Langkawi vs Sarajevo
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.
Langkawi
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.
Sarajevo
Where East meets West — Ottoman bazaars, Habsburg avenues, and a 90-day free stay make Sarajevo Europe's most underrated affordable base.
The short answer
- Langkawi scores higher overall, 70/100 vs 66/100
- Sarajevo is cheaper by $100/mo — about $1,200 a year
- Langkawi is the safer of the two, 78/100 vs 56/100
- Langkawi has faster internet, 50 Mbps vs 45 Mbps
Cost of living
Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.
| Expense | Langkawi | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable budgetper month, all in | $1,100 | $1,000✓ |
| Rent, 1BR city centre | $350✓ | $400 |
| Meal, mid-range | $7✓ | $8 |
| Coworking deskper month | n.a. | $215 |
| Cost of living indexlower is cheaper | 44.0 | 40.0✓ |
Quality of life
Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.
| Measure | Langkawi | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | ||
| Healthcare | ||
| Walkability | ||
| English spoken | ||
| Food & dining | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Outdoors | ||
| Nomad community | ||
| Climate quality | ||
| Public transit |
Scores, connectivity and paperwork
| Measure | Langkawi | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Score | 70/100✓ | 66/100 |
| Global rankof 100 cities | #46✓ | #61 |
| Internet | 50 Mbps✓ | 45 Mbps |
| Average temperature | 84°F | 53°F |
| Air quality | 30/100 | 68/100✓ |
| Airport connectivity | 48/100 | 48/100 |
| Nomad visa | 90 days | 90 days free |
| Headline tax rateon local income | 10% | 10% |
Which should you choose?
Choose Langkawi if rent is $50/mo lower, internet is faster at 50 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (78 vs 56) and English is more widely spoken.
Choose Sarajevo if runs $100/mo cheaper, it is more walkable and the nomad community is larger.
What each city is known for
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
Sarajevo
- 90-day visa-free for most Western passports
- Baščaršija Ottoman old town with ćevapi
- Most affordable European capital
- Turkish coffee culture and layered history