Hoi An vs Langkawi

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Hoi An, Vietnam
🇻🇳Vietnam

Hoi An

71Freedom Score#43Global rank$1,050Per month

A UNESCO lantern-lit old town between rice paddies and the river — Vietnam's most picturesque base, with 45-day visa-free and rock-bottom costs.

Langkawi, Malaysia
🇲🇾Malaysia

Langkawi

70Freedom Score#46Global rank$1,100Per month

A duty-free Malaysian island — Langkawi blends pristine Andaman beaches, dense jungle, and 92°F warmth with Malaysia's territorial tax (0% on foreign income) and strong English proficiency.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseHoi AnLangkawi
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,050✓$1,100
Rent, 1BR city centre$400$350✓
Meal, mid-range$6✓$7
Coworking deskper month$100n.a.
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper40.0✓44.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureHoi AnLangkawi
Safety
82
78
Healthcare
48
60
Walkability
88
38
English spoken
35
72
Food & dining
82
72
Nightlife
45
42
Outdoors
70
85
Nomad community
58
40
Climate quality
75
76
Public transit
40
25

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureHoi AnLangkawi
Freedom Score71/100✓70/100
Global rankof 100 cities#43✓#46
Internet45 Mbps50 Mbps✓
Average temperature79°F84°F
Air quality40/100✓30/100
Airport connectivity35/10048/100✓
Nomad visa45 days free90 days
Headline tax rateon local income20%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Hoi An if runs $50/mo cheaper, it scores higher on safety (82 vs 78), it is more walkable and the nomad community is larger.

Choose Langkawi if rent is $50/mo lower, internet is faster at 50 Mbps, English is more widely spoken and the climate scores better.

What each city is known for

Hoi An

  • UNESCO old town of lanterns and tailors
  • 45-day visa-free for Westerners
  • Among the cheapest nomad towns
  • Rice paddies and river beaches

Langkawi

  • Duty-free island — cheap goods, dining, and beach resorts
  • Malaysia's territorial tax — 0% on foreign-sourced income
  • High English proficiency and a family-friendly environment
  • Pristine Andaman Sea beaches and dense jungle interior

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Hoi An or Langkawi?
Hoi An scores higher on the Freedom Score (71/100 against 70/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Hoi An or Langkawi?
Hoi An is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,050 against $1,100, a difference of $50 a month or about $600 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $400/mo in Hoi An versus $350/mo in Langkawi.
Which is safer: Hoi An or Langkawi?
Hoi An scores higher on safety, 82/100 against 78/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Hoi An and Langkawi?
Hoi An averages 45 Mbps and Langkawi averages 50 Mbps, so Langkawi has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Hoi An or Langkawi?
Hoi An sits in Vietnam (45 days free) and Langkawi in Malaysia (90 days). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.