Hoi An vs Penang (George Town)
📶
Penang (George Town) has 2x faster internet
🛂
Malaysia offers a digital nomad visa
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Hoi An
Penang (George Town)
Total Budget
$900/mo
$850/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$350/mo
$350/mo
Coworking
$100/mo
$75/mo ✓
Meal Out
$2 ✓
$3
Coffee
$1.5 ✓
$3
Penang (George Town) is $50/mo cheaper (6% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇻🇳 Hoi An
📶 Internet50 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇲🇾 Penang (George Town)
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Hoi An
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp26°C
Rainy Days214/year
Best months: April, March
Penang (George Town)
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days284/year
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
21°27°
Apr
28°28°
Jul
30°28°
Oct
26°27°
Hoi AnPenang (George Town)
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇻🇳Hoi An
🇲🇾Penang (George Town)
💰
Monthly Budget
$900
$850
📶
Internet Speed
50 Mbps
100 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
4.6/5
Winner4/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.3/10
4/10
🍽️
Food Scene
9/10
10/10
🎉
Nightlife
5/10
5/10
🚶
Walkability
9/10
Winner7/10
👥
Community
medium
medium
2
Hoi An wins
vs
1
Penang (George Town) wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
Penang (George Town)
100 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Hoi An
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇻🇳Hoi An
Pros
- +UNESCO Ancient Town with stunning architecture
- +Extremely affordable cost of living
- +Amazing local cuisine and street food
- +Very safe with low crime rates
Cons
- −Flooding during rainy season (Sep-Jan)
- −Limited nightlife options
- −Can feel touristy in Old Town
- −Hot and humid in summer months
🇲🇾Penang (George Town)
Pros
- +Legendary street food scene - Asia's food capital with Char Kway Teow laksa and more
- +Extremely affordable - comfortable living under $850/month
- +UNESCO World Heritage Site - stunning colonial architecture and temples
- +High English proficiency - easy communication everywhere
Cons
- −Hot and humid year-round - 24-32°C with high humidity
- −WiFi historically slower than other destinations - improving with fiber rollout
- −Limited coworking scene compared to KL or Bali
- −Monsoon season September-November brings heavy rain