Cities
Nomad city comparison
Cape Town vs Kuala Lumpur
South Africa · Africa · mid · Malaysia · Southeast Asia · budget
🏆 Kuala Lumpur wins on price.
Nomad Score comparison
🏆 Kuala Lumpur scores higher
Nomad Score
69/ 100
B
B — Solid
Cost · 30%74.98750000000001
Productivity · 25%68
Sustainability · 20%70
Lifestyle · 15%69
Tax · 10%50
Weighted for long-term nomads · cost 30% · productivity 25% · sustainability 20% · lifestyle 15% · tax 10%
Nomad Score
74/ 100
B
B — Solid
Cost · 30%85.12694444444445
Productivity · 25%74
Sustainability · 20%66
Lifestyle · 15%64
Tax · 10%75
Weighted for long-term nomads · cost 30% · productivity 25% · sustainability 20% · lifestyle 15% · tax 10%
| Sub-score | Cape Town | Kuala Lumpur | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 74.98750000000001 | 85.12694444444445 | 10.139444444444436 |
| Productivity | 68 | 74 | 6 |
| Sustainability | 70 | 66 | 4 |
| Lifestyle | 69 | 64 | 5 |
| Tax | 50 | 75 | 25 |
| Total | 69 B | 74 B | 5 |
Side-by-side
| Category | Cape Town | Kuala Lumpur | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb (monthly) | $1,376 | $878 | 36% |
| Long-term lease | $805 | $511 | 37% |
| Food — local | $338 | $245 | 28% |
| Food — Western | $698 | $649 | 7% |
| Coworking (monthly) | $171 | $132 | 23% |
| Specialty coffee (cup) | $2.52 | $2.69 | 6% |
| Mobile data / SIM (monthly) | $18 | $14 | 22% |
| Gym — chain (monthly) | $55 | $28 | 49% |
| Gym — boutique (monthly) | $145 | $75 | 48% |
| Laundry per load | $2.60 | $1.40 | 46% |
| Transit pass (monthly) | $45.45 | $28.43 | 37% |
| Tourist visa | — | — | ≈ |
| Nomad visa (year) | $100 | $850 | 88% |
| Chicken breast (100g) | $0.93 | $0.65 | 30% |
Cape Town
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Kuala Lumpur
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