Essentials
- City
- Putrajaya, Federal Territory of Putrajaya, Malaysia
- Population
- Approximately 120,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps (Time Internet and Unifi fiber widely available)
- Currency & Banking
- Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). 1 USD ≈ 4.70 MYR, 1 EUR ≈ 5.10 MYR
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for direct consumption; use filtered or bottled water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style)
- SIM Card
- Maxis (Hotlink), CelcomDigi, and U Mobile; available at IOI City Mall
- Banking for Expats
- Maybank, CIMB, and digital banks like Wise or GXBank are widely used
- Accommodation
- High-end condos and serviced apartments like Shaftsbury Stellar or Dwiputra
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; GrabPay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, and credit cards accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com (approx. 1,800 - 3,500 MYR/month for studios)
- Budget Accommodation
- Dorsett Putrajaya (approx. 250 MYR/night) or nearby hostels in Cyberjaya
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Precinct 1 (near Putra Mosque) or Precinct 5 (near DoubleTree by Hilton)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Precinct 15 (Diplomatic Enclave) for cafes and Precinct 1 (connectivity)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Common Ground at IOI City Mall (approx. 50 MYR daily pass)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks at Galeria P identity (Presint 4) or Zus Coffee (Presint 15)
- Networking Events
- Tech meetups often held in adjacent Cyberjaya at Futurise or MaGIC
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya community gatherings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (dominant), AirAsia Ride, and Indriver
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam e-scooters and Anywheel bikes located near Dataran Putrajaya
- Best Beach Nearby
- Bagan Lalang Beach (Sepang), approximately 50 minutes drive
- Top Regional Airline
- AirAsia (flying from KLIA Terminal 2, 20 mins away)
- Top International Airline
- Malaysia Airlines (flying from KLIA Terminal 1)
- Highway Access
- Direct access to MEX, ELITE, and SKVE highways
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Putrajaya & Cyberjaya ERL Station (KLIA Transit line)
- Public Transport Passes
- My50 Unlimited Travel Pass (for residents) or Touch 'n Go cards
- Regional Travel
- KLIA Transit train to KL Sentral (20 mins) or KLIA (15 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Putrajaya (Public) or Mandani Medical Centre (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Aura Yoga at IOI City Mall or therapeutic spas in Le Meridien
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness at IOI City Mall or Celebrity Fitness
- Laundry Services
- LaundryBar Self-Service in Precinct 15 (approx. 15 MYR per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and Foodpanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Nasi Lemak from Nasi Lemak Royale Kedah (Precinct 15)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Simple Life Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant at IOI City Mall
- Best Dessert Spots
- Inside Scoop (IOI City Mall) for artisanal local ice cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Tani (Farmers Market) Precinct 2 on Tuesdays and Fridays
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee Malaysia and Lazada Malaysia
- Grocery Delivery
- Lotus's (formerly Tesco) or Jaya Grocer via Grab
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Very limited (mostly dry city); head to 'The Alchemist' or 'Trec KL' in nearby KL
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol restricted in many areas); nearest is Paperkite (KL)
- Wine Bars
- Bistro a Table (limited selection) or travel to Cyberjaya/KL for full bars
- Street Food Stalls
- Medan Selera (Food Court) at Precinct 8 or Precinct 9
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tony Roma's (American) or Seoul Garden (Korean) at IOI City Mall
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Putra Mosque (Pink Mosque) and Perdana Putra (Prime Minister's Office)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Justice Museum (Istana Kehakiman) and Galeria Sri Perdana
- Historical Sites
- Putrajaya Landmark (Mercu Tanda) in Agriculture Park
- Religious Sites
- Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque (Iron Mosque)
- Annual Events
- Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (usually March/April)
- Cultural Districts
- The Core (Precinct 2-4) featuring administrative architecture
- Theater Venues
- Panggung Percubaan at nearby UPM or Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC)
- Local Markets
- Pasar Malam (Night Market) Precinct 14 every Saturday
- Music Scene
- Occasional live busking at Dataran Putra
- Street Art
- Murals located at the Putrajaya Step (Tangga Putrajaya)
- Cooking Classes
- The Cooking House (occasional workshops in IOI City area)
- Art Galleries
- Art Gallery at National Botanic Gardens
- Historic Buildings
- Seri Perdana (Official residence of the PM)
- Local Heritage
- Wau (kite) flying displays at Monumen Alaf Baru
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Putrajaya Wetlands Park (Taman Wetland) - the largest man-made wetland
- National Parks Nearby
- Taman Negara (approx. 3.5 hours drive away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Putrajaya Lakeside path (38km of paved trails)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Seri Wawasan Bridge or the top of the Putrajaya Landmark hill
- Birdwatching Locations
- Putrajaya Botanical Garden (Taman Botani)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Limited; Glamping at GLOW Putrajaya (Wetland Park) permits managed fires
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Pos Malaysia (Pusat Mel Putrajaya) and J&T Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Machines (Apple Authorized) or Thunder Match at IOI City Mall
- Table Tennis Spots
- Complex Kejiranan Precinct 9 (Community Center)
- Language Classes
- Language Studio (nearby Cyberjaya) for Malay or Mandarin
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Perpustakaan Awam Putrajaya (Public Library) Precinct 9
- Community Centers
- Complex Kejiranan Precinct 11 (Pool, Library, Sports)
- Gaming Lounges
- Gamer's Hideout at IOI City Mall
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None; nearest is Genting Highlands (1.5 hours drive)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,500 MYR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 340,000 MYR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,000 MYR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 240,000 MYR in Cyberjaya)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 8,000 MYR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 480,000 MYR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,500 MYR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 330,000 MYR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 7,500 MYR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 600,000 MYR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 5,000 MYR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 400,000 MYR)
- Corporate Tax
- 24% (standard rate); 15-17% for SMEs on first 600k MYR
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Malaysia operates a single-tier system)
- Tax System
- Territorial basis; foreign sourced income is generally exempt
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (for income above 2,000,000 MYR)
- VAT
- Sales and Service Tax (SST) at 6% (service) or 5-10% (sales)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None (Malaysia does not currently have CFC legislation)
- Property Tax
- Assessment Tax (Cukai Pintu) and Quit Rent (Cukai Tanah) apply annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty (RPGT) ranging from 1% to 4% depending on value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- DE Rantau Nomad Pass allows for 12 months residency with potential tax benefits