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If you are a digital nomad, working out which country to go to can be very fun, but it can also be very challenging. As a digital nomad, you have a range of unique needs (such as fast internet, affordable accommodation, good workspaces, community, and long, affordable visas). So, is Malaysia a good country for digital nomads?
We have lived in Malaysia long-term and visited this beautiful country many times over the years. We have both been employed in Malaysia and also worked in Malaysia as digital nomads, so we have a lot of experience to help you decide if Malaysia is a good country for you.
As a full-time digital nomad family, it is very important that we find a country which enables us to work productively and efficiently. We also world-school our kids without using childcare, so we have to be very selective over the countries that we spend more time in.
Malaysia is one of our favorite countries in Southeast Asia for slowing down and doing the digital nomad family life. However, it is not without its unique challenges. In this article, we will share the pros and cons of Malaysia for digital nomads.
THINGS TO DO IN MALAYSIA – 30 Amazing things to do in Malaysia
LIVE YOUR DREAMS AND LEARN TO EARN
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Best digital nomad hubs in Malaysia
Here are the best digital nomad hubs in Malaysia:
- Langkawi – This is a great hub for digital nomads, with beautiful beaches and plenty of things to see and do. Affordable accommodation can be challenging to find.
- Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Lumpur is a large city with excellent transportation, plenty of coffee shops, and lots of things to do. However, it is a big city, so it is definitely not a tropical paradise.
- Malacca – This is a beautiful historic city with cafes, coffee shops, and a nice peaceful vibe. It can be tricky to find cheap long-term accommodation, and there are not a lot of digital nomads in the area.
- Ipoh – This is a great option if you want a more off-the-beaten-track, authentic local experience. You can find cheap accommodation and food in the area. There are also lots of things to do around Ipoh.
- Cameron Highlands – This is probably one of the best destinations in Malaysia for digital nomads. You can find some cheaper apartments for longer stays. The Cameron Highlands can get very crowded on Malaysian public holidays.
- Kota Kinabalu – This is one of the main cities in Sabah. There is a lot of nature and adventure close by. However, Kota Kinabalu is not very developed.
- Perhentian Islands – If you’re looking for the dreamy tropical island experience, then we recommend the Perhentian Islands. You may find the internet slow and unreliable here. This is not the place for hyper-productivity, but it does have all the tropical island vibes (perfect for the dreamy beach office shots to make your friends jealous).
What about Penang?
We would love to recommend Penang as a good digital nomad hub in Malaysia. However, Penang has some awkward local rules against medium-term apartment rentals. You can book apartments for a week or two, but this is relatively expensive. However, if you want to stay for longer, you will need to take at least a one-year contract (which may be too long for some digital nomads). Unfortunately, apartments are the only viable option in Penang for digital nomads. Although Penang is an amazing destination to travel to, it is not a good destination for slow travelers or digital nomads.
1 Long visas
For many countries, you can get 90 days on arrival for free in Malaysia. This is a very favorable visa policy compared to many other countries in Southeast Asia, where you have to pay for much shorter visas. You do not have to fill out any paperwork; you can just get your passport stamped on arrival. We do, however, recommend that you check the visa policies for your specific country (they do vary depending on what country you are from). Malaysia also has a 12-month digital nomad visa (if you work in a qualifying sector and have a minimum of $24,000 annual income). The Malaysian digital nomad visa costs just over RM 1,500 (which is around £300 or $350).
2 Internet speed and availability
To be honest, the internet is probably one of the biggest challenges and frustrations of Malaysia for digital nomads. Having lived and worked in Malaysia several times, we have found this quite challenging. The internet is certainly not as cheap, fast, or reliable as in Thailand, but it is still manageable. The best SIM card option is Digi (we have tried several providers, and this is the fastest and most reliable option). Find out more about Digi data packages. Generally speaking, you can find prepaid packages for around RM50 (30 days with shareable data), and you can find 5G packages. It is possible to top this package up after a month, but you do need to pop into a store to do this.
Although the internet speed can be reasonable, it often slows down in the evening, and network coverage is not reliable. The good news is that free high-speed Wi-Fi is generally available in coffee shops and cafes (we found Zus to be particularly good for high-quality coffee and fast internet). Although internet in Malaysia can be challenging, it is still manageable, especially if you are prepared. Where possible, we recommend saving work and documents so that you can edit them offline if you struggle with the internet. If you’re staying in Malaysia for longer, you may want to sort out a Wi-Fi router and set up an official contract.
3 Coffee shops and coworking spaces
Malaysia is pretty good for coffee shops, and it is generally fine to bring your laptop in and work. Compared to Thailand, there are fewer small independent boutique coffee shops, but you can still find some big brand chains in Malaysia. For example, you can often find Starbucks, Coffee Bean, and Zus (the latter is a personal favorite due to the low prices and fast free Wi-Fi). Shopping malls may also have free Wi-Fi available, and most hotels and guest houses include free Wi-Fi as a standard. You can find some coworking spaces around Malaysia, but this is less common than in Thailand.
4 Community and networking
Malaysia is a fantastic country for community and networking. You can find plenty of expats living in Malaysia, and they are often happy to connect with digital nomads. Malaysia also has a lot of tourism (especially in recent years). It is very easy to meet other travelers, especially if you are visiting tourist hotspots like Penang, the Cameron Highlands, and Kuala Lumpur. The best way to connect with people in Malaysia is to find Facebook groups where people arrange meetups and share information. Malaysia also has some great homeschooling networks and world schooling hubs for families.
5 Cost and quality of life
Malaysia is a very cheap country, and you can have a relatively high quality of life for a very low cost of living. This is particularly true in recent years due to the Ringgit depreciation (the exchange rate has become increasingly favorable for foreigners over the past few years). Malaysia has an amazing local food culture; there is a fusion of Malay, Indian, and Chinese food.
Food is affordable, and in most places, you are spoilt for choice. It is worth noting that street food in Malaysia is not particularly healthy (they use a lot of oil and sugar in their food). This can be frustrating if you are staying in Malaysia for a while and are health-conscious. It is also relatively easy to find international cuisine in Malaysia. In most towns and cities, you can find Korean food, Japanese food, Italian food, and American food. Your money does go a long way in Malaysia. As a digital nomad family, we are able to afford apartments with swimming pools and use taxis on a regular basis.
6 Opportunities for digital nomad families
Malaysia is a great place for digital nomad families. It is relatively cheap, and you can have a high quality of life as a family. There are plenty of parks and play spaces around Malaysia. If you’re traveling with younger kids, you can also find small schools and preschools (many of these have a minimum commitment of one full term or more). You can also find babysitters and nannies relatively cheaply in Malaysia. Malaysia also has a lot of opportunities for world schooling; there are plenty of amazing destinations and experiences where you can learn and grow as a family. We have also found it very easy to network and connect with other families in Malaysia. It has become a particularly popular destination for expat families and slow-traveling families in the past few years. There are lots of homeschooling networks and world schooling hubs in Malaysia.
7 Opportunities for travel and adventure
Malaysia is an amazing country with plenty of opportunities for unique adventures. You can explore beautiful paradise islands, swim in crystal clear biodiverse water, and explore mountains and jungles. Malaysia is packed with incredible wildlife. The Cameron Highlands is a fantastic destination (but it is very popular, so avoid this area on Malaysian public holidays). Penang is also a fantastic island with lots of things to see and do, including Penang Hill, the Penang National Park, The Escape Adventure Park, and much more.
Langkawi is also a fantastic holiday destination in Malaysia with a cable car, lots of beautiful beaches, and plenty of things to see and do. If you’re looking for a more intrepid paradise experience, then consider a visit to the Perhentian Islands or Tioman Island. If you really want to get off the beaten track for a wild adventure, then we highly recommend Sabah (in East Malaysia). You can take island-hopping trips, climb Mount Kinabalu, find Rafflesia, visit hot springs, and see wild orangutans. For some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world, head over to Semporna and Mabul Island.
