Ipoh, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#531
,
Nomad Score:
68%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Ipoh is known for its low cost of living compared to other Malaysian cities, making it very affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
89%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are quite reasonable, with many affordable apartments and guesthouses available.
🍎 Food & Groceries
91%
Weight: 40
Local food is inexpensive and delicious, with fresh groceries readily available at low prices.
🚌 Transportation Cost
85%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but affordable; ride-hailing services are cheap and widely used.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
78%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are affordable but somewhat limited compared to bigger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
79%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are affordable, with several local gyms offering competitive rates.
💱 Currency Stability
76%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
Average internet speeds around 50-100 Mbps; reliable but not the fastest in Malaysia.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
52%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; a few options exist but not widespread.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
74%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
68%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but the scene is still developing.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
41%
Weight: 100
Ipoh is not yet a major hub for digital nomads, but interest is growing.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
92%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain affordable local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with good balance between work and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
75%
Weight: 15
Generally good environment with some urban pollution but close to nature.
🧼 Cleanliness
69%
Weight: 10
Moderate cleanliness; some areas are well-maintained while others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
72%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, reducing language barriers for foreigners.
💨 Air Quality
65%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by seasonal haze but generally acceptable.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
63%
Weight: 25
Suitable for families with schools and parks but limited international schooling options.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities available, including private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
86%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
79%
Weight: 20
Reliable healthcare system with access to both public and private options.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
71%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; can be humid and rainy.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
83%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or typhoons.
🏞️ Green Spaces
77%
Weight: 10
Several parks and natural attractions nearby, including limestone hills.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations and public places, essential due to tropical heat.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently tropical climate.
🔊 Noise Pollution
68%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter than major cities but some busy areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
84%
Weight: 20
Rich multicultural heritage with Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.
🌃 Nightlife
53%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with some bars and eateries but limited compared to bigger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
82%
Weight: 15
Close to caves, hills, and natural parks offering good outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools but opportunities to practice Malay and Chinese informally.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
75%
Weight: 10
Good variety of cultural tours, food tours, and nature excursions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
58%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options like cinemas and malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
93%
Weight: 25
Famous for diverse and affordable street food and local delicacies.
🧠 Yoga Studios
47%
Weight: 10
Few dedicated yoga studios; options are limited but growing.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available but not extensive.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but street food dominates.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
78%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone works well for Asia-Pacific and some European connections.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
43%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
39%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
45%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but slowly developing.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Existing coworking spaces are basic but functional.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
38%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is limited compared to Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
💳 Local Payment Services
71%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets like GrabPay and Touch 'n Go are widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
55%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; regulatory environment is cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
62%
Weight: 30
Ipoh Airport offers limited international flights; Kuala Lumpur is main hub nearby.
🚇 Public Transit
37%
Weight: 20
Public transport within Ipoh is limited; reliance on taxis and ride-hailing.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
City center is moderately walkable but some areas require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
84%
Weight: 15
Grab and other ride-sharing apps are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
42%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; not very bike-friendly.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good train and bus connections to Kuala Lumpur and other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Some scooter rentals available but not widespread or well-organized.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
79%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
83%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
74%
Weight: 40
Malaysia offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival for many nationalities; easy tourist visa process.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
55%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions exist; moderate freedom of expression.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment with occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
58%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic for foreigners but manageable.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62%
Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward but requires local partnerships for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
57%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but lacks infrastructure and community compared to bigger hubs.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
34%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events or meetups currently.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
46%
Weight: 20
Small but growing online presence for Ipoh digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
79%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
71%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with good racial tolerance overall.