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Malaysia

Semporna

Real mainland base town for Sipadan/Mabul diving — Sipadan itself is day-trip-only, permit-limited.

In Semporna, a mid-range month runs about $1,315 (MYR 5,372) and there is some violent crime city-wide.

Compare Semporna with another cityFind places like Semporna

Ratings

Scores run from 1 to 10 and compare each place with every other destination on Nomadr. Higher is always better. Cost is shown as a level, from Very Low to Very High.

Cost (day-to-day)Very Low

Cheaper day to day than about 90% of cities

Internet1/10

Slower internet than about 90% of cities

Visas4/10

Harder visas than about 75% of cities

Coworking1.4/10

Among the 5% weakest cities for coworking

English5/10

Less English-friendly than about 80% of cities

Walkability2.1/10

Harder to get around than about 85% of cities

Gyms & Wellness3/10

Fewer wellness options than about 80% of cities

Getting There1.4/10

Among the 5% hardest cities to reach

Scores are built from researched data, with sources cited on the categories we have them for — open any category below to see them.

Everything we know

28 categories for Semporna, grouped for quick scanning — coverage varies from city to city. Open any row for the full detail and any cited sources.

Money

Work

Life

Outdoor activities

  • Surfing: not available here. Nearest on Nomadr: El Nido (~750 km)

Practical

The Honest Downsides

The honest downsides

What we'd want to know before moving here.

Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.

Other cities in Southeast Asia

  • Dumaguete, PhilippinesBeginner-friendly university city with real access to Apo Island's marine sanctuary diving.
  • El Nido, PhilippinesLimestone-cliff dive and surf destination with genuine freediving and kite access nearby.
  • Moalboal, PhilippinesFamous for its sardine run, with real dedicated scuba and freediving infrastructure.
  • Cebu City, PhilippinesSecond-tier Philippine hub with real, growing coworking density
  • Siargao, PhilippinesWorld-famous Cloud 9 surf break with a genuinely deep nomad, dive, freediving, and kite scene.
  • Anilao, PhilippinesThe Philippines' 'Nudibranch Capital' — a genuine macro-diving and freediving destination.