Forum
Analytics
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#1549
,
Nomad Score:
71%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to other Southeast Asian cities; daily expenses are reasonable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
72%
Weight: 80
Rental prices for serviced apartments and shared accommodations are affordable but slightly higher than Kuala Lumpur.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Wide variety of affordable local and international food options; groceries are reasonably priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport and ride-hailing services are inexpensive and widely used.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
70%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are affordable but less diverse compared to Kuala Lumpur.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
75%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced with many modern facilities available.
💱 Currency Stability
79%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
76%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 100 Mbps; reliable in most urban areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
68%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in Kuala Lumpur; growing market.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
83%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi with decent speeds, popular among remote workers.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
79%
Weight: 30
Good number of cafes catering to digital nomads with power outlets and comfortable seating.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
65%
Weight: 100
Less popular than Kuala Lumpur or Penang but steadily growing community.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
90%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase and activate local SIM cards with affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
77%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with good balance between work and leisure activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution is moderate; some areas experience haze seasonally.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
Generally clean city but some public areas can be less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
84%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, making communication easy for foreigners.
💨 Air Quality
58%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be poor during haze season; otherwise moderate pollution levels.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Decent facilities for families but limited compared to larger cities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
79%
Weight: 20
Good quality private healthcare facilities available in and around the city.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
82%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
78%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with a mix of public and private options.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
75%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; frequent rain but generally pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
87%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters like earthquakes or typhoons.
🏞️ Green Spaces
62%
Weight: 10
Some parks and green areas but limited compared to larger cities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Widespread use of air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation; consistent warm weather.
🔊 Noise Pollution
57%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels in urban areas; quieter suburbs available.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich multicultural environment with Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.
🌃 Nightlife
65%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife options; more subdued compared to Kuala Lumpur.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Limited natural attractions within city; nearby nature spots accessible by short travel.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
70%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and other local languages through community classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
68%
Weight: 10
Some cultural tours and local experiences available but less tourist-focused.
🎳 Indoors Fun
71%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and indoor entertainment options are available.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
87%
Weight: 25
Diverse and vibrant food scene with many local and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but not as widespread as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
73%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
79%
Weight: 15
Growing availability of healthy and organic food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 time zone is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European connections.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
65%
Weight: 25
Networking events exist but less frequent than in major hubs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
59%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
63%
Weight: 20
Growing freelance community but still developing infrastructure.
🏢 Coworking Quality
69%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are modern and well-equipped but fewer in number.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
60%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with some government support.
💳 Local Payment Services
78%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets widely accepted and easy to use.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
65%
Weight: 15
Moderate adoption with growing interest but regulatory environment cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
74%
Weight: 30
Close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport with good international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
67%
Weight: 20
Limited direct public transit; relies on buses and nearby rail connections.
🚶 Walkability
55%
Weight: 20
Moderate walkability; some areas pedestrian-friendly but many require transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
86%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely used and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
42%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; not very bike-friendly.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
73%
Weight: 15
Good access to buses and trains connecting to other Malaysian cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
58%
Weight: 10
Some scooter and bike rentals available but not widespread.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
81%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage with expanding 5G availability.
🔒 VPN Reliability
79%
Weight: 20
VPNs work reliably; no major restrictions on usage.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
83%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in malls and cafes but not widespread outdoors.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
70%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas easy to obtain; no specific digital nomad visa yet.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no special incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
55%
Weight: 15
Some restrictions exist; moderate freedom compared to Western countries.
🏛️ Political Stability
72%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment with occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
68%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and local presence.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate bureaucracy; process improving but still some hurdles.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available as of mid-2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Friendly environment but lacks some infrastructure and visa options.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
59%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups; community still small and growing.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
63%
Weight: 20
Moderate online presence with some active groups on social media.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
78%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming for female travelers; cultural norms vary.
✊ Racial Tolerance
75%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with generally good racial tolerance.