Shah Alam, Malaysia 🇲🇾
#1429
,
Nomad Score:
67%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Kuala Lumpur, with lower prices on daily expenses and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
75%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are moderate, with many affordable apartments and shared accommodations available.
🍎 Food & Groceries
81%
Weight: 40
Wide variety of affordable local markets and eateries; groceries are reasonably priced.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transport is limited but inexpensive; ride-hailing services are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are affordable but somewhat limited compared to bigger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced, with several mid-range fitness centers available.
💱 Currency Stability
76%
Weight: 30
Malaysian Ringgit is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average broadband speeds around 50-100 Mbps; reliable but not top-tier.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
53%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces within Shah Alam; more options available in nearby Kuala Lumpur.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
68%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, but quality and speed can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
59%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread or well-known.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42%
Weight: 100
Shah Alam is not a popular digital nomad hub compared to other Malaysian cities.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase affordable local SIM cards with good data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
77%
Weight: 30
Good balance with relaxed lifestyle and access to amenities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
65%
Weight: 15
Moderate pollution levels; greener than Kuala Lumpur but still urban.
🧼 Cleanliness
69%
Weight: 10
Generally clean city with regular maintenance but some areas less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
73%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken, especially among younger population and in business.
💨 Air Quality
62%
Weight: 15
Air quality can be affected by regional haze during dry season.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
65%
Weight: 25
Family-friendly amenities available but limited international schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
78%
Weight: 20
Good quality healthcare facilities nearby, including public and private hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
84%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
79%
Weight: 20
Access to competent medical care with English-speaking staff.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
86%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; occasional heavy rain but mostly sunny.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
71%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
67%
Weight: 10
Several parks and recreational areas, but urban development limits extensive green zones.
❄️ Air Conditioning
90%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is standard in most buildings and public transport.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation due to equatorial climate.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter than Kuala Lumpur but some traffic noise.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
75%
Weight: 20
Rich Malay culture with diverse influences; festivals and cultural events accessible.
🌃 Nightlife
54%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; more vibrant scenes found in Kuala Lumpur.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
63%
Weight: 15
Nearby natural attractions accessible but limited within the city.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Malay and other local languages exist but not widespread.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
62%
Weight: 10
Some cultural and historical tours available; less tourist-focused than bigger cities.
🎳 Indoors Fun
65%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
83%
Weight: 25
Diverse and affordable food options including local Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines.
🧠 Yoga Studios
57%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios available; more options in Kuala Lumpur.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
68%
Weight: 15
Several gyms and fitness centers, but limited variety of specialized facilities.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
71%
Weight: 15
Healthy food increasingly available, including vegetarian and organic options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
79%
Weight: 20
GMT+8 time zone is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European remote work.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
51%
Weight: 25
Limited local networking events; better opportunities in Kuala Lumpur.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
48%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most digital nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small but growing.
🏢 Coworking Quality
54%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are basic with limited amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
47%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent; Kuala Lumpur is the main hub.
💳 Local Payment Services
76%
Weight: 10
Multiple e-wallets and digital payment options widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
62%
Weight: 15
Growing interest and adoption but still early stage.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Kuala Lumpur International Airport, about 45 minutes away.
🚇 Public Transit
59%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit within Shah Alam; better connectivity in greater KL area.
🚶 Walkability
53%
Weight: 20
Moderate walkability in central areas; suburban sprawl limits pedestrian access.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
80%
Weight: 15
Grab and other ride-sharing apps widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
45%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; hot and humid weather discourages cycling.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to Kuala Lumpur and other cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
52%
Weight: 10
Some scooter and bike rentals available but not widespread.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
83%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and growing 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
77%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally reliable with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
85%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
58%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in malls and some public areas but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
74%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival and visa-free options for many nationalities; no specific digital nomad visa.
📊 Tax Friendliness
61%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; no special tax incentives for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
63%
Weight: 15
Moderate freedom of speech with some government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
70%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable political environment with occasional tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
65%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and can be time-consuming.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
68%
Weight: 10
Business registration is straightforward but involves bureaucratic steps.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available as of May 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
56%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but lacks infrastructure and community compared to top nomad cities.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
43%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups specifically for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
50%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for Shah Alam digital nomads; more activity in Kuala Lumpur.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
79%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates.
♀️ Female Friendly
71%
Weight: 50
Safe and welcoming for female travelers, though cultural norms are conservative.
✊ Racial Tolerance
74%
Weight: 50
Multicultural society with good racial tolerance overall.