At a glance
 MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Nomad score | 7.5 / 10 | 7.4 / 10 |
| Cost of living | $2,163 / mo | $2,125 / mo |
| Internet speed | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weather now | 33° / 24°C | 27° / 21°C |
| Air quality (AQI) | 156 Unhealthy | 61 Moderate |
| Community votes | 0 0 | 1 0 |
Climate averages
Yearly averages of monthly climate data
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 31.2°C | 26.3°C |
| Average low | 23.9°C | 21°C |
| Precipitation | 254 mm / mo | 287 mm / mo |
| Sunshine | 266 h / mo | 269 h / mo |
| Humidity | 81% | 84% |
| Rain days | 23.3 / mo | 23.1 / mo |
| Wind speed | 11.2 km/h | 10.6 km/h |
MY
Kuala Lumpur · average high by month
J 30
F 32
M 32
A 31
M 32
J 32
J 32
A 31
S 31
O 31
N 31
D 30
MY
Penang · average high by month
J 26
F 27
M 27
A 27
M 27
J 26
J 27
A 26
S 26
O 26
N 25
D 26
Air quality
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| US AQI | 156 | 61 |
| PM2.5 | 43.7 µg/m³ | 16.8 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 44.1 µg/m³ | 17.8 µg/m³ |
| Ozone | 214 µg/m³ | 27 µg/m³ |
| UV index | 2.5 | 0 |
Business & Economy
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain & Crypto Adoption | 6.5 | 5.4 |
| Local Payment Services | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| Startup Scene | 7.6 | 6.4 |
Climate & Environment
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Green Spaces | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Natural Disaster Risk | 5.5 | 6.8 |
| Noise Pollution | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Seasonal Variety | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| Weather | 4.7 | 5.8 |
Connectivity
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Network Coverage | 9.1 | 8.9 |
| Power Grid Reliability | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Public WiFi Availability | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| VPN Reliability | 8.3 | 8.4 |
Cost & Affordability
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Cost | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Cost of Living | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Currency Stability | 7.1 | 6.8 |
| Entertainment Cost | 7.1 | 7.5 |
| Food & Groceries | 7.9 | 8.3 |
| Gym Membership Cost | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| Transportation Cost | 8.0 | 7.9 |
Culture & Entertainment
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Culture | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Indoors Fun | 7.6 | 6.5 |
| Language Learning Opportunities | 6.4 | 5.6 |
| Local Experiences & Tours | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| Nightlife | 7.8 | 6.8 |
| Outdoors & Nature | 6.2 | 7.7 |
Digital Nomad Community
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Nomad Events & Meetups | 7.9 | 7.4 |
| Nomad Friendly | 8.7 | 8.1 |
| Online Community Presence | 8.0 | 7.5 |
Digital Nomad Essentials
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cafes with WiFi | 8.3 | 7.5 |
| Coworking Spaces Availability | 8.7 | 7.4 |
| Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes | 8.0 | 7.4 |
| Digital Nomad Popularity | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| Internet Speed | 8.7 | 8.2 |
| Local SIM Card Availability | 8.9 | 8.6 |
Food & Fitness
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Facilities | 7.8 | 6.7 |
| Food Scene | 8.9 | 9.1 |
| Healthy Food Options | 7.3 | 7.0 |
| Yoga Studios | 6.9 | 6.1 |
Healthcare
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| Healthcare Affordability | 8.6 | 8.7 |
| Healthcare Quality | 7.8 | 8.1 |
Legal & Administrative
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa Availability | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Ease of Business Registration | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| Ease of Opening Bank Account | 5.3 | 4.9 |
| Freedom of Speech | 5.2 | 4.8 |
| Political Stability | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| Tax Friendliness | 7.5 | 7.1 |
| Visa Ease | 7.5 | 6.7 |
Quality of Life
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 4.8 | 5.5 |
| Cleanliness | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| Environmental Quality | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Family Friendly | 7.1 | 7.4 |
| Language Barrier | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| Work-Life Balance | 7.5 | 8.1 |
Safety & Tolerance
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Female Friendly | 7.3 | 7.8 |
| Racial Tolerance | 7.3 | 8.2 |
| Safety | 7.6 | 8.3 |
Transportation
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Airport Connectivity | 8.7 | 7.4 |
| Cycling | 3.4 | 4.8 |
| Intercity Travel Options | 7.3 | 6.7 |
| Public Transit | 7.5 | 5.4 |
| Ride-sharing Services | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Scooter/Bike Rental Availability | 4.7 | 8.1 |
| Walkability | 5.5 | 6.3 |
Work Environment
Scores out of 10
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coworking Quality | 8.5 | 7.3 |
| Freelance Ecosystem | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| Networking Opportunities | 7.6 | 6.9 |
| Remote Job Opportunities | 6.6 | 5.6 |
| Time Zone Favorability | 7.4 | 7.6 |
Clothing
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Jeans | $66 per pair | $30 per pair |
| Summer Dress | $36 per dress | $20 per dress |
| Running Shoes | $96 per pair | $62 per pair |
Dining Out
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Dining Out | $102 per month | $62 per month |
Entertainment
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cinema Ticket | $6.09 per ticket | $3.73 per ticket |
Food & Dining
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | $3.68 per cup | $1.86 per cup |
| Beer | $5.59 per pint | $4.47 per pint |
| Meal (Inexpensive) | $3.81 per meal | $2.98 per meal |
| Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) | $33 per meal | $25 per meal |
| Fast Food Combo | $5.08 per meal | $4.47 per meal |
| Apples | $3.17 per kg | $1.99 per kg |
| Bread | $1.07 per loaf | $1.12 per loaf |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $0.71 per bottle | $0.62 per bottle |
| Milk | $1.98 per liter | $2.11 per liter |
| Rice | $1.40 per kg | $1.37 per kg |
| Chicken Fillets | $5.59 per kg | $3.48 per kg |
| Beef | $12 per kg | $8.70 per kg |
| Wine (Mid-range) | $19 per bottle | $19 per bottle |
Groceries
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $152 per month | $174 per month |
Health Insurance
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | $25 per month | $37 per month |
Healthcare
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Visit (GP) | $22 per visit | $20 per visit |
| Pharmacy (basic meds) | $6.35 per purchase | $3.73 per purchase |
Housing
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $305 per month | $149 per month |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) | $597 per month | $298 per month |
| Airbnb (1 month) | $1,219 per month | $870 per month |
| Coworking Space | $147 per month | $99 per month |
| Coliving Space | $419 per month | $497 per month |
Internet & Mobile
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Internet & Mobile | $20 per month | $25 per month |
Leisure Activities
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Leisure Activities | $38 per month | $25 per month |
Personal Care
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $14 per visit | $4.97 per visit |
| Laundry | $3.05 per kg | $2.98 per kg |
Services
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Plan | $11 per month | $12 per month |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | $29 per month | $32 per month |
| SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) | $7.62 one-time | $7.46 one-time |
| Gym Membership | $46 per month | $30 per month |
| Tennis Court (Weekend) | $8.89 per hour | $6.21 per hour |
Transportation
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $13 per month | $30 per month |
| Taxi Start | $1.27 per trip | $1.74 per trip |
| Taxi per km | $0.63 per km | $0.62 per km |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $13 per month | $25 per month |
| Ride-hailing (5km) | $3.05 per trip | $2.98 per trip |
| Gasoline | $0.52 per liter | $0.70 per liter |
| Scooter Rental | $8.89 per month | $8.70 per month |
Utilities
Local prices in US dollars
|
MY
Kuala Lumpur
|
MY
Penang
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | $38 per month | $30 per month |