World · Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

indicative score unofficial source contains estimates

7.44 / 10

Onde Viver Bem · updated November 10, 2026

Technical notes for this page

Updated November 10, 2026. Indicative score. Weights: entertainment 11.73% (destinations and venues within 50 km); bars 3.73%; safety 15% with a penalty; water at country level; land price per m² = official source (ITBI, Terracap, registries, valuations) or listings with a caveat · coverage 100%

Kuala Lumpur has an indicative score of 7.44/10 in the World ranking of Onde Viver Bem, updated November 10, 2026. The strongest published variables are Airport (10.00), Beach / mountains (10.00) and Entertainment (9.60); the weakest are Clean air (2.24), Mild climate (3.40) and Parks (5.04). The scores are indicative. Cost of living and the land price per m² are not part of the score. Some figures on this page are estimates and carry the “estimated” badge.

Kuala Lumpur: view of the city — Kuala Lumpur. Photo: thomasgl, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

safety: incomplete definition (homicide only; the country has no undetermined-intent deaths in the WHO database); safety: feeling of safety at national level only (Gallup); estimated: land price per m² (apartment × ratio of comparable cities)

Land price per m²

US$ 1,191/m² estimated · range US$ 645–US$ 1,571

unofficial ESTIMATE: apartment (Numbeo) × land/apartment ratio of comparable cities · source

Note: ESTIMATE (not a measurement; UNOFFICIAL base): no land price collected. Land m² = apartment m² outside the centre (Numbeo, RM6,420.67 ≈ US$ 1,582) × median land÷apartment ratio in 8 Asian cities with a published land price (0.753) = US$ 1,191/m² (range US$ 645–1,571). Ratios: Denpasar (Bali) 0.880, Fukuoka 0.626, Tóquio 0.975, Seul 0.471, Singapura 2.079, Bangkok 0.070, Chiang Mai 0.220, Taipé 1.046.

Score breakdown

Each criterion's score, its weight in the total and the raw figure, linked to its source.

Safety · score 6.13 · weight 15.00% · sources: homicidios_100k_policia (0.8) · roubo_razao_cidade_pais (1.85) · sensacao_seguranca_noite_pct (58)

raw: 0.8 per 100k pop. · 40% violent deaths (log 30→0, 0.5→10 per 100k) + 30% city robbery ÷ country average (log 5×→0, 0.5×→10) + 30% share who feel safe at night (lin 30%→0, 95%→10); any part without data: weights renormalized

Composite safety: violent deaths 0.8 per 100k → 8.8 (weight 40%) · robbery 1.85× the country average (W.P. Kuala Lumpur, 2023) → 4.3 (weight 30%) · 58.0% feel safe walking alone at night (Malaysia (national), 2024) → 4.3 (weight 30%).

Beach / mountains · score 10.00 · weight 11.59% · sources: km_ate_praia_osm (30.0) · km_ate_relevo_montanhoso (20.0) · osm_cachoeiras_50km (172.0) · osm_areas_protegidas_50km (66.0) · osm_trilhas_rota_50km (37.0) · osm_mirantes_50km (176.0)

raw: 30.0 km · beach: distance log 5 km→10, 150 km→0; mountains: richness of nature leisure (mean of the top 3 of 4 counts, 50 km) × access (1 up to 15 km → 0 at 150 km, log), 0 with no relief; score = min(10, max(beach, mountains) + 0.3·min)

Water · score 9.47 · weight 9.94% · sources: wb_estresse_hidrico_pais (3.439) · wb_agua_gerida_segura_pais (94.7)

raw: 3.439 % withdrawal / available resources · average: stress log 100%→0, 10%→10; safe water lin 50%→0, 100%→10

Parks · score 5.04 · weight 9.94% · sources: osm_parques_2km (20.0) · osm_parques_municipio (217.0)

raw: 20.0 count of OSM objects · 50% log1p(count within 2 km), 60→10 + 50% log1p(per 10k pop.), 15→10

Sun · score 7.12 · weight 9.94% · sources: radiacao_solar_global (1783.4)

raw: 1783.4 kWh/m²/year · lin 1000→0, 2100→10 kWh/m²/year

Restaurants · score 8.94 · weight 9.11% · sources: osm_restaurantes_2km (753.0) · osm_restaurantes_municipio (2904.0) · overture_restaurantes_2km (1938.0) · overture_restaurantes_municipio (12106.0)

raw: Average of two mapping sources, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (Overture count ÷ K, K = median Overture/OSM ratio across the 39 cities: 2.57 within 2 km, 3.41 in the municipality); each source: 50% log1p(count within 2 km), 1000→10 + 50% log1p(per 10k pop.), 30→10. Brazil: 50% of that score + 50% log1p(CNPJ per 10k pop. ÷ K), 30→10

Entertainment · score 9.60 · weight 11.73% · sources: osm_destinos_entretenimento_50km (39.0) · osm_arenas_grandes_50km (60.0)

raw: 99.0 count of OSM objects (destinations + venues, 50 km) · log1p(destinations + stadiums/music venues), 120→10; 50 km radius

A1ed, radius 50 km: 39.0 destinations (theme_park/zoo/aquarium/water_park) + 60.0 stadiums/music venues (stadium, music_venue, concert_hall). Left out: events_venue, sports_centre, theatre, amusement_ride, amusement_arcade. OpenStreetMap via ohsome.

Bars · score 5.31 · weight 3.73% · sources: osm_bares_2km (84.0) · osm_bares_municipio (233.0) · overture_bares_2km (205.0) · overture_bares_municipio (910.0)

raw: Average of two mapping sources, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (Overture count ÷ K, K = median Overture/OSM ratio across the 39 cities: 2.48 within 2 km, 3.20 in the municipality); each source: 50% log1p(count within 2 km), 500→10 + 50% log1p(per 10k pop.), 10→10. Brazil: 50% of that score + 50% log1p(CNPJ per 10k pop. ÷ K), 10→10

Mild climate · score 3.40 · weight 4.97% · sources: dias_conforto_termico (112.1)

raw: 112.1 days/year · lin 0→0, 330→10 days/year

Health · score 7.27 · weight 4.97% · sources: wb_expectativa_vida (76.821) · osm_hospitais_10km (65.0)

raw: 76.821 years · average: life expectancy lin 70→0, 85→10; Brazil: beds/10k pop. lin 0→0, 50→10; World: OSM hospitals within 10 km log1p 50→10

Clean air · score 2.24 · weight 4.14% · sources: pm25_media_anual (28.27)

raw: 28.27 µg/m³ · lin 35→0, 5→10 µg/m³ (WHO=5)

Airport · score 10.00 · weight 2.48% · sources: osm_aeroportos_iata_50km (2.0)

raw: 2.0 count of OSM objects · 0→0, 1→7, ≥2→10

Culture · score 8.32 · weight 2.48% · sources: osm_cultura_5km (64.0)

raw: 64.0 count of OSM objects · log1p(count), 150→10

The city

Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia. It covers 244 square kilometres and had an estimated 1.6 million inhabitants in 2006. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million people. It is the country's fastest-growing metropolitan region, in both population and economy.

English rendering of the Portuguese Wikipedia summary linked below. Source: wikipedia_pt. Wikipedia revision 73323247 (2026-10-30T02:45:09Z).

Taxation

Duti setem (stamp duty on the transfer instrument): 1% up to RM 100k; 2% up to 500k; 3% up to 1M; 4% above (citizens/permanent residents). Base: price or market value, whichever is higher. Foreigners: separate rule (to be checked) and a minimum price set by each state LHDN (Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia) — Garis Panduan Duti Setem

annual property tax (IBI/taxe foncière/ENFIA/IMU/固定資産税 etc.); no official local rate collected yet (we do not invent the figure). not collected in this round

Frequently asked questions

What is the Onde Viver Bem score for Kuala Lumpur?

Kuala Lumpur has an indicative score of 7.44/10 in the World ranking, updated November 10, 2026. Cost of living is not part of the score.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the score for Kuala Lumpur?

The strongest published variables are Airport (10.00), Beach / mountains (10.00) and Entertainment (9.60); the weakest are Clean air (2.24), Mild climate (3.40) and Parks (5.04).

Does cost of living or the land price per m² enter the score?

No. Cost of living and the land price per m² appear on the page but are not part of the score. See the methodology.

How is the score calculated?

It is an indicative 0–10 quality-of-life index, with 13 variables and published weights. Safety has a 15% weight and, when local data exist, a lethal-violence penalty may cap the total. The full method is on the methodology page.

Are any figures on this page estimates?

Yes. Some values are documented estimates, labelled with the “estimated” badge in the technical notes. The method is explained in the Estimates section.