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George Town, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#528
,
Nomad Score:
74%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable living costs compared to Western cities; food, transport, and daily expenses are budget-friendly.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Reasonable rental prices for apartments, especially outside the city center; options for short-term stays available.
🍎 Food & Groceries
91%
Weight: 40
Wide variety of inexpensive local food and groceries; street food is very affordable and high quality.
🚌 Transportation Cost
85%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but cheap; ride-hailing services like Grab are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
78%
Weight: 15
Affordable entertainment options including cinemas, bars, and cultural events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced; several fitness centers available.
💱 Currency Stability
76%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 50-100 Mbps; stable connections in urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
71%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces in George Town, though fewer than in Kuala Lumpur.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
83%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi with decent speeds, popular among digital nomads.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
79%
Weight: 30
Good selection of cafes with power outlets and comfortable seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
68%
Weight: 100
Growing but still smaller digital nomad community compared to bigger Malaysian cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
90%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase and activate local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with plenty of leisure activities and cultural experiences.
🌳 Environmental Quality
65%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution is moderate; some areas have traffic congestion affecting air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
69%
Weight: 10
City is relatively clean but some older parts can be less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
77%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, especially in tourist and business areas.
💨 Air Quality
63%
Weight: 15
Occasional haze from regional forest fires can reduce air quality seasonally.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
64%
Weight: 25
Some family-friendly amenities but limited compared to larger cities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities with modern hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
85%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
79%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with both public and private options.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; some heavy rain during monsoon season.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during heavy rains.
🏞️ Green Spaces
67%
Weight: 10
Several parks and coastal areas, but urban green space is limited.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations, cafes, and public buildings.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation due to tropical climate.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in busy areas; quieter in residential zones.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
93%
Weight: 20
Rich multicultural heritage with vibrant arts, festivals, and historic sites.
🌃 Nightlife
68%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife with bars and live music but quieter than larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
74%
Weight: 15
Access to beaches, hills, and nature reserves nearby.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
65%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and local dialects, but limited formal language schools.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
82%
Weight: 10
Abundant cultural tours, food walks, and heritage experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
69%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, museums, and cultural centers provide indoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
95%
Weight: 25
Exceptional food diversity with renowned street food and local specialties.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63%
Weight: 10
Limited but growing number of yoga and wellness studios.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
71%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers available but not as widespread as in larger cities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
78%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European connections.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
67%
Weight: 25
Some networking events but smaller scale compared to major hubs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
59%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
62%
Weight: 20
Growing freelance community but still developing infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
70%
Weight: 30
Decent coworking spaces with good amenities but fewer options.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
55%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent compared to Kuala Lumpur.
💳 Local Payment Services
73%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets like GrabPay widely accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest with some local crypto communities.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
71%
Weight: 30
Penang International Airport offers regional and some international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
58%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; no metro system.
🚶 Walkability
74%
Weight: 20
George Town is compact and walkable, especially in the heritage zone.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Grab and other ride-sharing apps are widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
55%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is limited and traffic can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
72%
Weight: 15
Good bus and ferry connections to other parts of Malaysia and nearby islands.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
70%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals available but less common than in other Southeast Asian cities.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
81%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage with emerging 5G in urban areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
84%
Weight: 20
VPN services work well with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
87%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in cafes and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
75%
Weight: 40
Visa-free entry for many nationalities for short stays; straightforward visa processes.
📊 Tax Friendliness
64%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
62%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions exist but generally moderate compared to regional peers.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
65%
Weight: 15
Possible but requires local documentation; can be bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
68%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and some delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
72%
Weight: 50
Friendly environment for nomads with good amenities but lacks formal nomad infrastructure.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
59%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups but no large-scale regular events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
63%
Weight: 20
Moderate online presence with some Facebook groups and forums.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
71%
Weight: 50
Reasonably safe and welcoming for female travelers and nomads.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with good racial tolerance overall.