I am no stranger to expat life. I’ve lived in London, Cape Town, and Brazil. but in December of 2012, on holiday to Penang, something drew me in and grabbed hold of me.
By September 2013, my spouse and I had sold everything and were living in Penang — an island off the west coast of Malaysia.
What exactly drew me in is challenging to pinpoint, but what has kept me here is easy to explain.
Walking around George town (the capital city of Penang) is like stepping back in time. It was noted as a UNESCO heritage area to preserve the bygone era and architecture.
Centuries-old shophouses are still in use today but with a trendy new boutique hotel just a few doors down. It’s both historical and modern. Its crumbling walls give way to contemporary street art murals. It’s this mashup that makes it so exciting!
When you are sick of the hustle and bustle of George Town, take a quick ride to the Botanical gardens. Besides all the trails, you’ll come across monkeys, sea eagles, and monitor lizards. It feels like I’m living in a national geographic magazine.
Living in Penang affords all the modern comforts needed for a home, but it’s still raw enough to keep it interesting. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about being an expat in Malaysia and living in Penang.
İçindekiler
What’s It like To Be An Expat in Malaysia?
The best areas to live in Penang
The cost of Living in Penang
Best restaurants in Penang
How to find Apartments in Penang
What’s The WiFi and data Like?
Digital Nomad groups and Co-Working Spaces
Pros and Cons of Living in Penang
Things To do in Penang
Son düşünceler
What’s It like To Be An Expat in Malaysia?
My everyday life is much the same as it was in Chicago. I still have to work (albeit, remotely from home), I still have to do the laundry, the grocery shopping, and the cooking. You know, the typical stuff that makes up our daily lives.
But the backdrop has changed considerably.
My life is exotic in ways that have become intrinsic to me now. I typically have to remind myself of how different I used to be.
Just today, as I was sucking the juice out of a prawn head (sorry vegans), I commented to my hubs that I would never have done that while living in Chicago.
These days, we won’t purchase prawns unless the heads are on, it’s the best part. and it’s how everyone eats them here in Malaysia.
It is our new normal. and it couldn’t be even more from our old normal. Those are the kinds of little things that make being an expat in Malaysia exciting. It’s pushed me to grow.
Kirsten and her spouse enjoying Chinese new Year in Penang
I’ve never felt anything but welcomed by the locals, and I feel like I’ve become part of a community.
Since everyone speaks English here, it has been easy to adapt to my adopted home. I never had the frustrations of getting lost or feeling out of place because I could just ask someone for help.
I think that played a large part it settling down without too much culture shock.
The best areas to live in Penang
There are a few places to live in Penang, but some are much more desirable for expats than others. here are my recommended areas to live:
George Town
George town is the heart and soul of the island and the reason people travel to Penang.
It is certainly my first choice for any digital nomad living in Penang. It’s also where many of the co-working spaces will be.
The town has an eclectic mix of highrises and temples, street food stalls, and white table cloth restaurants.
It’s noted as a UNESCO heritage area, so wandering around the streets feels like you are in a living museum, one where you get to appease all of your senses.
Everything is within walking distance in George Town, so you won’t have the added expense of transportation.
Gurney Drive
This is another popular area full of apartments in Penang. It’s a 15-minute drive north from the heart of George Town. but this neighbourhood is all about shopping and modern-Western conveniences.
It’s where there are two major shopping malls — Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon. aside from stores like H&M, top Shop, Sephora, and Mango, there are little boutiques, grocery stores, gyms, and film theatres.
This is a very modern area, without the charm of George Town. If amenities are what you are after, this is a good area to live in Penang. but if you want to be a part of the allure of George Town, you’ll need to take a bus or a get automobile into town.Tanjung Tokong ve Tanjung Bungah
Bu iki alan Geroge Town’un yaklaşık 20-25 dakika kuzeyindedir. Her iki alan da Penang’da yaşayan yerliler ve gurbetçilerle doludur. Komşu kasabalardır ve tipik olarak iç içe geçmişlerdir.
En iyi George Town ile Batu Ferringhi plajları arasında yer alıyor, bu yüzden burada yaşamayı seçtik. Gerçekten George Town’un yürünebilir plajları olan ilk banliyösü.
Bölgede sadece bir ortak çalışma alanı var, ancak evden çalışabiliyorsanız, bu Penang’da yaşamak için en iyi alanlardan biridir.
Bu alan gerçek hayattaki Penang. Sadece birkaç sahil kenarındaki otel var, bu yüzden çok turistik bir alan değil. Özellikle geceleri biraz uykulu. Çok sayıda restoran var ama konuşacak gerçek bir gece hayatı yok.
Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi, Penang’daki başka bir plaj alanı ve kesinlikle en turistik olanıdır. Restoran ve üst düzey sahil otel demetleri vardır, ancak yaşamak için çok fazla kolaylık yoktur. Büyük bir bakkal ve sadece küçük bir pazar yoktur.
Bu alan George Town’dan en uzaktır ve ortak çalışma alanları yoktur. Kasabaya girmek için ulaşıma ihtiyacınız olacak ve yaklaşık 30 dakika sürecek.
Birkaç ay boyunca Penang’da yaşayacaksanız, Batu Ferringhi ulaşım yapmayı planlamadığınız sürece George Town’dan çok uzak olabilir.
Penang’da yaşamanın maliyeti
Penang’da yaşamanın düşük maliyeti, çok sayıda dijital göçebe için en önemli çekimlerden biridir. Çok az yer, bu kadar şaşırtıcı bir şekilde karşılama ile dijital bir göçebe yaşam tarzı için gerekli tüm modern konforlara sahiptir.
Başka bir deyişle, paranız için çok fazla patlama elde edersiniz.
Konutla başlayalım…
Penang’da konaklama maliyetleri
Burası bütçenizin çoğunu harcayacaksınız. Yine de küçük bir miktar olsa da.
Stilinize, konumunuza, görünümünüze ve binanın olanaklarınıza bağlı olarak, RM2000-6000’den (450-1380 USD) başlayan kiralar bulabilirsiniz.
Penang’daki dairelerin çoğunda büyük alanlar, spor salonları ve havuzlar vardır, bu da maliyeti artırır.
Bu sizin için gerekli değilse, fiyat spektrumunun alt ucunda konaklama bulabilirsiniz. Aynı olanaklara sahip eski binalar da şehirdeki parlak yeni yüksek çizimlerden daha ucuzdur.
Penang’da yemek maliyetleri
Penang, düşük maliyetli sokak yemeği ile bilinir. Sadece ucuz olduğu için değil, aynı zamanda çılgınca iyi olduğu için. Efsanevi.
Yüzlerce bir ıstakoz büfesi yemek için RM5 (1.15 USD) lezzetli erişte bulmak da kolaydır. Yemek yemekten yemek yemekten daha ucuzdur, bu yüzden birçok yerliler neredeyse tüm yemeklerini yiyor.
Gıda çok ucuz, ama alkol değil. Dışarıda yemek yerken yemekten çok daha fazla para harcıyoruz.
Sokak Yemek Fiyatları:
Char Kway Teow-Tanınmış bir yerel erişte yemeği RM5 (1,15 USD $)
Assam Laksa-Balık Tabanlı Ekşi Erişte Çorba Dikkat RM5 (1,15 USD)
Tavuk pirinç – hepsi sarımsak biber sosuyla kaplı tavuklu büyük bir pirinç pirinç tabağı. Çorba ile birlikte gelir. RM7 (1.60 USD)
Satay – Şişelerde Marine Civciv, RM12 için 10 Şilkiler üzerinde pişirildi (2.75 USD $)
Bakkal Fiyatları:
Tavuk – Kilo başına RM17 (3.90 USD)
Domuz eti – Kilo başına RM17 (3.90 USD)
Piyasadan büyük taze sebze – RM25 (5,75 USD $)
Şişe Kırmızı Şarap – RM45 (10 $ USD) Booze burada pahalı
Yerel biranın kutu – RM8 (1.83 USD $)
Penang’da ulaşım maliyetleri
Halka açık otobüsler tüm adayı kapsar ve yolculuğunuzun uzunluğuna bağlı olarak 1.40-4.00 RM (0,32 $-0.92 $) arasında değişir. Ancak, George Town’da kalırsanız, sadece adanın başka bir bölgesine gitmeye karar verirseniz bunlara ihtiyacınız olacaktır.
Başka bir yerde kalmayı planlıyorsanız bisiklet, scooter veya otomobil kiralayabilirsiniz.
Grab (Malezya’nın Uber versiyonu) adanın etrafında dolaşmanın en iyi yoludur. Otobüslerden çok daha pahalıdır, ancak daha hızlı ve çok daha kolaydır. Hala çok ucuzlar. Bizim kınamak havaalanına 1 saatlik bir sürüş ve sadece yaklaşık 35 RM (8 $ USD) maliyeti.
Penang’daki En İyi Restoranlar
Penang’da yaşarken, sokak yemekleri bir zorunluluktur. Burada birkaç farklı görünüm kazanıyor.
Yemek zamanından önce en iyi şekilde yerine getirdikleri genel sokak tarafı durakları var, ancak hawker merkezleri veya yemek mahkemeleri de var.
McDonald’s, KFC ve Sbarro Pizza ile Kuzey Amerika alışveriş merkezinde bulabileceğiniz yemek mahkemesi gibi değil. here they are packed with food being cooked to purchase using recipes handed down from generation to generation.
A hawker centre is where you can go to find 30 or much more different “restaurants” or stalls under one roof. Yerlilerin nereye gittiği ve nereye gideceğinikely spend many of your time stuffing your face with all the local dishes.
Red Garden
This is my preferred hawker centre. It’s in the heart of George town and where Anthony Bourdain ate when he filmed here. It’s one of the most significant in town, so you’ll be able to try everything your heart desires.
However, if you get overwhelmed easily, don’t worry – the locals are very friendly and love talking food.
If you see someone eating a dish that looks good, go ahead and ask them what it is. They’ll tell you what it is and happily help you make some good choices. Click here to find Red garden on the map.
Kimberly Street
By day, Kimberly street is any normal road in town, but at night, street food stalls are pushed into place, and it starts humming.
There aren’t as numerous choices as at Red Garden, so it might be a terrific place to start without getting overwhelmed. Click here to find Kimberly street on the map.
Kebaya
After eating street food for so long, once in a while, we want something a little nicer. We don’t go here every week, but for special occasions, Kebaya is the best.
It is located inside the 7 Terraces boutique Hotel. From the antique plates to the food, the attention to detail is incredible. This is Nyonya food at it’s finest. The kind of food that has 25 ingredients to each dish yet tastes like your auntie made it. It has soul.
They serve a price fixed, four-course meal. You can pick your courses from a long list of options that has something for everyone. The price is RM128 ($29.50 USD), which is an amazing bargain for what you are getting.
You can’t even get two martinis for that price in a good restaurant in Chicago where I’m from.
How to find Apartments in Penang
Finding short term rentals used to be very challenging. Nowadays, much more and much more are cropping up, especially in George town and Tanjung Tokong/Tanjung Bungah.
However, the shorter the term, the higher the price.
Airbnb is ubiquitous on the island and one of the best ways to source apartments in Penang.
Another option is Agoda. They showcase condos and homes for rent. Some hotels offer long stay promotions so it’s worth checking into that as well.
In the last few years, the number of serviced apartments has enhanced as well. Serviced apartments always have housekeeping and a kitchen so it’s homier than a room in a shared apartment.
Whichever route you choose, work out your rent. It is very common here, and the longer you stay, the much more negotiating power you have.
What’s The WiFi and data Like?
Believe it or not, we have faster Internet here than we did in the US. A lot of areas on the island have a fiber optic system, which makes the Internet lightning fast.
We’ve had Digi because we moved here and found it to be the best overall Internet service on the island. You can purchase a Digi Sim card at the airport.
A lot of the apartments in Penang have totally free WiFi. As do the cafes, restaurants, and every co-working space. keep that in mind when purchasing a SIM card.
No matter how much data you buy, you can always top it up at a 7/11 or local benefit store.
Digital Nomad groups and Co-Working Spaces
As a digital nomad living in Malaysia, work is part of your everyday life. There are practically a dozen co-working spaces in George town to choose from. here is a list to get you started.
Scoopoint has a very laidback vibe. They have a nap room, a hammock, a party, and a play area. but it’s not all play and no work, they just believe in balance. It is a space geared toward creatives with hot desks and dedicated desks. Monthly hotdesk rentals got for RM280 ($64.45 USD). Click here for details.
@C