Penang cost of living chart

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Found this on another site

Opinions?

Cheers

JJ

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Hi JJ,

You like lists I like charts, they are so useful.

Have you any idea how current this data is?

Thanks

Bob

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Hi Bob

No sorry. Here is the web site I got it from - it is a agency so perhaps needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.  I put it here as a base line for people to comment

From little research I have done there cost seem to high and the idea that I would be taking 60 high end meals a month is farcical

However i think there mid range maybe about right apart from rent.  It will be good when you start living there and you can post and cut the wheat from the chaff

Cheers

JJ

http://www.penangmyhome.com/Main.htm

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My apologies if this is double posted. Ther seemed to be some sort of crash whilst posting original.


Hi JJ,

I just checked it out. The site is one I stopped looking at a long time ago and it doesnt seem to have changed much. I think they need a decent webdesigner (or a 4 year old ) to redesign. It must rate as one of the worst I have ever seen. However the data could be accurate.

Presuming that the figures are in RM not DM it is a bit higher than I found during my visit earlier in the year. It may be a good starting point anyway. I think we should do a bit of research ourselves so could any Penangite comment on the chart please.

This guy must be fairly well off (and heavy) if he takes 60 high end meals a month so maybe we all could live a bit cheaper and lighter than he does.

regards

Bob

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Looking at the top end costs, they are not too far off the mark overall I think, tho havent been in Penang that long.

Rental: you can get a good condo for RM4,000 - RM5,000, we looked around at a lot, and there are plenty avail in that price range.  This is not neccesarily luxury living, finishes can still be a bit ordinary.  But you pay for position, position, position and this is for good appartment in Gurney or north end of town near sea. 

Electricity: the quoted cost seems high tho havent got our first bill yet.  We dont need AC on all the time as on 8th floor youdo get good breezes and can leave windows open. we find it quite comfortable, when there is a breeze, to have AC off and open windows and doors. Most appartments have a steel grill security gate, and entry area where you leave shoes etc, so you can leave the front door to the appartment open, and maximise breeze, while still having security.  So I think you can come in under the amount quoted.

Food: also seems high.  You have to be a mug if you live in Penang and dont eat hawker food, everyone else does regardless of class, wealth etc, because its such good food, and of course very cheap.  I dont think anyone cooks in Penang. Believe me, even the royalty frequent hawker food when in town.  Eating at hotel restaurants is quite expensive but there are still great bargains to be had. I mentioned on an another thread that you can get a fantastic buffet at the E&O Hotel in Penang, all you can eat with great fish, seafood, desserts to die for, for about RM35 a head.  Eating is a bit pricey at the top tourist hotels out batu ferringi way.  So I think, food costs should come in much lower that quoted. Booze is not cheap so if you like your drink that can cost a bit.

Other costs:  may be about right.....

cheers

Tombo

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Gulp

4 to 5000 decent accommodation

Wow - did not expect that

I was hoping to find a 2/3 bedroom condo in Georgetown for about 2000 a month (does not need to have a view of the sea)

Also Tombo - just as an idea - a night out with another expat or 2 for a few beers and a chinwag would cost about what per person

Thanks for the info

Cheers

JJ

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Hi JJ,

I think the info on the "Cost of Living" thread is still valid. http://www.my2home.info/index.php/topic,50.msg419.html#msg419

Have another browse through it......but remember Individual Variation can be significant, and also the old question "How long is a piece of string?"

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Hi JJ,

I think the info on the "Cost of Living" thread is still valid.

Hi Fizzy

yes I am sure it is - that was why I gulped a bit when I hear from someone in Penang saying that 4 to 5,000 is what is needed as I do not think the other thread is Penang specific

I look forwared to my recce

Cheers

JJ

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Hi JJ,

If you follow this link you will find photos of the apartments available. At the bottom of the page you will find links to apartments for rent and for sale. I spent some time visiting apartments in May with our extate agent and the asking prices seem to be pretty accurate.

http://www.penang-property.com/apartmentphotosPT.htm

Ther is always some degree of flexibility although not as much as you would expect considering the amount of empty property. There is a lot available for less than RM1500 pm but if you can push up a little you can get a lot better value.

The night out is difficult to tell but it can all be very reasonable especially as a bottle of Tiger will cost around RM8. In the places I drink anyway. You can go well upmarket from there and the world is your lobster.

When is your recce by the way, I am over there for 3 weeks in November.

Bob

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Bob

Good web site thanks

Gives a good feel for what might be available

I look forward to your field report when you get back

Do not know when I will be going.  The next few months is silly season in my line of work with no rest for the wicked

I will be intrested to see what you find compared to what they are saying on their site

Regards

JJ


PS Tiger for just over a quid - excellent - makes me breath a bit easier knowing a can sink a few cold ones without selling a kidney

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JJ

I agree with Bob. There are a lot of empty apartments around, which would make you think there is a lot of scope to bargain down. for some reason many property owners would rather keep the apt empty than lower the rent below what they have set.  There is some scope for manoeuvre but not as much as you would think.  I am sure there are a lot of appts and a wide range of rentals. Ours is large 2400sq ft I think, and its considered one of the better condos in town, with nice pool, tennis court etc. But we also saw some pretty ordinary stuff around the RM4,000 per month. All teh owners are chasing the relatively small expat market, which they think can pay high rentals.  As you go further north to Miaimi and towards Batu Ferringhi it gets cheaper, also in the city and particularly near the industrial airport area where they are now building some appts (Gold Coast its also called).   But these areas you would need to drive everywhere. Also there are some real concrete jungle type developments there, that are not pretty.   The aussie couple that run teh Green Cafe bought an old townhouse in Chinatown and did it up, and that is apparently catching on a bit amongst expat retirees too, who are put off by the high cost of appartments.  What they spent on renovations was very reasonable. If you are interested give the Green Cafe a visit when in Penang (there was a thread on this here somewhere).

By the way, re rentals: we weren't suckers, we spent several months with 2 estate agents looking for us, bargained hard, and my wife is a Penangite.   But I recall Scott saying he pays next to nothing, for a house, if you are happy to live out of the towns in the country a bit.   We have kids and need to be near schools, etc.    We also wanted that lifestyle where you can walk to restaurants, hawker stalls, Gurney drive, etc .

A meal in a normal restuarant is also relatively cheap, around RM30 per head I would say for a good meal, excluding beers. Its only the hotel restaurants that are expensive. there are lots of good, reasonably priced restaurants catering to locals (not tourists).    Hawker food is what we eat mostly (take away or eat in) and that costs about RM5 or 6 a plate on avereage (not large servings tho). This is what youwill probably eat mostly.  By the way wine is actually not too badly priced, I think it has come down a bit in price.  Tescos and the large supermarkets are now keeping quite a good selection form all over the world.

cheers

Tombo

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hi, Tombo,

Yep, the rentals in my area are very low. And Tesco may arrive here in a few years time, but it's fingers crossed. So it's low rent but run-of-the-mill shops (all selling the same stuff), and no shopping centres, and limited range/choice in most things.

If I had kids then schools would be real problem.

From my reading of the articles in the Star, and general surfing around, it seems that the KLCC area in KL is obviously the "Mayfair" of Malaysia, and it's followed by "Bond Street" Penang.

Guess I'm in "Whitechapel Road."

Penang is popular for very good reasons. It's a pleasant and convenient place. I'm where I am because of my boat. What happens is that every 3 months or so I go to Singapore. And that's OK for me.

The old shophouses sound good. I really need to get up to Penang and look around.

regards, Scott

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Hi Tombo

Thanks for the further information.  It is good to get first hand info from those forum members on the ground

Your rent seems very good for the size of the property and in a popular area so you must have done a lot of leg work to find it

Have you retired in Penang or are you working there

Cheers

JJ