Bologna vs Kuala Lumpur: cost of living for digital nomads

Bologna, Italy and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Kuala Lumpur is about 34% cheaper than Bologna for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,970).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Kuala Lumpur against $900 in Bologna.
  • Bologna scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Bologna: 120 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Bologna is temperate; Kuala Lumpur is tropical.

Bologna wins 3 of the measured lines; Kuala Lumpur wins 5.

LineBolognaKuala Lumpur
Monthly total (USD)$1,970$1,300
Rent$900$550
Food$480$350
Transport$40$60
Coworking$150$120
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)120100
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizemidmetro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.