a planned tech hub in Selangor state known for landed homes and townhouses with yards. We even moved once within Cyberjaya itself, to a larger home.
2. Each year in detail (roundup)
- 🏙 Year 1 (2019) → "Life That Began by a Rooftop Pool in Mont Kiara"
- 🏊 Year 2 (2020-21) → "From a Pandemic Backyard Pool to a New Life in Cyberjaya and Langkawi"
- 🏫 Years 3-4 (2022-23) → "Indoor Playgrounds and Learning to Live with Pest Control"
- 🏆 Year 5 (2024) → "Speech Day at Epsom College Malaysia, and How Much My Daughter Had Grown"
- ✈️ Year 6 (2025) → "The Reality of Tap Water and Delivery, and Our Last Ordinary Days"
3. Practical guide: MM2H, international schools, and cost of living
For anyone considering relocating, here's a summary of the programs and costs involved. This is an area where rules and amounts change frequently, so please always confirm the latest with official sources (this article's information is current as of July 2026).
The MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) program
As of 2026, the MM2H program has been reorganized into four tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and SEZ (Special Economic Zone). Key requirements by tier are below (all subject to change — please verify):
| Tier | Approx. fixed deposit | Visa validity |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | USD 150,000 | 5 years (renewable) |
| Gold | USD 500,000 | 15 years (renewable) |
| Platinum | USD 1,000,000 | 20 years (renewable) |
| SEZ | USD 32,000-65,000 | 10 years (renewable) |
Applicants generally must be 25 or older (21+ for the SEZ tier), and purchasing property (held for at least 10 years) is now a required condition — requirements have become stricter and more structured since we first relocated. Spouses, children (up to a certain age), and parents/parents-in-law can be included. The rules were different when our family relocated, so anyone considering this now should check the current official MM2H information directly.
International school fees
Annual tuition at international schools around Kuala Lumpur varies widely by school tier. As a rough guide:
- Entry to mid-tier: roughly RM 12,000-55,000 per year
- Mid to upper-tier (Garden International School, Alice Smith, Mont'Kiara International School, etc.): roughly RM 65,000-130,000 per year
- Premium tier (ISKL, British International School of Kuala Lumpur, etc.): RM 100,000-165,000+ per year
On top of tuition, expect separate costs for enrollment fees, deposits, uniforms, and school bus service. Since September 2025, a 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) applies to the portion of annual fees above RM 60,000 — worth factoring into your budget (please verify current details).
Climate and cost-of-living estimates
- Climate: tropical, roughly 28-33°C year-round. Wet and dry seasons exist, but no four-season change
- Housing: rent for high-rise condos or landed homes varies widely by area, building age, and size (check locally)
- Food: local hawker stalls and food courts are very affordable; imported groceries and supermarkets can be closer to Japanese price levels
4. Rough costs: school fees, housing and living
Just examples — amounts vary. Always confirm current details locally/officially.
- International school tuition: RM 12,000-165,000+/year (varies hugely by school tier)
- Condo/housing rent: varies widely by area and size (check locally)
- A Langkawi trip (a few nights): varies by hotel grade; a luxury property like The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi (official: ritzcarlton.com (Langkawi)) requires a corresponding budget
- Everyday food: hawker stalls/food courts from a few hundred yen per meal
5. Practical notes for anyone considering relocating
- Finding a home: check maintenance fees, security setup, and shared pool availability during viewings
- Water: plan around a water dispenser or bottled water
- Delivery: make a habit of checking condition on arrival; being home to receive packages helps
- Choosing a school: compare curriculum (British/IB, etc.), fees, and school bus availability
- Taking a break: build in nearby getaways like Langkawi as a release valve from city life
6. Honest Q&A for families considering relocating
Q. Was relocating abroad with kids hard? A. It wasn't without its challenges. Water, housing, delivery — plenty of "normal" in Japan simply didn't apply. Even so, things like shared condo pools and the level of care at international schools brought real benefits to raising kids there.
Q. Do you need to speak English? A. Malaysia is a country where English is widely understood, so the language barrier for daily life felt relatively low. Schools are also taught in English as standard.
Q. Would you recommend Kuala Lumpur as a place to relocate to? A. The infrastructure is solid, and there are plenty of options if you want an international education for your kids. That said, tap water, housing quality, and delivery services all call for a "when in Rome" mindset if you're used to Japanese standards.
📌 Last updated: July 2026. MM2H program details, fees, and prices change. If you're considering relocating, please reconfirm with official sources and current information.
7. You might also like
- Start here → Home
All photos in this article were taken by our family during our time in Malaysia from 2019 to 2025. Systems, prices, and school details can change, so please reconfirm with official sources or on-site information if you're considering a similar move.
Where to book
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