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Analytics
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#532
,
Nomad Score:
71%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
84%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable living costs compared to Western cities; food, transport, and daily expenses are budget-friendly.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental options available, especially for long-term stays; mid-range apartments are reasonably priced.
🍎 Food & Groceries
87%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food offer very affordable and diverse options; groceries are inexpensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
81%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but cheap; taxis and ride-hailing services are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
75%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options like cinemas, bars, and local events are affordable but somewhat limited.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced; some upscale gyms can be pricier.
💱 Currency Stability
78%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 50-70 Mbps; mobile internet is decent but can be inconsistent in some areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
65%
Weight: 40
A handful of coworking spaces exist but not as abundant or modern as in larger Malaysian cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
79%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
71%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but overall options are limited compared to bigger hubs.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
58%
Weight: 100
Growing but still a niche destination for digital nomads.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
90%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase local SIM cards with affordable data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to nature and leisure activities supports good balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
67%
Weight: 15
Generally good environment but occasional haze from regional forest fires can affect air quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
69%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean; some areas can be untidy especially in crowded markets.
🗨️ Language Barrier
74%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, especially in tourist and business areas; Malay is the main language.
💨 Air Quality
63%
Weight: 15
Air quality fluctuates seasonally due to haze; generally acceptable outside haze season.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
68%
Weight: 25
Family-friendly environment with parks and schools but limited international schooling options.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
76%
Weight: 20
Good quality private healthcare facilities available; public healthcare is basic but functional.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
82%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
79%
Weight: 20
Adequate healthcare infrastructure with several clinics and hospitals.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
88%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; high humidity and frequent rain showers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
70%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
73%
Weight: 10
Access to parks and proximity to natural attractions like mountains and beaches.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations, cafes, and public spaces due to tropical climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; consistently warm and humid throughout the year.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some areas near markets and traffic can be noisy.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
85%
Weight: 20
Rich multicultural heritage with Malay, Chinese, and indigenous influences.
🌃 Nightlife
60%
Weight: 15
Modest nightlife scene with bars and clubs, but quieter compared to major cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
92%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, islands, mountains, and rainforests.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
68%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and local dialects exist but limited formal classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
83%
Weight: 10
Wide range of cultural tours, island hopping, and eco-tourism activities.
🎳 Indoors Fun
57%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly malls and cinemas.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
90%
Weight: 25
Diverse and vibrant food scene with local street food and international cuisine.
🧠 Yoga Studios
62%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available; not a major wellness hub.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
67%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available; limited variety.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
75%
Weight: 15
Healthy food options available but traditional cuisine tends to be rich and oily.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone is favorable for Asia-Pacific and some European remote work overlaps.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
59%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events; growing community but still small.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is limited; most digital nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
53%
Weight: 20
Emerging freelance community but not well-established.
🏢 Coworking Quality
60%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but lack high-end amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
51%
Weight: 15
Small startup ecosystem; more active in Kuala Lumpur.
💳 Local Payment Services
72%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment and e-wallet services are widely used and reliable.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but still early stage adoption.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
75%
Weight: 30
International airport with good regional connections; limited direct long-haul flights.
🚇 Public Transit
42%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is limited; no metro or extensive bus network.
🚶 Walkability
63%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but infrastructure outside is limited.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
45%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; hot and humid climate discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
68%
Weight: 15
Bus and ferry services connect to nearby towns and islands; limited train options.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
70%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are common and affordable for short-distance travel.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
81%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
84%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
77%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity supply with occasional short outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in malls and cafes but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
70%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival available for many nationalities; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
62%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no special tax incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
65%
Weight: 15
Moderate freedom of speech with some government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
73%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
58%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
60%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and local presence.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available as of mid-2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
64%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly to nomads but lacks infrastructure and community compared to top hubs.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
50%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events; community is small and informal.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
57%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for nomads specifically in Kota Kinabalu.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with low violent crime rates; usual precautions advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly with some cultural conservatism; urban areas are safer.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with generally good racial tolerance.