Johor Bahru, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#530
,
Nomad Score:
70%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Johor Bahru offers a relatively low cost of living compared to major Malaysian cities and Western countries, making it affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
75%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are affordable, especially for serviced apartments and shared accommodations, though prices are rising due to increased demand.
🍎 Food & Groceries
86%
Weight: 40
Local food is very affordable with a wide variety of street food and markets; groceries are reasonably priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but inexpensive; ride-hailing services like Grab are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options such as cinemas, malls, and local events are affordable but somewhat limited compared to bigger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced, with many mid-range gyms available.
💱 Currency Stability
73%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
76%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 50-100 Mbps; mobile internet is reliable but can be inconsistent in some areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
68%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in Kuala Lumpur; growing community.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
74%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, though speeds and reliability vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
69%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but the scene is still developing.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
55%
Weight: 100
Johor Bahru is less popular among digital nomads compared to Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
84%
Weight: 25
SIM cards are easy to purchase and affordable with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
77%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to nature and urban amenities supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
62%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution exists but less severe than in larger cities; some industrial areas affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is moderate; public areas are generally maintained but some neighborhoods are less tidy.
🗨️ Language Barrier
78%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, especially in business and tourist areas, reducing language barriers.
💨 Air Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by haze seasonally and local traffic pollution.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Family-friendly amenities exist but limited international schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
74%
Weight: 20
Good quality private healthcare facilities available; public healthcare is basic but accessible.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
81%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
77%
Weight: 20
Overall healthcare system is reliable with several reputable private hospitals.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
89%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; occasional heavy rain but mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
75%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
63%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city but nearby parks and nature reserves accessible.
❄️ Air Conditioning
85%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations, offices, and public transport.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation; hot and humid year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
58%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in urban areas; quieter suburbs available.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
79%
Weight: 20
Rich multicultural heritage with Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.
🌃 Nightlife
58%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with some bars and clubs but less vibrant than Kuala Lumpur.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
70%
Weight: 15
Proximity to beaches, forests, and islands offers good outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
67%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and other local languages exist but are limited.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
71%
Weight: 10
Several cultural tours and local experiences available, though less tourist-focused.
🎳 Indoors Fun
64%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and indoor entertainment options are available but limited.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
88%
Weight: 25
Diverse and vibrant food scene with excellent street food and local specialties.
🧠 Yoga Studios
60%
Weight: 10
Few dedicated yoga studios; wellness scene is growing but still niche.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
68%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available; limited specialized facilities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
72%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options are available but less prominent than traditional cuisine.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
79%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European connections.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
63%
Weight: 25
Growing but still limited professional and digital nomad networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
59%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most digital nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
61%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is emerging but not yet well-established.
🏢 Coworking Quality
67%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but fewer amenities compared to larger cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
54%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent with limited funding and support.
💳 Local Payment Services
75%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment apps like GrabPay and Touch 'n Go are widely used and reliable.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; regulatory environment is cautious but open.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
68%
Weight: 30
Close to Senai International Airport with regional flights; Kuala Lumpur airport accessible within 1-2 hours.
🚇 Public Transit
45%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mostly buses with infrequent schedules.
🚶 Walkability
57%
Weight: 20
Some areas are walkable but overall infrastructure favors vehicles.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Grab and other ride-sharing services are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
42%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and safety concerns reduce cycling popularity.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
73%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of scooter and bike rentals; not a common transport mode.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
77%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage citywide; 5G rollout underway but limited.
🔒 VPN Reliability
83%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
79%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
64%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in malls and cafes but often slow and insecure.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
71%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easy to obtain; longer stays require additional permits.
📊 Tax Friendliness
65%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
60%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions exist but generally safe for digital nomads expressing opinions.
🏛️ Political Stability
72%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional local tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
63%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic for foreigners but manageable.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and local requirements.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
35%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa; standard tourist or work visas apply.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly to digital nomads with growing infrastructure and community.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
52%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events; community meetups are sporadic.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
60%
Weight: 20
Some online groups exist but smaller compared to major nomad hubs.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Safe for female travelers with some cultural considerations.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with good racial tolerance overall.