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%75.99611111111109
Productivity · 25%68
Sustainability · 20%72
Lifestyle · 15%68
Tax · 10%50
Weighted for long-term nomads · cost 30% · productivity 25% · sustainability 20% · lifestyle 15% · tax 10%
Nomad Score
75/ 100
A
A — Great
Cost · 30%83.75555555555555
Productivity · 25%74
Sustainability · 20%71
Lifestyle · 15%66
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 | 75.99611111111109 | 83.75555555555555 | 7.759444444444455 |
| Productivity | 68 | 74 | 6 |
| Sustainability | 72 | 71 | 1 |
| Lifestyle | 68 | 66 | 2 |
| Tax | 50 | 75 | 25 |
| Total | 69 B | 75 A | 6 |
Side-by-side
| Category | Cape Town | Kuala Lumpur | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb (monthly) | $1,257 | $850 | 32% |
| Long-term lease | $781 | $554 | 29% |
| Food — local | $326 | $253 | 22% |
| Food — Western | $690 | $584 | 15% |
| Coworking (monthly) | $170 | $127 | 25% |
| Specialty coffee (cup) | $2.64 | $2.85 | 7% |
| 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) | $46.14 | $28.8 | 38% |
| Tourist visa | — | — | ≈ |
| Nomad visa (year) | $100 | $850 | 88% |
| Chicken breast (100g) | $0.81 | $0.69 | 15% |
Cape Town
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Kuala Lumpur
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