rushhour

Hi guys, I am from Sri Lanka but living in England from last 6 years. I got the offer in KL for around 15K per month. I am not getting many benefits other than that. I am still in the phase of negotiation. We are family of four, two kids 2 & 5. Is this salary enough?
Please help.
Thanks,
Meet

ex reg

It's a fair question.

But is your company paying you a fair salary?

You can hardly try negotiating for a higher salary or added remuneration such as housing allowance, bonuses, car allowance or transport allowance, medical allowance etc if you are at the top end of their pay scale.

Then where you live, where your kids will school, how often you eat out, how often do you intend taking holidays whether you buy a car etc will also affect the answer.

How long is a piece of string?

rushhour

Hi exreg
Many thanks for your reply. Humm I can decline the offer if the salary I am getting is not enough.
Probably this will give better picture
I will not need a huge house but something which is good enough for family of four. Also I will need one car. I am not too outgoing person so drinking etc is not that high on the list. Kids will go to private school , not sure where though.
Any advice is highly appreciated.
Thanks again,
Meet

ex reg

I can't help you with specifics unfortunately but there are some threads in this forum which should help and other posters might be able to give you information on costs of school, cars and general living.

But it should also be worth asking your company to help you with info on schooling and living costs.

I'm guessing that you won't be their first employee to work in KL.

rushhour

Ok no worries exreg, I have search on the forum but couldn't find anything specific. I just wanted to make sure I am getting the right deal. I am currently on 45K in UK but considering my wife not working and two kids I am not having the lifestyle I want in UK.
Anyone else willing to help me here please?
Thanks for your time

Harlow Lad

RM12.5k after tax about £100 a month less than what you get at the mo. However food in KL is cheap as well as housing. Car wise expect worst than the UK I'm afraid. BMW price tag for an ordinary Honda Civic in Malaysia motor industry thank to the government policy, unless you are happy settle with local cars. I'm pretty sure that your family will have a very comfortable life here than the UK. Obviously you cant expect driving a Porsche and live in a Mansion with that salary.

Hope all goes well for your family.

rushhour

Thank you harlowlad
I believe I am just able to do as same as in Uk so nothing extra ordinary then.
I have to find out the pre school cost etc to gauge real expenses.
Anyone has any idea about that?
Thanks

Harlow Lad

If google it, KL private international school start from RM16k per annum per kid. Well still a bit cheaper than the UK private education.

Yes thats nothing extra ordinary in KL in that salary. But less pressure than the UK and less taxation.

ex reg

I can't think of anyone I've known who was paid less for working overseas than they were in the UK.
Especially if they were working for the same company.

There is usually a premium paid for employees to work overseas.

I'm not trying to make you greedy or get all upity about what they are paying you.
It might well be the norm for your company and if you are happy with it and can live on it and you believe it is better for your family to be in Malaysia then that's fine.

But some companies do try to stiff employees who work for them overseas especially if it's the employees first overseas assignment.

BTW Harlow Lad the diff in salary would be a bit more than 100 quid per month wouldn't it???? I haven't done a calc because I don't know the tax rates for UK and Malaysia but I thought it might be closer to £400.
Tell me if I'm wrong.

rushhour

Hi exreg,
Thanks again for valuable info. No it is not the same company. I am not getting a managerial position but in technical field. Lets see what turns out from the negotiation.
Thanks again

rushhour

Hi guys, Here I am again. after negotiation it didn't turn out too good and I am only getting 15K with pension and sure bonus.
The other question is around tax. I have calculated tax around 35K for 180000 MYR income. Am I entitled to any tax relief in Malaysia. I have read some where that tax relief are around 9k(for individual)+3k (married)+other.
Can someone please help?
Many thanks

wayne1978

Check out this site, it calculates what tax you would pay
http://payroll.my/

dolaprenuer

my cousin who is a local is in property development his salary ranges from 8k to 11k per job. it doesnt differ very much. he finds that with a family of four young kids 1-9 years old. a wife. a car a mortgage. house to let. he has very little left over. most malaysian people earn about 4-5k a month mid career. and you can see how tight it is for most malaysians. since you're earning 15k and your children will be attending private school, its gonna be tight for you also. Another problem is that you're most likely be living in an uptown area. My advice as you're sri lanka you should fit in easier. dont go for a central location like brickfields or bangsar. but consider wider afield. as far as klang if you can. you'll have to commute every day. but there is a large south asian community there and you'll feel at home. Also its a bustling industrial commercial. residential city in its own right other than the two other major giant towns in selangor. kuala lumpur and shah alam.

rushhour

Thank you guys for your help.
@dolaprenuer - Thank you for your valuable advice. I will consider your advice regarding where to rent etc.
@wayne1978 - Thanks mate. That link seems to be out of date as it is I think calculating flat 26% tax whereas the taxation in Malaysia has slabs. I could be wrong.

At the end, it is little over 13K I will be getting after tax so I think it may be worthwhile to make a move and enjoy the tropical weather.
Malaysia here I come.

Cheers