Langkawi, Malaysia
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Langkawi

🇲🇾 Malaysia3.7Featured
$1,850
/ month
80 Mbps
Internet
33°C
Weather
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💰 Cost of Living

Average monthly expenses for a digital nomad

🏠 Accommodation

1BR Center$1000/mo
1BR Outside$750/mo
Hostel$15/night
Airbnb$1300/mo

🍜 Food & Dining

Local Meal$3
Mid-range$18
Groceries$45/wk
Coffee$2.5

🚗 Transportation

BestScooter / Grab / Car rental
Grab/UberAvailable
MetroNo

🎯 Other

Gym$35/mo
Coworking$210
SIM Card$10/mo

⚡ Digital Nomad Essentials

Everything you need to work remotely from Langkawi

📶 Internet

Speed80 Mbps
Reliability3.4/5
ProviderUnifi
5GYes
SIM$10/mo

☁️ Weather

BestNov - Mar
HotApr - May
RainyJun - Oct
Temp33°C
Humidity49%

✈️ Transport

Airport15 min
Walkable4/10
BestScooter / Grab / Car rental
RideshareGrab
MetroNo

🛂 Visa

Tourist90 days
TypeVisa free / Visa on Arrival for many nationalities (up to 90 days by air)
DN VisaYes
CurrencyMYR
TimezoneMYT (GMT+8)
See all visa options →

Advantages

  • Lower overall cost of living than big Malaysian cities and most beach destinations in Europe
  • Growing digital nomad scene with Jetpack Langkawi and a few other work friendly spaces
  • Good 4G and fibre connectivity on much of the island after recent infrastructure projects
  • Beautiful beaches, mangroves and viewpoints within short scooter or car trips
  • Duty free island with cheaper alcohol and shopping than mainland Malaysia
  • Generally very safe with friendly locals and low violent crime
  • Easy access from Kuala Lumpur and Penang with frequent flights and ferries
  • Relaxed atmosphere and quieter pace of life compared with party islands in Thailand

Disadvantages

  • Public transport is minimal so you almost always need a scooter, car rental or Grab
  • Walkability is low outside a few strips such as parts of Pantai Cenang and Kuah
  • Fewer coworking spaces and events than bigger nomad hubs so networking is more manual
  • Rainy months from June to October can bring heavy showers and grey days
  • Some accommodation WiFi can be unreliable so many nomads rely on coworking or hotspots
  • Town areas like Kuah have less beach vibe and feel more like a small commercial centre
  • Nightlife is limited to bars and beach cafés, with few late night club options
  • Healthcare on the island is decent for routine issues but serious cases may require transfer to Penang or Kuala Lumpur

💼 Top Coworking Spaces

Best places to work in Langkawi

Jetpack Langkawi

📍 Pantai Cenang area, Langkawi • 100 Mbps • 24/7 • Meeting rooms

$9/day
$140/month

Kuah Coworking Office

📍 27, 1st Floor, Jalan Pandak Mayah 5, Kuah, 07000 Langkawi • 80 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$8/day
$130/month

Langkawi Co-Work Studio

📍 Kuah area, Langkawi • 70 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$7/day
$120/month

Plaza Premium Lounge Cowork Area (LGK Airport)

📍 Departure Hall, Langkawi International Airport • 80 Mbps • 24/7 • Meeting rooms

$25/day
$250/month

See You By The Bay Workspace

📍 Kuah waterfront, Langkawi • 60 Mbps • Meeting rooms

$6/day
$110/month

☕ Best Cafes to Work From

Laptop-friendly cafes with good WiFi

Smiling Buffalo Cafe

📍 Pantai Cenang

WiFi Speed25 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score8/10

Instea Coffee Bar Langkawi

📍 Pantai Cenang

WiFi Speed20 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score7/10

OldTown White Coffee - Cenang Mall

📍 Pantai Cenang

WiFi Speed20 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noiseloud
Work Score6/10

Tokopi

📍 Kuah

WiFi Speed20 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score7/10

Arts Cafe Langkawi

📍 Kuah

WiFi Speed25 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score7/10

See You By The Bay Cafe

📍 Kuah

WiFi Speed20 Mbps
WiFi Qualitygood
PowerYes
Noisemoderate
Work Score6/10

🏘️ Best Neighborhoods

Where to stay in Langkawi

Pantai Cenang

Main tourist beach strip with many hotels, guesthouses, cafés and bars along a long sandy bay. Most lively area on the island with easy access to Jetpack Langkawi and many restaurants.

$$ Mid-rangeBeachfrontBars and cafésTourist hubWater sports

Pantai Tengah

Quieter beach area just south of Pantai Cenang with mid range resorts, villas and a few chilled bars and cafés. Good balance between calm and convenience.

$$ Mid-rangeQuieter than CenangBeachfront hotelsSunset viewsCafés and restaurants

Kuah Town

Commercial and administrative centre of Langkawi with duty free malls, local eateries and ferry terminal access. Less beach atmosphere but convenient for shopping and long stays.

$ BudgetDuty free shoppingLocal foodFerry accessBudget accommodation

Datai / Tanjung Rhu Area

Northern beaches and jungle coves with some of the island's most scenic coastline and higher end resorts. Very quiet, nature focused and best with a car or scooter.

$$$ PremiumHigh end resortsSecluded beachesMangrove toursNature focused

🏛️ Top Attractions

Best things to do in Langkawi

🌄

Langkawi SkyCab & Sky Bridge

Panoramic cable car ride up Gunung Mat Cincang followed by a curved sky bridge suspended high above the jungle. The classic Langkawi view point and a must do for first timers.

💰 $20⏱️ 3h
🌳

Kilim Karst Geoforest Park (Mangrove Tour)

UNESCO listed geopark of limestone cliffs, mangroves and caves on Langkawi's north east coast. Boat tours explore narrow channels, bat caves and open bays with eagle spotting.

💰 $30⏱️ 4h
🏖️

Tanjung Rhu Beach

One of Langkawi's most beautiful beaches with shallow turquoise water, sandbars and views of small karst islands offshore. Much quieter than Pantai Cenang.

💰 Free⏱️ 3h
🏖️

Pantai Cenang Beach

Lively main beach with soft sand, watersports, sunset bars and easy access from most hotels. Good place to end the work day with a walk or drink by the water.

💰 Free⏱️ 2h
🌳

Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls (Seven Wells)

Series of pools and cascades reached via a steep hike near the cable car station. Swim in natural pools and look out over the forest and coastline.

💰 Free⏱️ 3h
📍

Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)

Landmark seaside square in Kuah featuring a giant eagle statue, symbol of Langkawi. Popular for photos, especially around sunset when the sky colours reflect on the water.

💰 Free⏱️ 1.5h
📍

Island Hopping Tour (Dayang Bunting & Surrounds)

Half day speedboat trip visiting neighbouring islands such as Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden Lake), Beras Basah and Singa Besar for swimming, viewpoints and beaches.

💰 $25⏱️ 4h
🎭

Langkawi Wildlife Park & Bird Paradise

Family friendly wildlife attraction with walk through aviaries, feeding sessions and up close encounters with tropical birds and smaller animals, all under covered walkways.

💰 $15⏱️ 2.5h

🛡️ Safety & Healthcare

What to know about safety and medical care

🚨 Safety

Overall Safety4.1/5
Crime Ratelow
Safe at NightYes
Scamsmoderate
Solo Femalesafe

🏥 Healthcare

Qualitygood
Doctor Visit$25
English-SpeakingYes
Top HospitalHospital Sultanah Maliha, Langkawi
InsuranceRequired

💬 What Nomads Say

Real reviews from digital nomads

Daniel H.
Remote Software Engineer • 1 months
⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I spent six weeks in Langkawi working mostly from Jetpack. The space had fast internet, good chairs and a nice little community of nomads and locals. After work I could walk to Pantai Cenang for sunset and food. It is definitely quieter than places like Phuket or Bali and you need a scooter or Grab for almost everything, but that was part of the charm for me."

Sara L.
Content Writer • 2 months
⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Langkawi felt like a good balance between work and proper holiday vibes. My monthly budget was around 1,600 to 1,800 USD including a mid range place in Pantai Tengah, scooter rental and eating out most days. Internet in my apartment was just okay but Jetpack and a couple of cafés were solid. Nights are calm, so if you want clubs this is not the place, but for early mornings and beach walks it is perfect."

João M.
UX Designer • 2 months
⭐⭐⭐

"I enjoyed the scenery and mangrove tours but as a long term base Langkawi felt a bit limiting. There are fewer coworking choices and social events than in Kuala Lumpur or Penang, and without driving I relied on Grab all the time. For a one or two month workation it works well, especially if you like quiet evenings, but I would pair it with a city base in Malaysia."

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