KL Uber Alles

[tomcat]

Kuala Lumpur Is Top Global City for Expats

Malaysian capital ranks high because of its cheaper housing costs and low taxes, according to new research.



The skyline of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photographer: Samsul Said
Bloomberg ByAlice Kantor

November 26, 2022 at 1:00 AM GMT+7

Kuala Lumpur is the best city for expats, according to research by US-based language learning app Preply.
People moving to the Malaysian capital can get by on the equivalent of about $1,091 a month, benefitting from low taxes and housing costs. Tbilisi in Georgia, Lisbon, Dubai and Bangkok are also at the top of the list, which focused on factors including affordability, internet connectivity, safety and how hard the local language is to learn.

After the pandemic shuttered offices around the world, more people took advantage of remote worker visas, which surged in popularity and are now offered by more than 30 countries.

Tbilisi ranks second as the best city for expats, according to Preply’s index. The Georgian city is safe, has a relatively low cost of living and offers many attractions. Lisbon, meanwhile, is attractive for its affordable lifestyle, with the Portuguese capital costing about $1,651 a month for expats.

Countries ranked 6-10:

6. Prague: $2254
7. Madrid: $2021
8. Barcelona: $2090
9. Alicante: $1320
10. Montreal: $2074

[DrWilly]

Dubai .... also at the top of the list, which focused on factors including affordability...

[panama hat]

YES!!! First stop on my vacation next week! Back 'home', miss our house and the office.

Seafood!!!!! Brilliant food in general.

[happynz]

I much prefer the other cities in Malaysia such as Ipoh, Georgetown/Penang and Taiping. KL's toll roads and crappy signage (we'll hide the exit signs behind bushes or put the signs a hundred metres after the exit) really annoyed me.

[cyrille]

The train station is cool.

[aging one]

I much prefer the other cities in Malaysia such as Ipoh, Georgetown/Penang and Taiping. KL's toll roads and crappy signage (we'll hide the exit signs behind bushes or put the signs a hundred metres after the exit) really annoyed me.

Could not agree more. I like the Cameron highlands as well.

[happynz]

The train station is cool.

I'll agree there.

[david44]

I noticed quite a few "expats" around my stepbrothers place in in Los Angeles , though of course they were not wealthy whites but hard working hispanics.

Many cities in the Gulf the locals are a minority as they prefer not to graft in that burning son.

[reinvented]

only been a couple of times and found it inoffensive, wouldnt be in my top 50, but nowt wrong with it, better than Kota Bahru
Prefer Penang

[david44]

Prefer Penang

Agree has a special unique atmosphere the best blend of Tamil Hokkien ,Hakka, Nonya, Nasi Kandar , Malay and old colonial input , sea, cool Mt coolness , ok beaches and boat rides to Langkawi Sumatera or the mainland, modern malls and Pschtt from the colonaded arcades by the Hong Kong bar and the sublime seediness of Chulia Street and roar of Little India

[panama hat]

It's only KL as that's where the work is - Penang as well to a certain extent but it lags behind KL. Lots of excellent areas to live, so many things to do and close to any number of beaches, jungles etc...

Yup, I'd agree with it being in the top range (and for the monolingual among us - English is spoken by close to everyone)