On Travel

Kuala Lumpur is the Best City to be Productive. Here are 5 Reasons Why.

Digital nomad guide for getting shit done

Are you a digital nomad searching for a place to get shit done?

Search no further.

I spent the last 14 days in Kuala Lumpur.

During this time, I completed an intense writing challenge, published 11 articles, and launched my newsletter and blog.

Safe to say, Kuala Lumpur was the most productive city during my trip.

Here are five reasons why.

Wave bad connection goodbye

While on the road full time and working, an internet connection is the most important thing you would search in a place.

Traveling around Southeast Asia taught me that it can be a game changer between getting work done and slacking.

Not in Kuala Lumpur, though.

Kuala Lumpur has one of the best internet connections in Asia.

The internet is super fast and reliable.

There is no frustration.

There is no risk of fallout with your online meetings.

There are no interruptions to your work.

Still, this is only true if you visit the right places.

Work like a king

Finding a great space to work will allow you to stay productive at all times.

Coworking spaces in Malaysia are top-notch. The ones I have visited all mirrored the best working environments I often found with my clients back in Europe.

They offered excellent internet connection, comfortable working chairs, and a small kitchen with complimentary coffee and tea.

It was a refreshing change.

The only issue was that they were a bit pricey compared to other coworking spaces across Asia.

Still, they delivered exactly the value you paid for.

But guess what?

Fortunately, many other things will allow you to save a lot of money if you give Kuala Lumpur a chance.

Pay less for a good night’s sleep

Accommodation was arguably one of the cheapest for the value it provided.

I paid around 30 EUR per night for a private room in a business area with many great restaurants nearby. They also offered a private gym and infinity pool on top of the building.

The rooms and service were on par with a 4-star hotel in Europe.

But it gets even better.

There are also much cheaper options available in case you want to be cautious with your budget.

You want to reduce your expenses further?

There is another thing that will allow you to do just that.

Pay even less for food

Kuala Lumpur has one of the cheapest quality food in the world.

Best thing about it?

It offers a lot of diversity thanks to Kuala Lumpur being a multi-cultural city.

You can find excellent Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese places along with many Western options.

The price?

It’s at least half cheaper than Europe and 20–40% more affordable than other places I visited in Asia.

Let me illustrate with a concrete example.

For a typical meal in an above-average Japanese restaurant (starter, main course, and a drink), I paid around 4–5 EUR.

Talking about great value for the price.

None of this would be possible, though, if not for a fantastic connectivity.

I’ll explain in a second.

Stay connected with the world

Kuala Lumpur offers easy access in many ways.

First, it has an incredible (and very well-connected) international airport.

Second, it offers cheap flights across all of South East Asia.

Third, Malaysia has a free 30-day visa on arrival for most Western countries.

All of this makes Kuala Lumpur a great place to set up a base and quickly fly in and out to navigate between working and exploring the region.

That being said, there are still some significant downsides.

No place is perfect

You should consider three major downsides while planning your digital nomad trip to Kuala Lumpur.

First, it does not have a well-established digital nomad community.

If you are like me and want to both hustle hard while also meet incredible people, Kuala Lumpur might not be the best place. In my two weeks there, I only met one great guy with whom I connected on a deeper level.

Second, it has a terrible weather.

When I was there, it was raining 75% of the time. Even when it was not raining, it was humid as fuck. Spending time outside reminded me of my past visits to Turkish sauna (but being fully dressed while you are there).

Third, they love their ACs.

And they make sure to keep it as low as possible. You will be navigating between 36 degrees outside and 16 degrees inside. I caught a cold on the first day (due to too much party in Phuket) and could not get rid of it for 14 days. I blame the crazy AC for that.

Here you have it, friends — The benefits and downsides of Kuala Lumpur in a nutshell.

Final thoughts

Kuala Lumpur is undoubtedly one of the most productive cities I have visited during my trip.

It offers a high-end working experience that is also affordable.

No wonder they often refer to Kuala Lumpur as “little Singapore.”

If you were thinking about traveling and also getting some shit down — you have found the right place.

Try out Kuala Lumpur and see your productivity grow.

I wonder, though. Is there any better place for work you have found during your travels?

Let me know in the comments :)

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