Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Editor
March 12, 2023
Kuala Lumpur is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a vibrant and exciting city to explore. With its bustling streets, diverse culture, and world-class infrastructure, Kuala Lumpur is a great place to live and work. According to the World Bank, Kuala Lumpur is the most affordable city in the world for digital nomads, with an average monthly cost of living of just $1,000. The city also boasts a high quality of life, with a Human Development Index score of 0.837, making it one of the most livable cities in the world. Additionally, Kuala Lumpur is home to a thriving tech scene, with a number of tech startups and coworking spaces. The city also offers a wide range of activities and attractions, from its iconic Petronas Twin Towers to its vibrant nightlife. With its low cost of living, high quality of life, and vibrant tech scene, Kuala Lumpur is an ideal destination for digital nomads.
Living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
63%
Quality of life -
27%
Cost of living -
84%
Connectivity -
57%
Weather
47
General
| Currency | MYR |
| Population (in millions) | 7.5 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | 95 |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Bangsar, Petaling Jaya |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 80 |
| Top selling local beer | Tiger |
| Most popular local dish | Nasi Lemak |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves, Merdeka Square |
| Discount airline | AirAsia |
| Major airline | Malaysia Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | Grab |
| Primary train stations | Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Bank Negara, Putra |
| Primary airports | Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | 80000 MYR |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Lot G-213, Ground Floor, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 100 Mbps |
| Power socket type | G |
| Supply voltage | 230V |
| Best electronics store | Senheng |
| Best internet carrier | Maxis |
| Primary cellular carrier | Maxis |
| Average monthly cost for internet | RM100 (Malaysian Ringgit) |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Watsons |
| Best restaurant chain | Nando's |
| The best grocery store | Tesco |
| The most popular fashion brand | Uniqlo |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $17,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $14000 |
| Sales tax rate | 6% |
| Income tax rate | 26% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 90 days |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 4.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 100 MYR |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Maybank |
| Average tip in restaurant | 10-15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Quite common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 999 (general), 994 (police), 991 (ambulance), 993 (firefighters) |
| Polution per square meter | 4,945 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 37 |
| Main religion | Islam |
Quality of life
63%
-
37%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
55%
Property to income -
63%
Crime -
68%
Healthcare -
57%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | MYR 5,637 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 3.63% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | MYR 1,088 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | MYR 36,899 |
Cost of living
27%
-
Purchasing Power
86%
-
Rent
14%
-
Food
41%
-
Restaurant
25%
-
Workspace
66%
-
Transport
41%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | MYR 2,102.86 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | MYR 1,265.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | MYR 4,381.25 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | MYR 2,362.50 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | MYR 36.15 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | MYR 7.53 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | MYR 3.57 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | MYR 7.88 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | MYR 44.83 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | MYR 2.83 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | MYR 67.50 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | MYR 11.43 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 15.89 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | MYR 18.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | MYR 17.14 |
| Apples (1kg) | MYR 11.82 |
| Oranges (1kg) | MYR 12.19 |
| Potato (1kg) | MYR 4.40 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | MYR 4.03 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | MYR 6.13 |
| Tomato (1kg) | MYR 6.24 |
| Banana (1kg) | MYR 6.40 |
| Onion (1kg) | MYR 4.04 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | MYR 43.79 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | MYR 15.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | MYR 100.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | MYR 18.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | MYR 17.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 20.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 2.79 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | MYR 1.80 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | MYR 12.55 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | MYR 239.10 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | MYR 0.43 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | MYR 114.47 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | MYR 189.45 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | MYR 36.15 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | MYR 20.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | MYR 3.00 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | MYR 50.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | MYR 2.10 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | MYR 160,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | MYR 130,055.89 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | MYR 5.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | MYR 5.00 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | MYR 15.00 |
