Best Cities in Malaysia to Live In 2026
1 city ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Path to PR
Corporate tax
❓ Living in Malaysia — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in Malaysia?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Kuala Lumpur ranks #1 in Malaysia with a score of 76/100, and city-centre rent from around $690/month.
What is the safest city in Malaysia?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Kuala Lumpur is the safest city in Malaysia in our database, with a rate of 1 per 100,000 people.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Malaysia?▾
Malaysia offers the Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass (easy process). Duration: 3–12 months, renewable to 24 months total. Key requirement: Remote work for non-Malaysian employer or clients. Tech roles: income ≥ $24,000/yr. Non-tech roles: income ≥ $60,000/yr.. The process is relatively easy. Check individual city pages for full details.