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It’s no secret that digital nomads love Thailand for its unparalleled social life, Indonesia for its slow-paced island lifestyle and Japan for its incredible infrastructure, but it seems an equally fascinating country has been waiting in the wings all along, ready to are central:
An economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has seen one surprising 100.3% increase in applications for Digital Nomad Visas (or DNVs) under the DE Rantau programme, not to mention the predicted 27.3 million international arrivals by the end of the year.
Whether occasional travelers or remote workers, it has certainly captured the Western gazeand the high-speed internet, affordable cities and unique cultural landscape are thanks to:
This is why nomads love Malaysia
For starters, Malaysia is home to some of the best-equipped nomadic centers in Asia, starting with Kuala Lumpur, the diverse, monumental capital, where multiple ethnic communities live and mosques, pagodas and innovative skyscrapers all sit side by side. next to each other.
The trendy Bangsar neighborhood is a favorite among digital nomads for its high concentration of laptop-friendly eateries, as is the more residential, laid-back Hartamas, home to a established expat sceneand Mont Kiara, right in the center, dotted with cozy cafes and coworking spaces.
When it comes to attractions, Kuala Lumpur is one of Asia’s best offerings, with an abundance of night markets where you can sample local cuisine at negligible prices, ancient temples and lush city parks that provide some relaxation when the fast city life becomes a bit too overwhelming.
Life in Malaysia beyond Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is just the tip of the iceberg:
As seen on Nomadsthe largest platform for tracking digital nomad trends in the world, remote workers are also flocking to bustling Kota Kinabalu, a port city backed by a green rainforest on the island of Borneo.
It is dominated by a waterfront city mosque and is in close proximity to pristine beaches and beautiful nature trails. It lies somewhere between the cosmopolitan appeal of Kuala Lumpur and the undeveloped charm of Borneo.
Then there is George Town, the capital of Penang Island, characterized by its British colonial buildingsChinese markets and green hills; Teluk Bahang, a relaxed coastal town surrounded by turquoise waters, also in Penang, and an up-and-coming Malacca:
It’s an unsung cultural gem, located on Malaysia’s southwestern coast, close to the beaches and crossed by a Chinese-built Jonker Street, flanked by antique shops and food stalls, and it’s a more unusual alternative to the busy conurbation of Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is more developed than average
Part of the reason Malaysia has become extremely popular among nomads lately, especially Westerners, is how surprisingly developed the country is compared to its Southeast Asian counterparts.
Granted, it’s still several years behind Japan and maybe several decades behind a futuristic SingaporeBut if you find Vietnam’s confusing traffic rules, or lack thereof, and widespread ghettoization in parts of Bali too much to bear, you may find Malaysia much more to your liking.
By comparison, cities like Kuala Lumpur and George Town feel much cleaner, and their good public transport systems, green areas and pedestrian-friendly centers offer a higher quality of life for residents and guests alike without Tokyo prices.
Less poverty, fewer urban problems:
The country as a whole feels very safe, with lower crime levels than in other developing countries: according to the US Department of State it is a Level 1 destinationmeaning it’s about as low risk as Switzerland, Norway, Finland and the like.
How affordable is Malaysia?
Moreover, Malaysia is cheap if you are American or European: the Malaysian Ringgit is weaker than the US dollar, the euro or the British pound, and five dollars will get you much further here than in the United States.
To be more specific, for five dollars you can order a generous portion of Nasi Lemak, the national Malaysian dish consisting of fragrant coconut rice, fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and hard-boiled eggs, topped with a sambal sauce, for about $4.48 at a cheap restaurant.
If it’s a special occasion and you get something Char Kway Meow (stir-fried flat rice noodles with shrimp, eggs and bean sprouts) and Roti Canai (flatbread dipped in lentil curry) separately and a drinkexpect to pay $27.98 average in Kuala Lumpur.
Staying long and worrying Airbnb rates? You don’t have to get yourself all worked up: monthly rent in Kuala Lumpur starts at a shockingly cheap $444 for a private room or $638 for a fully equipped, airy studio.
Are you charmed by Penang and would you rather stay somewhere more tropical, preferably on the coast? Rooms in George Town range from $398 to $462, and if you’re worried about tapping into those savings, this is beautiful apartment on the coast overlooking the Indian Ocean will cost you $1,134.
Just in case you want to treat yourself a little, if you think about it how cheap everything else is.
This is approximately how much you spend per month as a digital nomad in the top five destinations in Malaysia, as listed on Nomads based on their popularity:
- Kuala Lumpur – $1,348
- Kota Kinabalu – $1,335
- George Town (Penang) – $1,017
- Ipoh – $1,591
- Langkwai – $1,338
Malaysia welcomes digital nomads
Finally, Malaysia is just one of a few Asian countries that have formally launched a Digital Nomad Visa through their DE Rantau program:
Digital freelancers and home-based workers who can demonstrate that their source of income comes from digital activities and who can demonstrate sufficient funds for living in Malaysia by having sufficient funds in their account or present their last 3 bank statements are eligible to apply.
Other specifications include having at least 6 blank pages in your passport, so if you are a land hopper you may want to double check this before applying, and apply for a new passport if necessary, and be of good character:
In short, criminals are not welcome.
The Malaysian DNV is valid for a maximum stay of 12 months, extendable for a further 12 months. at the discretion of the immigration authoritiesand you can bring your partner and children.
Apply for the Malaysian DNV here.
Alternatively, if you don’t plan to stay in Malaysia for more than three months, you can still stay in the country as a tourist: US passport holders do not need any visa to travel to Malaysia for a short stay. provided that they inform the authorities at the border where they are entering as tourists.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
