Most Livable Cities in Southeast Asia

[@user-tl9wv6wu9h]

As Digital Nomad who often travel around Asia, I prefer KL as my home-base country throughout renewable ‘DE-Rantau’ nomad visa programme. KL is centre of Asia when it comes to cheap economy class flights as Malaysia is hub for AirAsia. I heard Malaysia is one top pick retire destinations among Japanese.

[@Aidan_Au]

Thanks Irena and R&D team. KL is a good choice and for the Live Event too!

[@OneJuanWon]

Last month (April 2024) I spent a week in Cebu City, Philippines and a week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If I had to choose between these two, KL would get my vote. Cost of living is about the same (Manila is actually a bit higher), but KL is far more organized and clean with regards to infrastructure and transportation. I didn't do the medical check up at Prince Court (wish I planned for that), but everything else about KL is just better in my opinion. For the record, I've been to the Philippines several times but only KL once....that's the kind of impression KL made on me.

[@kazuketsu7279]

where do you from?

[@leealex24]

I would say KL, and BKK are the most balanced and liveable cities. Has both costs, infra and living covered

[@arii1987]

Exactly true

[@lorenk.775]

Only if you like big cities. plenty of better or just as good lesser known ones that were not mentioned.

[@aqeelaliani]

Been living in KL for the past few months. It's great but just feels like something is missing here. Just made a trip to Da Nang. Highly recommended! Really feel like I can live there long term. People should really consider it!

[@lisas44]

She mentions the humidity in Malaysia, wondering if Bali is the same? I would think so.

[@maxsmart99]

These countries are all very close to each other and more or less in the same climate zone surrounded by a lot of ocean. All very hot and humid. 90 to 95° is considered normal

[@LisaLisa-mo2tg]

Malaysia weather is so hot and not the best choice exps people came from the modern first world country..

[@leealex24]

All these asean cities have very similiar weather. What you talking about?

[@notsniw135]

same goes to Singapore, Bangkok, and Manila.

[@ghrbaa6727]

@@LisaLisa-mo2tg Bangkok, Jakarta and Singapore consistently have higher mean temperatures compared to KL. Having said that KL is still HOT.

[@Theophile-eliet]

I live in Bangkok since 7 years. Makes me smile the "very cheap" showing a video of Soi Langsuan (30K USD per sqm) and "super not amazingly well connected" LOL. Bangkok its 1st city in the world visited few years in a row because of the airport is extremely well connected. The citizenship can't be obtain after 10 years and the Thai investor visa is just a visa, not an express way to citizenship. To obtain the citizenship you need to speak, read and sing the national song front of a committee and have 5 years of working permit in a row. You're welcome

[@jeremyleonbarlow]

The Philippines raised the age requirement on the SRRV to 50 several years ago.

[@BossChronicles]

yes

[@vwchan841]

I would question whether some of your top picks have the infrastructure and robust medical care industry that say a KL or HK has, especially if one is a retiree. I myself love Penang, Malaysia. It checks off all othe boxes for me, and I come from a generally very desirable place to live in the world (Bay Area, California, USA).

[@windanger2023]

Philippines have one of the best hospital care around. Competent doctors as well. Not the best facilities but very competent already in selected expensive hospitals like St. Luke, Makati Med, and more. My wife is a Filipina and my sister in law has been comatose for a week after a head injury from a motorcycle accident. She went through craniotomy - a surgical procedure in which a portion of the skull (cranium) is temporarily removed to relieve the swelling and bleeding. She became conscious after a week from surgery and fully recovered in a month. She's was not even treated in this best hospital because she's living in the province - Bicol (same situation in Malaysia).

[@user-ow3gv1fp7w]

In the end of the day, what you want for your life. Peace ❤

[@shinachikudidnthappen..mov9196]

​@@windanger2023The heck you even talking about Malaysia having same situation? You really have no foot on the ground. Philippines health industry is not even half the level of Malaysia's. While you do export low or partial-skilled labourers in hospitality industry, this does not translate to the reality of your home-based situation since you can't even get stable infrastructure going on in the first place. If your industry is anywhere on similar level with that of Malaysia's, Indonesians will be flocking to you instead of Malaysia, since remember, they love to make a scapegoat out of Malaysia whenever possible so of course if you are any capable, they would choose you instead. That's not the reality, though, isn't it? If you want to praise Philippines, fine, but don't expect people to be fine when you try to drag other countries to your level, especially when you are not even in our league to be denigrating us in the first place.

[@rahuliyer7456]

You forgot Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh, and Ha Noi! These are great cities. The only drawback here is the visa...not a problem for me as my wife is a Viet Kieu.

[@lorenk.775]

No lesser known places were mentioned, only places that were nicer and more livable 20-30 yrs ago. 😄😄🤦🤦

[@mitp2514]

I prefer Georgia, or Malaysia

[@user-eo6jw3kb4d]

I am thinking about taking residency in Georgia, but I am a little concerned about the political situation in connection with Russia. What is your opinion? Is it still a good residency for a perpetual traveller?

[@MY9999MY]

Malaysia would be definitely the win win option comparing the above 2

[@enricocontrerasaraneta7290]

Manila AIRPORT is well connected to the world..going to/ from manila

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

Great information thank you for sharing this. Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico.🇲🇽✌🏼

[@smileofasia2024]

Insightful video...Well done - you forgot to mention Cambodia which now has a growing interest with expats.

[@LisaLisa-mo2tg]

Indonesia is the most modern city and beautiful country in south east asia... move to indonesia is the best choice..

[@arii1987]

Lol. Thats why so mamy leave to elsewhere. 😂❤

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Not the actual indonesians. We hv tonnes in my country (illegals)

[@amiryazidali7659]

Most modern city? Doubt that😂

[@frenchLeon]

Malaysia is much better.

[@irishque]

Hahaha..what a joke

[@dravindion]

Get your geography right. Hong Kong is not South East Asia!

[@ghrbaa6727]

Hong Kong lies just outside of Southeast Asia, but it is still in the same time zone as KL and Singapore.

[@duittukis]

what ever reason I prefer Malaysia.

[@samuelzev4076]

As someone who has friends and family in Bali Indonesia, they can attest that It is a good place to live and work as a freelancer but they also warned that Bali is an exception in a Muslim majority country of Indonesia because Indonesia is not a democratic country but a theocracy that only favor the Muslim majority in the island of Java Sumatra and south Sulawesi. The Balinese people themselves are hostages to the Indonesian government who often act with prejudice to minorities like them

[@BossChronicles]

manilla traffic is hell cebu is defintley more liveable

[@micomarinas2753]

thanks for mentioning our country Philippines 🇵🇭. thus south korea and Japan offer a residency permit or permanent residency?

[@Sports590]

What about Vietnam 🇻🇳?

[@smashy_smasherton]

Great place but they need to revamp their visa stuff.

[@axelanamwatever7408]

i prefer Myanmar lot of hidden nature unexplore they even got the highest mountain in southeast asia

[@persada5913]

I thought the highest is mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. It’s over 4200+ meters above sea level

[@axelanamwatever7408]

@@persada5913 nop its Gamlang Razi over 5000m in,mount kinabalu not even close its 28th highest

[@ghrbaa6727]

Nah you trolling hard, Myanmar is beautiful yes but it is amongst the least livable in Asia if not the world.

[@lorenk.775]

Myanmar?! 😆😆🤦🤦 The country is at civil war and will need many yrs to upgrade itself.

[@boisehingis2399]

I chose mersin turkey and batumi Georgia as bases as of now, but Hong Kong looks like a expensive "upgrade" most middle class people could be able to afford

[@user-eo6jw3kb4d]

I am thinking about taking residency in Georgia, but I am a little concerned about the political situation in connection with Russia. What is your opinion? Is it still a good residency for a perpetual traveller?

[@boisehingis2399]

@@user-eo6jw3kb4d as someone who wanted to escape G7, Georgia is perfect change of pace, only been to batumi so far. This is the first touristy city I found this peaceful, the locals are used to expats, the Turkish and Russians living there get along, not much thugs running around even late at night, and very clean compared to north america

[@FrozenSkyy]

​@@user-eo6jw3kb4dyeah.. I had the same question too. What's the safety / political situation in georgia since 2022. Still safe for expats to live there 4-5 months a year?

[@shinachikudidnthappen..mov9196]

Malaysia's old MM2H were revamped because of large influx of HK people moving in after PRC takeover. That should tell you on HK viability these days.

[@boisehingis2399]

@@FrozenSkyy no issues, its safer, cleaner and people behavior is way better than western big cities

[@user-jt1wc8ss3f]

and what about Malaysia citizenship I heard it is complicated to obtain

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Citizenship is tough

[@amiryazidali7659]

Malaysia do not give citizenship easily. EVEN getting Permanent Resident is diffcult. BUT you can easily get Long term residency permit.

[@user-jt1wc8ss3f]

@@amiryazidali7659 thx but my goal is to have rights to own bunch of properties under 250k and for that I would need citizenship otherwise I could live in Thailand and rent

[@user-jt1wc8ss3f]

@@keangwooichoo6138 I heard do you have personal exp or someone close to you that got through ?

[@joharimamat1522]

​@@user-jt1wc8ss3f I dont think you can own any properties in Thailand. But i think you can in Malaysia.

[@windanger2023]

This is quite not accurate, In my experience, Philippines is the most livable because of No. 1 the Language - most local speak or understand English. People - are very friendly and welcoming. Food - recipe is very delicious and fruits are very fresh. It also has the best beaches in the world. You can choose to live like a western in high rise buildings or go to province and live a peaceful life.

[@_D_A_V_E_]

You’re out of your mind if you think food in Phillipines is good/healthy. Yes you can get food but generally, eating out is fried nonsense.

[@tinglestingles]

@@_D_A_V_E_ we all need fried nonsense in our lives, sometimes.

[@windanger2023]

@@_D_A_V_E_ You have to read again my boy before you run your mouth. I never said healthy I said delicious. Your the one who's braindead nonesense. XD

[@ats89117]

The Philippines has thousands of nice beaches, but if you go into the water near Manila, you will become a mutant!

[@arii1987]

Every country has its pros n cons. Malaysia to stay, Thailand and Philippines for a fantastic holiday.

[@readwrite1815]

I recommend Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a good place to visit.

[@asia.network5475]

Please Google Bohey Dulang Semporna Sabah Malaysia.