“Over half of salary for commitment” – M’sian Says Living in KL With RM2.5k Pay is Like Playing ‘Squid Game’

With the rising costs of living, can you survive in Kuala Lumpur with a mere RM2,500 monthly salary?

A Malaysian man dubbed the experience of surviving with that pay in KL as “playing Squid Game”, and explained how the commitment alone has taken away more than half of his monthly wage.

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In a viral Threads post, the married man said that his monthly rental alone costs RM600, leaving him with RM1,900 left for other matters.

• Transportation to work (RM200)
• Dine out twice a day, RM10 for a meal (RM600)
• Phone and internet bills (RM100)

With only RM1,000 left, the man still has to think about his parents in his hometown and his child. 

While he agreed that there are some truths to what most people would have suggested – finding a better job, the man revealed that it is not as easy as it sounds. According to him, even with a university degree, many graduates in Malaysia face difficulty in finding a job that suits their qualifications.

“Rather than climbing the career ladder, many are forced to settle, taking whatever job they can get simply to survive.”

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The man also admitted that social stigma has deemed it tough for him (and others) to open up about the financial struggle, out of fear of being judged and misunderstood. Despite his hardship, the man still motivated others who were going through a similar struggle, encouraging and convincing them that it is not about laziness but,

“The system makes us struggle. The prices of everything go up, but not our salaries.”

“If you can’t relate to this struggle, please don’t forget those who are fighting for their survival. We’re not looking for a luxury lifestyle, we just want a peaceful life.”

To the fresh graduates or those who are not earning that much, how are you coping with life in the Klang Valley?

Also read: 15yo Boy Stuck with RM13k Debt After Borrowing From Loan Sharks to Satisfy GF’s Craving for ‘Siakap 3 Rasa’