Malaysian Earning RM8,000 A Month Moves To Singapore Over Difficulty Saving

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A Malaysian man earning RM8,000 a month has explained why he chose to work in Singapore, citing difficulty saving money in Malaysia as the main reason

In a Facebook post on Sunday, 29 March, the 30-year-old man many questioned his move, given his relatively high local salary.

“Don’t let that RM8,000 figure fool you,” he wrote, adding that after EPF, SOCSO, and income tax deductions, his take-home pay is closer to RM6,800.

He shared that much of his income is spent on fixed monthly commitments, outlining how quickly his salary is used up:
• Mortgage: RM2,100
• Car loan: RM500
• Medical card and life insurance: RM530
• Phone and home WiFi: about RM213
• Food, petrol, and daily essentials: RM1,500

After covering these expenses, he was left with roughly RM1,957 each month

Although it might seem he could save over RM23,000 annually, he said additional yearly expenses make that far from reality.

These include:
• Medical and dental check-ups: around RM1,000
• Car insurance and road tax: RM1,800
• Car servicing and tyres: around RM1,500
• Festive spending and angpao: RM1,000
• Annual vacation: RM5,000 to RM10,000
• Online shopping: around RM3,000
• Property taxes: RM1,300

After factoring in these costs, he said his actual yearly savings shrink to just around RM3,700.

In his post, the man admitted that his current income mainly sustains his lifestyle, with little room for meaningful savings

Whether he can save more, he added, largely depends on bonuses from his employer, typically equivalent to one to two months’ salary.

He also pointed out that while managing as a single individual is feasible, the thought of starting a family is daunting.

“With expenses like milk powder and diapers, how am I supposed to support a family with these savings?” he asked.

He concluded that his move to Singapore was not driven by ambition or competitiveness, but by financial necessity.

“It’s not about being overly competitive; it’s about reality leaving you with no other choice,” he said.