Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#532
,
Nomad Score:
72%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to Western cities, with affordable food, transport, and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental prices for apartments, especially outside the city center; options for short-term stays available.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food are very affordable; groceries are reasonably priced with a good variety.
🚌 Transportation Cost
83%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but inexpensive; ride-hailing services like Grab are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
76%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are affordable, including cinemas, bars, and local events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced, with several mid-range gyms available.
💱 Currency Stability
78%
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; mobile internet is reliable but can vary.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
65%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in larger Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi and are suitable for working remotely.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
73%
Weight: 30
A growing number of cafes cater to digital nomads with power outlets and good internet.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
59%
Weight: 100
Emerging destination for digital nomads but less popular compared to Kuala Lumpur or Penang.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
81%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to nature and beaches supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good environment with proximity to natural parks, though urban areas can be congested.
🧼 Cleanliness
68%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean; some areas have litter and waste management challenges.
🗨️ Language Barrier
75%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, especially in tourist and business areas, reducing language barriers.
💨 Air Quality
62%
Weight: 15
Occasional haze from regional forest fires can reduce air quality during certain months.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
79%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities available, with several private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
84%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
79%
Weight: 20
Access to both public and private healthcare with English-speaking staff.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; frequent rain but mostly short showers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
71%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
80%
Weight: 10
Close to national parks, beaches, and mountains offering abundant green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
87%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations, cafes, and public places, essential due to tropical climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; tropical climate means consistent warm weather year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
83%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural diversity with Malay, Chinese, and indigenous influences.
🌃 Nightlife
61%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with some bars and clubs but less vibrant than larger cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, islands, mountains, and rainforests for outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
64%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and local dialects exist but not widely formalized.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
85%
Weight: 10
Abundant local tours including island hopping, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
57%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly malls and cinemas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
89%
Weight: 25
Diverse and vibrant food scene with local street food and international cuisine.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63%
Weight: 10
A few yoga studios available but not widespread.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70%
Weight: 15
Several gyms and fitness centers, though options are fewer than in larger cities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
78%
Weight: 15
Good availability of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy dining options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone works well for Asia-Pacific and some European remote work schedules.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
60%
Weight: 25
Limited but growing networking events for digital nomads and entrepreneurs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
55%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international remote work.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
58%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is emerging but still small compared to major hubs.
🏢 Coworking Quality
64%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but fewer amenities than in bigger cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
52%
Weight: 15
Limited startup ecosystem; most activity centered in Kuala Lumpur.
💳 Local Payment Services
71%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment and e-wallet services like GrabPay and Touch 'n Go are widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but adoption remains moderate with regulatory caution.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
73%
Weight: 30
International airport with good regional connections; limited direct long-haul flights.
🚇 Public Transit
49%
Weight: 20
Public transit options are limited; no metro or extensive bus network.
🚶 Walkability
62%
Weight: 20
City center is moderately walkable but infrastructure outside is less pedestrian-friendly.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
51%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; tropical heat and traffic can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
67%
Weight: 15
Bus and ferry services connect to other parts of Borneo and Malaysia.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
74%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are common and affordable for short-distance travel.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
76%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
79%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity supply with occasional outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and cafes but not widespread outdoors.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
72%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival is straightforward; longer stays require extensions.
📊 Tax Friendliness
68%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no specific digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
60%
Weight: 15
Freedom of speech exists but with some government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
71%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional regional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
64%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts as a foreigner is possible but requires documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
62%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but can be bureaucratic and time-consuming.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
68%
Weight: 50
Generally welcoming to foreigners and digital nomads but infrastructure is still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
55%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events; community is small but growing.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
60%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence compared to major nomad hubs.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
77%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly with some cultural conservatism but safe for solo female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with generally good racial tolerance and harmony.