Having a group of expats to contact before you actually step on that plane is so helpful. Finding a home here is best done in person. Overall, Penang's medical services are considered reliable and accessible, with a focus . Youll reach the Upland International School within a 10-minute drive, hence, this area is highly popular among families with primary and secondary children. All this makes for an invigorating experience. Ask in one of the Facebook pages. You might not be able to attend them yet, but you will start meeting people through it as well. - This post may contain affiliate links. These days, you need to leave for at least a few days or a week. Penang has no shortage of fun things to do when it comes to recreational activities. Back on the island, which is where most expats choose to live, banking and tourism are two of the biggest industries. Most expats buy a car or a scooter here, although the Penang drivers are notoriously crazy. Worth mentioning is that Malaysia was voted as the fifth best country to retire in 2018 according to Forbes, where Penang is undoubtedly a big contributor. Ive had people reach out to me asking what to pack if theyll be able to buy nice sheets here or a can opener. Top 4 Areas to Live in Penang: A Guide for Retirees & Expats, These cookies are set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and are used to store whether or not visitors have consented to the use of cookies, These cookies are used to monitor the email newsletter's performances, Penang has warm tropical weather which is highly appreciated among foreigners that come from cold countries. Its one of the top choices when foreign retirees and expats decide to settle down in the country. Blocking some types of cookies may, however, impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Many thanks Whats great about connecting with these groups before you get there is not only the info youll receive but the connections youll make. There are loads of Facebook groups listed above that also post events. In my 20s as a single woman, I lived in London, Cape Town, and Brazil but I always ended up going back to Chicago, my hometown. Youll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new international friends. Penang is known for its excellent street food, which is so good, its won awards. Vibrant, historic location with loads of personality. The building we live in is older, so the amenities arent the best. Appreciate if anyone can recommend a trust worthy and reliable cleaner for a weekly job? Hi there! Hi Cimeron, great article and very helpful information. Where do most retirees and expats stay in Penang? Tanjong Tokong which is located nearest to Gurney & Georgetown has become one of the top choices. We love it! Our Malaysian policy covers us if we are hospitalised and there is no deductible. Our social life is far busier in Penang than it ever was in Chicago. Scooters go one way down the wrong way, they drive on the sidewalks and through the red lights. Lots of tourists, so the area feels more transient than neighborhoody, and it can get crowded. There are several retirement communities in Penang, which offer a variety of amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and social activities. Thank you Cimeron. A former business partner recommended InterNations to me when I moved abroad to Malaysia. Its also a preferable choice among expats that work in multinational companies in Bayan Lepas or on the mainland, as they can reach these areas within a short distance. Looking forward to your next article. Just do a quick google search for diving in SE Asia and youll get a long list of great dive sites. Interesting projects in Tanjong Tokong and Tanjung Bungah include: Foreigners that have lower budgets with Penang standards, which is generally below RM 3000 (USD 723) in Tanjung Tokong, tend to choose properties in projects such as: Popular condominiums sizes above 400 sqft (37 sqm) located in Tanjung Bungah with beachfront include: Many MM2H-holders and expats that come with families of 4-5 people prefer to live in landed properties in this area. If you find it hard to decide whether you should buy or rent real estate in Penang, you can find valuable information at the end of the article. You need to make your adopted country feel like a home. Our Company uses these cookies to collect information about how you use a website, like which pages you visited and which links you clicked on. It is actually less expensive to eat out than to cook at home and many condos dont have well-equipped kitchens. Nevertheless, no matter where you stay, plentiful hawker cafes, convenience stores, and Penangs other popular amenities can surely be found nearby. This is really a working persons neighbourhood and feels like it is the suburbs with a focus on getting the job done, says Sharon. She sets up day trips to some of the areas most fascinating happenings like a nighttime firefly visit to the mangroves or to a whispering fish and seafood auction where the bids are quietly spoken to the fisherman. Its on the top of our list as it offers many modern conveniences and a high quality of life in general. If you are interested in moving to Penang, read my Penang Expats: How to meet people in a foreign country post. With cheap living costs, medical care (with high standard), and a high quality of life in general, keeping a property for more than 5 years is easy for many. In case you have any problems or you want to advertise in this group, please contact the page admin Jana Hobson. Required fields are marked *. Renting is more convenient and brings less responsibility, at the same time , you might miss out on future price appreciations. They are the first place I post. No way we were going to move across the globe to an island and not be near the ocean. A true taste of Penang with locals and expats living side-by-side. It gets pretty crowded, so go early if you want to participate. However, rents are very budget-friendly and one of the key points that speak for renting as the best option. Join InterNations and connect with a community of like-minded expats in Malaysia! Monthly rents range between RM 2000 ~ RM 5000 (USD 482 ~ USD 1200). MM2H is one of the best in Southeast Asia if you are looking for a long-term visa program. There are tons of Aussies and British expats in Malaysia - they also have Facebook groups. Below, Ive listed some distinct features that diversify Penang from other places within Malaysia, but also regionally: Deciding whether you should buy or rent is not always easy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this awesome blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Living In Penang Expat Guide part 1 - that will be the topic of today's article. etc. We are on a 10-year renewable visa called an MM2H Malaysia My Second Home. We had a little chat on Facebook earlier this year reference our trip to Malaysia. Malaysia also offers the MM2H visa which is renewable and gives you the right to stay for 10 years at a time. Its true that a lack of high speed internet in a building will bring down the rental price. Syed Kechik Foundation Building (LogOut/ Housing in Penang is often deemed to be a blissful mix of condos, bungalows, villas on the hillside, to apartments and luxurious condominiums by the beachfront. Discover essential safety tips for expats living in Penang! Penang is also the Malaysian destination of choice for most travelers as it is known for its great nightlife, caf culture, and shopping. Expats make deeper connections because we are all in the same boat; we all have a common bond of living outside our home country. All the below resources, regardless of their name, have expats and locals within their group. Very close to Georgetown, and a fairly easy commute to the Free Trade Zone. She puts out a free weekly newsletter that has the latest info about whats happening, whats for sale, and cool events. However, I always suggest getting into the online Facebook groups before you even get here. In every expat haven, there is at least one bar, cafe, restaurant where loads of expats hang out. Cheers Georgetown is the beating heart of Penang, with festivals galore, street food hawkers, beautiful old architecture, old men on trishaws, stunning street art, and ornate temples, mosques, and Chinese clan houses. Malaysia itself is home to one of the top 5 sites in the world: Sipadan. My goal is to teach you how to handle the ups and downs and the ins and outs of moving overseas. Hi Gabrielle, Close to Georgetown and not a bad commute to the Free Trade Zone. Stephanie. About Discussion About this group This group is set up to meet expats living in Penang, provide good tips or get useful information. Best of luck with your accommodation hunt. It comprises resort-styled condominiums, suites, colonial-style courtyard terraces, semi-detached houses, and landed properties with private pools. Malaysias local currency, Ringgit (RM), has depreciated much over the years, making Penang attractive for foreign real estate buyers. Expats in the Netherlands, here are the 5 best portals for internationals and expats to Holland! Dont miss a variety of welcoming online and in-person events. A hearty welcome to Penang, the food capital of the world. I agree and think Penang is a unique place. And to highlight the unique flavor and special considerations for each neighborhood, Ive enlisted the help of my close friend Sharon Giraud shes an expert on the subject and gives neighborhood tours to future expats to help them find the right rental properties. IQI Global is an award-winning company that has helped many locals and foreigners to find new developments, sub-sales, and rental properties all over Malaysia. Cost of living family of 4/month. Teresa and I likely will move to Penang in 8-10 months. Attend our monthly events and activities for Penang expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life. Explore Our Forums. Newish apartments sit beside crumbling traditional Chinese and Malay homes, which gives expats a chance to live among true locals. You can walk down any street and see a mosque in front of you, a Buddhist temple to the right and a Hindu temple across the street. The blend of history, culture and nature makes Penang Island an interesting destination to visit. Our gym is super-modern with all the classes and equipment you need. They also have written guides and forums that have loads of great intel. Indeed, as reported by the TheEdge Malaysia, Penang is striving to become a medical city for foreigners and locals alike and this is evident from raking in RM336 million in revenue in the sector for the year 2010. As an expat living in Penang, I can honestly say that the friendships Ive made here are deeper than many I had in Chicago. They have nurtured me, consoled me, and made my life on this island more meaningful. There are also 2 international schools in Tanjung Bungah, Dalat International School, and Tenby International School. Are you still holding events/coffee mornings? AsiapropertyHQ.com was launched in 2017 to help property buyers better understand ownership rules, taxes and buying processes in Asia. Depending on the time of year, numerous festivals and events also take place across the island. It makes it very easy to adapt and eases any culture shock. If you dont want a car, there is easy access to just about anything you need.. The key is to get a good realtor to show you a ton of properties in your price range nothing like an in-person tour to help you figure out whats right for you. Safety is a concern for new arrivals in a foreign country and learning the dos and donts for a new place can sometimes help individuals in avoiding unnecessary predicaments. Are the prices that show the real estate websites reliable or they are overpriced? Rental values in Bayan Lepas are relatively low compared to the Northern parts of the island, which are busier with foreigners. Night markets in Penang are usually similar to other night markets around Malaysia and take place once a week in different areas. I give specific Penang-centric groups here but if you search, youll find these kind of groups for locations all over the world. Not including travel, we spend between USD$1600 to 1833 a month but we could easily spend more and probably spend less if we were careful to stick to a budget. Cay. Having some good old-fashioned fun after the sun sets is almost everyones favourite past time, be it drinking at the pub or having a nice meal with family or friends after work. There are a few different visa options in Malaysia. We living in Thailand now but will head back to Australia for a while to have babies. A lot of trash washes up on Tanjung Bungah beach after storms, and it can get loud when people are setting off fireworks during festivals. There is so much stuff in Penang to see, and Michelle seems to have her finger on the pulse. Penang. How could you? There are three coffee morning meet-ups every week, which is a great way to start meeting people. Thanks Cameron , Very happy to hear that the story is helpful to you, Jeff! Hopefully this gives you a good idea about which areas you may want to check out in person. Expats in Penang is another excellent Facebook page, check it out. Go to all the local festivals and hangouts and start chatting. We also have Grab, which is our version of Uber, and definitely better than the taxis. Since living in Penang, several Facebook groups have popped up that are an incredible resource for expats. This fascinates and attracts many foreigners interests, as they can live a modern life with a strong cultural presence just around the corner, Penang is safe crime rates are lower compared to other Asian countries and cities like KL, Manila, and more. Most of the MM2H-holders and foreigners who choose to live here are European, Americans, Singaporeans, Korean, Chinese professionals, and retirees. That blend makes daily life here exotic, exhilarating and quirky. In this ongoing ExpatGo series, we meet and get to know some of the Reconnect with the great outdoors without venturing far from the city with this round-up No need to despair, though: Placing near the bottom of this particular list is Penang Governments list and directory of hospitals, External directory of hospitals in Penang. But I am wanting to pick someone elses brains about the visa situation with the MCO. Sadly, it seems like MCO is here to stay for a bit. I still use these groups whenever I cant find something or have a question about restaurants, books, stores, the post office, pretty much anything. Public transportation on the island usually consists of air travel, buses and ferries bringing people and cars into or out of Penang. Besides dancing and drinking, a visit to a late night market in Penang is also a must! You can report those people as well as block them. Hi Cheryl, With its culinary tastes mixed up into a fusion of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines, Penangs food scene has a lot to offer hungry travellers. Since we lived in Malaysia, there is a ton of info on the blog about life here and all the extraordinary adventures we get up to while living in Asia. Built on landfill, the area has a very new and western feel, and western prices to go along with it. Feel free to email me anytime, just head over to my Contact Me page for my deets. Prices are around RM 10,000 (USD 2400) per sqm and onwards. More and more people and their damned cars and motorcycles. You'll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new international friends. Is there any updates you would add to any of the locations? This post isnt just how to meet people in Penang-Ive lived in Spain, France, Greece, Brazil, London, and Cape Town before Penang. Join groups to pursue your hobbies from sports to music, theres something for everyone With InterNations, youll quickly feel at home wherever life takes you. Just ask around and youll find at least one. Going to the gym is also a great way to meet people and get out of the condo, especially since I work from home. Understanding the the cost of living in Penang helps a newcomer what to expect when it comes to apartment or house hunting, grocery shopping, transportation, dining out, utilities and more. Penang Neighborhood Guide for Expats Cimeron / May 14, 2018 Choosing Where to Live in Penang - the Top 8 Locations If you're an expat planning to move to Penang, your future happiness may depend a lot on where you choose to live. It was a feeling we got while strolling around. Any Malaysian worth his salt will tell you without hesitation that Penang has the best Char Keow Teow, a mouth watering concoction of flattened rice noodles fried with cockles, bean sprouts, spring onions, prawns, and egg. Hi Sandy, Preferably can speak English. We see all sorts of wildlife from our condo including monitor lizards, two kinds of monkeys, sea eagles and bats, which is pretty unique considering we live in a modern high-rise, not in some hut in the rainforest. Construction completed/started, costs, etc? If you did, then Im not sure why you moved.
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