# City Pricing Source Scorecard

**Purpose:** Decide which current sources can support Nomad Mac Travels' exploratory-trip
budget estimates. This is an internal quality-control sheet, not public content.

## Scoring rule

| Score | Meaning | Public use |
|---:|---|---|
| 5 | Current, city-specific, first-person or transparent short-stay cost components | Can support a published range with a second corroborating source |
| 4 | Current city-specific cost guide with clear components and date | Can support a category line or corroborate a range |
| 3 | Current resident/long-stay guide or price database | Background only; cannot set a short-stay total alone |
| 2 | Broad country guide, community discussion, or unclear method | Sanity check only |
| 1 | Old, undated, copied, or sales-driven material | Do not use |

## Best sources currently found

| City | Source | Score | Why it matters | Limit |
|---|---|---:|---|---|
| Da Nang | Vietnam Relocate 2026 budget | 4 | Dated city guide, three lifestyle levels, includes a trial/first-trip framing | Still mixes long-stay and visitor assumptions |
| Da Nang | Recent four-week actual-spend report | 5 | Direct spend report with room plus food/coffee total | Bare-bones floor, not recommended comfort level |
| Da Nang | Current local visitor hotel/food example | 4 | Shows a realistic higher short-stay reference | Does not provide a complete monthly table |
| Jakarta | Jakarta Tourism 2026 city budget | 4 | Transparent daily private-room, food, transport, activity, buffer components | Needs one independent lodging check |
| Penang | Visit Penang 2026 traveler budget | 4 | City-level traveler range includes lodging, food, transport, entertainment | Needs independent furnished-short-stay check |
| Penang | Visit Penang 2026 expat guide | 3 | Current 1BR rent and hawker-food context | Resident-oriented |
| Chiang Mai | Kiplinger 2026 visitor example | 4 | Clear per-day guesthouse, meals, transit, activities, misc components | Includes insurance/misc that must be separated out |
| Chiang Mai | Kiplinger 2026 resident model | 3 | Current, well-explained resident cost structure | Includes health insurance and monthly rental assumptions |
| Hoi An | 2026 city travel guide | 4 | Current nightly accommodation and daily food range | Transport and activities still need corroboration |
| Hoi An | 2026 expat guide | 3 | Current food, rent, transport context | Long-stay oriented |
| Nha Trang | VietnamSpot 2026 prices | 4 | Current accommodation, food, transport price material | Needs a transparent 30-day short-stay model |
| Nha Trang | Vietnam Relocate 2026 budget | 3 | Current comfortable single-expat reference | Resident-oriented |
| Kuala Lumpur | Current local 1-month stay report | 4 | One-month apartment experience with pool/gym plus local area advice | Single community account; must be corroborated |
| Kuala Lumpur | Rumavi 2026 guide | 3 | Current single-expat and budget ranges | Resident-oriented |
| Kota Kinabalu | Sabah Guide 2026 city guide | 3 | Current rent and food categories | Need visitor lodging and activities |
| Kota Kinabalu | Current local tenant reports | 4 | Explains limited transit and need for Grab/car allowance | No complete monthly traveler table |
| Phuket | Phuket Expat Guide 2026 | 3 | Current, detailed long-stay components and area differences | Resort season and visitor lodging not covered well enough |
| Pattaya | Pattaya 2026 long-stay budget guides | 3 | Current local housing and food context | Must avoid nightlife-led assumptions; needs visitor model |
| Hua Hin | Hua Hin Expat 2026 solo guide | 3 | Current one-person component model | Long-stay model; needs short-stay lodging evidence |

## Immediate city decisions

### Ready for a beta planning range after your review

1. **Da Nang**: Strongest source mix. Publish only as a planning range with its
   category breakdown and date reviewed.
2. **Jakarta**: Strong transparent component table. Convert to USD live, but retain
   source values in IDR.
3. **George Town / Penang**: Strong traveler range. Keep native RM visible and use
   the live currency card for USD.

### One verification source away from a beta planning range

1. **Chiang Mai**: Need current short-stay accommodation check separate from
   resident monthly rent.
2. **Hoi An**: Need a current local transport and activity check.
3. **Nha Trang**: Need a current 30-day furnished stay listing or equivalent.
4. **Kuala Lumpur**: Need an additional verified one-month furnished-stay source.
5. **Kota Kinabalu**: Need short-stay accommodation and activity evidence.

### Keep as "Research in progress"

Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Rayong, and the remaining
cities in the other four countries. Their source material may be useful, but it is
not yet strong enough to publish a fair exploratory-trip range.

## Public disclosure language once approved

> Planning ranges are reviewed periodically and are intended for one adult making an
> exploratory stay of up to 30 days. They include a private place to stay, food,
> local transportation, modest activities, and a small buffer. Your total will vary
> with season, neighborhood, booking date, air-conditioning use, food preferences,
> and personal activities. Flights, visas, insurance, medical care, alcohol, and
> major purchases are not included.