Petaling Jaya, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#1549
,
Nomad Score:
72%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western cities, with moderate prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
69%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable but can vary; serviced apartments and condos are available at mid-range prices.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food offer very affordable options; groceries are moderately priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport and ride-hailing services are inexpensive and widely used.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Affordable entertainment options including cinemas, malls, and local events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Monthly gym fees are moderate, with many affordable local gyms and some international chains.
💱 Currency Stability
75%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with low volatility.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Good broadband and 4G coverage; fiber internet available in many areas with speeds around 100-300 Mbps.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
73%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces in Petaling Jaya and nearby Kuala Lumpur suburbs.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
84%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi and comfortable working environments.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
76%
Weight: 30
Growing number of cafes catering to remote workers with power outlets and good internet.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
65%
Weight: 100
Less popular than Kuala Lumpur but gaining traction among digital nomads seeking quieter suburbs.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
78%
Weight: 30
Good balance with access to urban amenities and quieter residential areas.
🌳 Environmental Quality
62%
Weight: 15
Moderate air pollution levels; urban environment with some green spaces.
🧼 Cleanliness
68%
Weight: 10
Generally clean but some areas can be less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
79%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, especially in business and service sectors.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by haze seasonally, but generally acceptable.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Decent facilities for families but more suited for singles or couples.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
77%
Weight: 20
Good quality private healthcare facilities available nearby.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
83%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
78%
Weight: 20
Accessible healthcare with a mix of public and private options.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; occasional heavy rain but mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
89%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes.
🏞️ Green Spaces
67%
Weight: 10
Several parks and recreational areas but limited compared to larger cities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
91%
Weight: 15
Widespread air conditioning in homes, offices, and public spaces.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
59%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some busy areas can be noisy.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Diverse multicultural environment with Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.
🌃 Nightlife
63%
Weight: 15
Moderate nightlife options; more vibrant scenes are found in Kuala Lumpur.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
60%
Weight: 15
Limited natural outdoor attractions within the city; nature spots accessible nearby.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
68%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and other local languages through community classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
65%
Weight: 10
Access to cultural tours and local experiences, though more limited than in tourist hotspots.
🎳 Indoors Fun
70%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and indoor recreational centers available.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
87%
Weight: 25
Rich and diverse food scene with affordable street food and international cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
64%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios available but not as widespread as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
71%
Weight: 15
Good range of fitness centers and sports clubs.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
73%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of health-conscious cafes and organic food stores.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
79%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 timezone is favorable for communication with Asia-Pacific and some European countries.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
67%
Weight: 25
Growing community of entrepreneurs and digital nomads, but smaller than Kuala Lumpur.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
60%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
65%
Weight: 20
Developing freelance community with some platforms and meetups.
🏢 Coworking Quality
74%
Weight: 30
Modern coworking spaces with good amenities and professional environments.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
62%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem, mostly centered in Kuala Lumpur.
💳 Local Payment Services
78%
Weight: 10
Widespread use of e-wallets and mobile payment platforms.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
61%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but regulatory environment is cautious.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
70%
Weight: 30
Close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport with good international connections.
🚇 Public Transit
65%
Weight: 20
Limited direct public transit in Petaling Jaya; better connectivity via Kuala Lumpur.
🚶 Walkability
58%
Weight: 20
Moderate walkability; some areas pedestrian-friendly but many require motorized transport.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
83%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widely used and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; not very bike-friendly.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
72%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to Kuala Lumpur and other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Some scooter and bike rentals available but not widespread.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
81%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage with expanding 5G networks.
🔒 VPN Reliability
79%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally reliable and unrestricted.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
68%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in malls and cafes but not widespread outdoors.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
74%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival available for many nationalities; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no special tax incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
65%
Weight: 15
Generally free but with some government restrictions on sensitive topics.
🏛️ Political Stability
72%
Weight: 20
Relatively 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 can be time-consuming for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Friendly environment with growing awareness of digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
55%
Weight: 25
Limited but occasional meetups and networking events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
63%
Weight: 20
Some presence on social media and expat forums.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
71%
Weight: 50
Reasonably safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
74%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with generally good racial tolerance.