An average salary of 3.5 is okay if you don't have commitments. But most people have a family to support PLUS aging parents to take care of as well. So even if your salary is 6K-8K it's still not enough. Many people do part-time work to supplement their income. It's true Sabah/Sarawak have a smaller salary but many people there don't experience the kind of stress we have here (always on the rush, traffic jams, long commute, long hours, expensive food etc).
I don't sell my art in KL. I do online hustling and sell worldwide. Doing art is difficult to cari makan in Malaysia unless you have connections to "powerful" people in the industry. Also art industry in Malaysia is quite elitist or even racist. They don't pandang you if you don't have art degree/art qualifications or if you are not of certain race/religion. I am not racist, I am just stating the reality here.
No wonder when I posted about my friends art and you told me that the art is not appreciated. Now I understand the reason why. In Miri, local art is appreciated locally and even handicrafts.. the baby carriers, bags and painting..
If in Miri, Salary got 6 to 8k.. live like a king Liao.. nice house, nice car.. ahhaha. But I do understand la, cause KL standard of living is high and more advanced... Here.. is the laid back relaxed life. By night in Miri at 5 no one works Liao. Weekends, family day, no one works. Then free time is for hobby... Like fishing, running, going exercising... Hahaha.. then eat.. drive slowly.. and move slowly. If Brunei more slow .. I was at a bank once, just getting to number 9 from number 7 took an hour. Slowly entertain first the person, talk family first.