Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#532
5.978006, 116.072898
Nomad Score:
66%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Overall affordable compared to Western cities, with reasonable prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
65%
Weight: 80
Moderate prices for rentals, with options ranging from budget hostels to mid-range apartments.
🍎 Food & Groceries
81%
Weight: 40
Local food is inexpensive and diverse, with fresh produce readily available.
🚌 Transportation Cost
70%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited, but taxis and ride-sharing are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available but can be pricey for tourists.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
68%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced, with several options available.
💱 Currency Stability
75%
Weight: 30
The Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable, with minor fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
69%
Weight: 100
Decent internet speed, though it can vary by location, especially in rural areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
55%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces, but a few good options exist in the city.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
72%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, making it easy to work remotely.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
60%
Weight: 30
A few cafes cater to digital nomads, but options are limited compared to larger cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
45%
Weight: 100
Not a major hub for digital nomads, but growing interest in the area.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Laid-back lifestyle with a good balance between work and leisure.
🌳 Environmental Quality
75%
Weight: 15
Generally good environmental quality with beautiful natural surroundings.
🧼 Cleanliness
60%
Weight: 10
Clean in urban areas, but some parts may require improvement.
🗨️ Language Barrier
65%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken, but knowledge of Malay can be helpful.
💨 Air Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality, though can be affected by seasonal haze.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare services available, especially in urban areas.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
85%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is very affordable compared to many Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
68%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are accessible, with some international hospitals present.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
82%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round, though humidity can be high.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of natural disasters, particularly during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
75%
Weight: 10
Several parks and natural reserves available for outdoor activities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
80%
Weight: 15
Commonly available in most accommodations and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
40%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variety; mostly warm and humid throughout the year.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural diversity with various festivals and traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
55%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife options, primarily focused on bars and local clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
90%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beautiful beaches, mountains, and nature reserves.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language classes, but local interactions can aid learning.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
75%
Weight: 10
Various local tours available, showcasing the natural beauty and culture.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options, mostly shopping malls and cinemas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
85%
Weight: 25
Vibrant food scene with a mix of local and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
60%
Weight: 10
A few yoga studios available, but not as widespread as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
65%
Weight: 15
Decent fitness facilities, though options may be limited in some areas.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
70%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy food options, especially in urban areas.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
Time zone is favorable for working with Asia-Pacific regions.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
50%
Weight: 25
Limited networking opportunities compared to larger digital nomad hubs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
45%
Weight: 20
Fewer remote job opportunities available locally.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
40%
Weight: 20
Limited freelance ecosystem, with few local clients.
🏢 Coworking Quality
55%
Weight: 30
Quality of coworking spaces varies; some good options exist.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
40%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup scene, but still in early stages of development.
💳 Local Payment Services
70%
Weight: 10
Common payment methods are available, including cash and cards.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
35%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption of blockchain and crypto technologies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
60%
Weight: 30
Moderate connectivity with regional flights; limited international options.
🚇 Public Transit
50%
Weight: 20
Public transit options are limited; reliance on taxis and private transport.
🚶 Walkability
65%
Weight: 20
Some areas are walkable, but urban planning varies.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing services like Grab are widely used and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
40%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; not a bike-friendly city.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Bus and train options available for intercity travel, but limited.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Some rental options available, but not widespread.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good mobile network coverage in urban areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
Reliable VPN services available, with good connectivity.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
75%
Weight: 15
Generally reliable power supply, though occasional outages can occur.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
50%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi availability; mostly found in cafes and malls.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Visa process is relatively straightforward for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
70%
Weight: 30
Tax rates are reasonable, with incentives for certain businesses.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
50%
Weight: 15
Moderate restrictions on freedom of speech; some censorship exists.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment, though occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
60%
Weight: 15
Opening a bank account is relatively easy for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Business registration process is straightforward but can be bureaucratic.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
40%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa; standard visa options apply.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
55%
Weight: 50
Somewhat nomad-friendly, but lacks extensive infrastructure.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
45%
Weight: 25
Limited events and meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Some online communities exist, but not very active.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
75%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for travelers, with low crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Generally safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Diverse population with a generally tolerant attitude.