Sarawak, Malaysia

Oil and gas dominate here — Petronas and its contractors employ a significant chunk of Sarawak's professional workforce, particularly in Miri, which functions as the state's petroleum hub. Timber and palm oil still move money, though tighter regulations since the 2000s have squeezed margins and headcounts in those sectors. Tourism around Gunung Mulu and Kuching's heritage district creates hospitality work, but not high-paying work. Remote workers and digital nomads can operate comfortably; locals in white-collar roles often depend on government contracts or resource-sector adjacency.

A one-bedroom in Kuching city center runs around $450/month, which is genuinely affordable by Southeast Asian expat standards. English is widely spoken — more so than almost anywhere else in Malaysia — which cuts bureaucratic friction considerably. Healthcare in Kuching is adequate at private hospitals like Normah Medical Specialist Centre, though complex cases get referred to Kuala Lumpur. Getting around without a car is frustrating; public transport is thin and ride-hailing coverage is inconsistent outside the city core. Immigration paperwork for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) has become more restrictive and expensive since 2021.

Expect heat and humidity every single day — temperatures hover around 32°C with rainfall that doesn't follow a dry season so much as a slightly-less-wet season. The food scene in Kuching is a genuine highlight: kolo mee, laksa Sarawak, and open-air hawker stalls that cost under $3 a meal. The expat community is small but stable, skewed toward oil-sector contractors and a handful of long-term retirees. Weekends mean river cruises, national park day trips, or eating your way through the Sunday market. This city suits people who want low cost, low crime, and low stress — and don't need a large expat social scene to feel at home.