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City Profile

Umbai, Malacca (Melaka)

Malaysia · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare Umbai Custom Comparison
80
Overall Score

Umbai is a coastal mukim and fishing village located in the state of Melaka, Malaysia, renowned for its rich maritime heritage and authentic culinary offerings. Historically recognized as a peaceful Malay settlement, it has evolved into a popular weekend destination for food tourists seeking fresh seafood. The character of Umbai is distinctly rural and tranquil, offering a relaxed village lifestyle sharply contrasted with the urban bustle of Melaka City. People visit and settle near Umbai to escape metropolitan congestion while maintaining close proximity to historical cultural landmarks and regional economic hubs.

About Malacca (Melaka)

Malacca (Melaka), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a historic Malaysian state known for its rich multicultural heritage, influenced by Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and British cultures. Its economy is primarily driven by a thriving tourism sector, complemented by significant contributions from manufacturing and trade, with key industries including electrical and electronics, automotive, aerospace, and oil and gas. Living in Malacca generally offers a lower cost of living compared to larger Malaysian cities like Kuala Lumpur, with affordable housing and reasonably priced food and entertainment. The climate is consistently hot and humid throughout the year, with abundant rainfall, and the lifestyle is often described as quieter, especially on weekdays, though traffic can be heavy during holidays and weekends.

8,500
Population
$11K
Avg Salary
42
Cost Index
80.2
Quality Score
How this 80/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 82 / 100 82.0 30% 24.6
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 42.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $14,000 Income needed to live here: $9,500 Unemployment rate: 3.8% 80.9 20% 16.2
Growth Population growth rate: 0.8% Job growth rate: 2.2% 54.5 15% 8.2
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 62 / 100 62.0 10% 6.2
Overall score 80.1

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
62
Livability
75
Affordability
85
Growth
65

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Umbai and the broader Melaka state is notably lower than the national average of major urban centers like Kuala Lumpur, making it an affordable enclave for retirees and locals. Everyday expenditures, particularly local dining, fresh seafood, and traditional market produce, remain inexpensive due to local production and coastal access. While housing and utility costs stay reasonable, imported goods and private vehicle ownership add standard baseline expenses typical of peninsular Malaysia.

Average Rent
$450/mo
Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$100/mo
Utilities
$80/mo
Healthcare
$60/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$30.00
Cinema ticket
$5.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$8.00
Monthly groceries
$200.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$25.00

Income

Salary Insights

Economic activity in Umbai is heavily anchored by traditional coastal fishing, aquaculture, small-scale retail, and tourism-driven hospitality services centered around its famous Medan Ikan Bakar (grilled fish complexes). Many residents also commute to nearby Melaka City or industrial zones in Ayer Keroh for employment in manufacturing, administration, and services. The tourism sector provides consistent seasonal employment and small business opportunities for local entrepreneurs specializing in culinary and maritime services.

The average salary in Umbai is $11,000 per year. You would need approximately $9,500 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Agriculture +0.50% Tourism and Hospitality +3.10% Public Services and Administration +1.50% Fishing and Aquaculture +1.00% Retail and Small Business +2.00%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
28°C
Avg Temp
☀️
32°C
Summer High
❄️
23°C
Winter Low
🌧️
93.20"
Annual Rain
💧
82.00%
Humidity
🌤️
118
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in Umbai is predominantly car-dependent, as rural layout designs require private vehicles for efficient daily commuting and errands. Public transit options are limited primarily to local bus routes connecting to Melaka City's central terminal. The drive to downtown Melaka takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, providing reasonable access to broader regional road networks like the North-South Expressway.

30 min
Avg Commute
35.00/10
Transit Score
45.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Significantly lower cost of living and housing compared to Kuala Lumpur and central Melaka City per Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Renowned culinary destination offering daily access to exceptionally fresh and affordable local seafood.
Peaceful, low-density coastal environment providing high personal safety and strong community cohesion.
Strategic proximity to historical Melaka City, offering cultural amenities within a 30-minute drive.
Clean air and natural coastal scenery along the Straits of Malacca.
Drawbacks
High reliance on private vehicles due to limited public transportation infrastructure in rural mukims.
Limited local high-paying job opportunities, requiring commutes to Melaka City or industrial zones.
Scarcity of modern rental apartment complexes or diverse housing options directly within the village.
Vulnerability to seasonal monsoon weather and coastal weather patterns affecting outdoor activities.
Limited local entertainment, nightlife, and large retail shopping options within walking distance.

Head to Head

Compare Umbai

Umbai VS Grants Pass Umbai VS Cincinnati Umbai VS Binghamton Umbai VS Aiken

Explore

Nearby Cities

Ayer Keroh
79
Batu Berendam
82
Durian Tunggal
68
Tanjung Kling
78

Community Q&A

Questions about Umbai

What people ask about living in and moving to Umbai, Malacca (Melaka).

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Gathering the most common questions about Umbai…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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