Innocent question (I know some things about Thailand, not so much about Malaysia). I know it’s a muslim country, can a non-muslim (Christian for me) have a normal life there without being discriminated, is alcohol legal, can one date to find a partner, etc?
Excuse my ignorance.

In Thailand, if you only know English, you will have problem interacting with the locals. Any locals who works in the tourist industry will know some English. But most others dont.

In Malaysia, you have a higher chance of being able to communicate with a random stranger using English.

I have worked on a fly-in fly-out basis in both countries. I felt expats were not particularly respected or welcomed in Thailand, in general or in the workplace, so if I had to choose I would choose Malaysia.

The non western-toruism style parts of Thailand are amazing, but I could definitely live my life in Malaysia and lived there several years ago too.

I know exactly why I enjoyed living there, but I am not sure how to explain it, fi that makes sense. I just felt naturally at home. I guess it is the blend of the UK colonialism so systems aren’t so different (unlike say one of my countries of origin, where I was not raised, which was a French colony so structures are of that style), the islamic elements and that sort.

Only trivial things stressed me out about living in Malaysia.

1. Language
2. Food is better in Malaysia
3. Women - as a single male romance is way better in Malaysia 4… easier to fit in culture

I have lived and worked in both. I do like Thailand, but went their attached. Way better.

I heard that Malaysia was better for dating than Bangkok. And that the food was more diverse and lively.

My husband lived in Malaysia. No problem with language but good to learn if youre going to be there long term.

Good food, good night life, not so much good work life balance but plenty of friends and fun activities to do especially in KL and easy to go to other countries and inside Malaysia.

Malaysia is a lot less seedy than Thailand.

The food in Malaysia is amazing but I find it boring and inferior to Thailand in every respect.

You can get purely with English in Malaysia. Malay does help for gov related stuff and to make friends. Mandarin or Hokkien in Penang, Cantonese in KL.

Bangkok is sinking

Malaysia is a lot easier to get around with English. Food is awesome. Cost of living is cheaper in KL than Bangkok and easier to buy property. Thailand is next door but I prefer the civility of society in KL vs Bangkok. As much as BKK can be a fun place to party, it’s a bit much for a day to day life for me.

I am kinda in the same boat- 58 years old, staring down the barrel of retirement. Have spent the past 5 years or so travelling SE Asia, doing long stays (a month at a time) looking for places to retire. Not full time, planning 6 months on and off through the year.

Thailand has great places like Chiang Mai, but the smoke in winter is horrid. Beach resorts like Pattaya and Phuket have gone to crap with so so many Russians and Chinese. Smaller cities are better.

Malaysia? Loved Penang. Loved Malacca. Also the place doesn’t stink of the devil’s lettuce like Thailand does. But…harder to get a good massage, beer is more expensive.

Plus the visa free thing. Ninety days in Malaysia, thirty in Thailand.

Tough call.

Malaysia is better if you are planning on settling down and raising a family. Better education system, population diversity, job prospects for English speakers and IMO food compared to Thailand.

If you plan on living the single bachelor life forever then you’d probably prefer Thailand.

Born and raised in KL but living in a Western country now, holidayed on many weekend trips to Thailand so I think I qualify to answer.

I always tell everyone that Malaysia is an (almost) first world country with third world prices. This of course not only applies to cost of living, but salaries too. It’s the best bang for your buck in terms of “development” vs cost. It’s like almost living in Singapore/Dubai, but with prices only slightly higher than India. It’s like Portugal or Greece but much cheaper.

Nowhere else in the world where you can have this. Turkey and Chile come close but probably ain’t as cheap.

Thailand, while indeed fun as a tourist and not too far behind in terms of development for the most part still feels like a third world country. Of course the malls in Bangkok are an exception.

There’s a saying in SE Asia- work in Singapore, holiday in Thailand, live in Malaysia.