Living in Malaysia as a Digital Nomad

Most nomads rent a furnished condo in a tower with a pool, gym and security. In Penang and smaller cities, landed houses and heritage shophouses are options too.

• Where to look. iProperty, PropertyGuru, Mudah and Facebook groups list monthly and yearly rentals; agents show units quickly. Airbnb is useful for the first weeks but costs more.
• Lease and deposit. Yearly leases are standard and cheapest, usually with a two-month security deposit and a half-month utility deposit. Shorter leases of three to six months are easier to find in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, at a higher rent.
• Bills. Electricity is billed by Tenaga Nasional at fair rates; air-conditioning is the main cost. Fibre is often included or quick to set up.
• Stamp duty. Leases are formally stamped, and the tenant often pays this small fee.

• SIM cards: CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi Mobile sell prepaid SIMs at the airport and in every mall. Bring your passport. Plans with large data allowances cost RM 30 to RM 80 a month.
• Home internet: Unifi, TIME and Maxis offer 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps fibre for RM 100 to RM 150 a month.
• Apps worth having: Grab (rides, food and payments), Touch ‘n Go eWallet, WhatsApp (used by landlords and businesses) and foodpanda.

Kuala Lumpur has a good network of LRT, MRT, monorail and commuter trains, plus covered walkways between the central malls. Elsewhere, Grab is cheap and reliable. Many long-stayers outside KL rent a car; Malaysia drives on the left, roads are good, and you can drive on an International Driving Permit for your first months. Motorbike riding is common but riskier. The electric ETS train links Kuala Lumpur with Ipoh, Penang (Butterworth) and the north, and low-cost flights cover the rest.

Malaysia’s private hospitals are among the best value in Asia and draw medical tourists from across the region. Kuala Lumpur and Penang have the widest choice of specialists; smaller cities have good private hospitals for most needs. A private GP visit costs RM 50 to RM 150, and pharmacies are well stocked.

For emergencies, call 999. Get nomad health insurance before you arrive, and use repellent, because dengue is common.

Kuala Lumpur has an active nomad and expat community with coworking events, meetups, run clubs, climbing gyms and language exchanges. Penang’s community is smaller but close-knit. Because English is so widely spoken, it is also easy to make Malaysian friends, which many nomads say is the best part of living here.

• Three cultures. Malays (mostly Muslim), Chinese and Indian Malaysians each have their own festivals, food and customs. Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali are all public holidays.
• Dress modestly away from the beach, and cover arms and legs at mosques, where robes are often provided. Take off your shoes when entering homes and places of worship.
• Use your right hand for eating, giving and receiving.
• Ramadan. During the fasting month, be discreet about eating and drinking in public, especially in conservative areas. Evening Ramadan bazaars are a highlight.
• Alcohol is available in cities and tourist areas, but expensive and absent in conservative states such as Kelantan and Terengganu.

• Drugs: penalties are severe, and trafficking can still carry the death penalty.
• Work: DE Rantau covers remote work for foreign employers and clients; working for Malaysian companies needs an Employment Pass.
• LGBTQ: same-sex relations are illegal, and public displays of affection are discouraged.
• Religion: don’t proselytise to Muslims, and avoid criticising Islam or the royal families.
• Drones need permission from the civil aviation authority.

Malaysia is safe by world standards. Violent crime against foreigners is rare. The main risks are snatch theft from passing motorbikes on quiet streets, traffic, scams with unmetered taxis, and flash floods in the rainy season. Walk facing the traffic, keep your bag away from the road, and use Grab for set prices.

Emergency number: 999 for police, ambulance and fire.