r/penang

I’m curious how people here think about Penang property.

From what I see, Penang feels quite different from KL. KL buyers often talk about yield, MRT access and investment numbers.

But in Penang, many people seem to buy for lifestyle too: family, commute, schools, hospitals, sea view, retirement plan, or just liking a certain area.

At the same time, many newer condos may not fully cover the monthly instalment if we include maintenance, vacancy and furnishing cost.

So do you think Penang property is more of a lifestyle decision, investment decision, or long-term asset parking?

Hi everyone, I am an international student and I recently received an offer for a Software Engineering degree programme that will be taught at UOW Malaysia KDU Batu Kawan Campus in Penang.

Before making my final decision, I would like to understand what it is really like to live and study around Batu Kawan as an international student.

From the photos and information I found online, the campus seems quite small and relatively isolated. I am worried about daily convenience, transportation, food options, student life, social life, and whether it would feel too quiet or lonely for four years.

For people who live in Penang or know Batu Kawan well, do you think this area is suitable for an international student to stay for several years?

Would it be difficult to live there without a car? Is it easy to go to Georgetown or other more active areas? Are there enough shops, restaurants, gyms, clinics, and things to do nearby?

Any honest local advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

As title suggests will anywhere show the England vs Mexico game at 8am on Monday 6th? From a not hopeful but keen Englishman 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Hello there Penang people, I am from Johor and recently decided to travel to Penang with my family. I also stayed in KL years ago for my study in university for easier review and comparison.

Let's start with the positives.

Food. The food here is so much cheaper and higher quality compare to kl and johor food, as myself often go to various spots to try out different kind of new food, I didn't expect most of the food in penang are even below RM6~RM8, while kl and johor are usually above RM10 average, this really surprises me as the food taste incredibly good for char kuey teow, hokkien mee and so much more while retaining low price.

I am kinda disappointed at how expensive the food in Johor is due to the influence of Singaporeans moving to johor to taste food and the local decided to up the price, but I guess it is what it is.

For all the prawn mee(hokkien mee) hawker stall chef out there's salute to you all.

Traffic, I know that LRT is still an ongoing process, so my family decided to drive to Penang instead and have the freedom to drive to any places we like to sightseeing. overall I really enjoy the traffic and the people who drives here, they are willing to wait and drives slow so you can go out to the main road or t junction easily. I suppose this is how it looks like during non holiday or peak hours, since I don't go out during office hours like 8am or 6pm. Overall I really enjoyed driving around in penang and people don't aggressively drive fast or honking you like there's no tomorrow, as it happens in KL and Johor a lot.

I also assume because I stay in Tanjung tokong, so the traffic there isn't as severe as Georgetown, so this might be one of the factors.

Cleanliness, this is the most important part that I am amazed the most as most of the places I visit, there isn't any single rubbish on the street, even the wet market with food it is so much cleaner than the wet market I visited in KL and Johor, no weird smelling, no random floor puddle, no garbage thrown on the floor, I really like it a lot. It feels like I am at SG.

All the beaches I visited so far are considered as "Clean", the beaches at the hardrock hotel or bayview beach resort sometimes have small litters probably thrown by the tourist.

Other beaches or the hotel that I stayed at (Hompton) so far they all looks pretty clean from the first glance and walk around it.

Kudos to the community or the state government keeping the island clean.

Historical Buildings. There is a lot of old building being maintained very well from the outside view, I kinda expected they should be older and more damaged because of wear and tear, but I am surprised a lot of the branded company like car company or electronic companies are reusing the old building, refurbished them to sell their product, this is surprising quite nice and different from the other places like standard mall or individual shoplet u saw in the other states.

Security Safeness, it is pretty comfortable to walk most of the places in Georgetown because I notice there's always a security camera on each of the street, I liked this as it is indeed providing sense of security for encouraging people to walk around and visit all the stores there.

I visited other areas like bayan lepas and balik pulau on a surface level, but probably those are just residential places or hill area so I didn't go down and walk around much.

The island is expanding at such a rapid pace where I notice there's an entire small island near Georgetown being expanded outward with condo and landed properties.

Now let's get to the bad part. (Don't worry, only 1 bad part about this trip)

Parking, I don't have issue with the parking spaces, but holy the Penang smart app is horrendous, unable to receive verification code, couldn't find the location to park, the app somehow ate my entire rm30 when I am paying for the saman because I couldn't register it in the first place properly. I went through TnG, FPX transaction, adding money to ewallet, non of it works until the fourth time it magically works and I lost my rm30 out of nowhere when the saman is just rm10.

Whoever developed this, please get some help. No wonder it has 1.8 stars, this is incredibly inconvenient because all the other states have their own parking app or something but TnG manage to consolidated most of them, yet Penang is the only one not within the TnG parking.

I ain't gonna download another app just to add money to it because I come here rarely and I have another 5 parking apps for other states.

Overall I really enjoyed my stay here, quality food and cheap prices, road are connected everywhere with only slight traffic jam at non peak hours sometimes. I appreciate you all making this place nice and cozy to visit as a tourist, and again kudos to the community and the state government or whoever taking care of this place.

I won't comment about Butterworth or Bukit Mertajam yet because I haven't visited those places, maybe next time.

Visited Place: Georgetown Penang Hill Kek Lok Si Temple Bayan Lepas Balik Pulau Batu Ferringhi Tanjung Tokong

Fellow Penangite, where to get durian for best price in Bayan Baru or Balik Pulau area. Based on what I have checked the prices for Musang King and Black Thorn is far cheaper is other states compar: to here.

Hi all, my husband and I will be in Penang for the fifth time in a fortnight, however it’s our first time being there in durian season. We’ve never tried durian before and are very keen to do so.

Any suggestions/ guidance on the best place for a tourist to try durian? We’re staying in Georgetown near Cheong Fatt Tze.

Thanks!

Hello, I'll be in Penang for the first time soon for work mostly. I'll be staying at Ascott Gurney. Even just 5KM is fine. Somewhere safe for women please. Thank you!!

Hi Anyone here had an MRI done at Island Hospital, Penang?
Just wondering what the total cost came out to (including consultation if possible).

Hello all 24M this side working for an MNC. I will be Penang for about 4 days. Have some time on my hands both my first and last days and will have all the nights to myself as most of my work will be getting done by evening most prolly. Staying in Georgetown, what are some places that I can explore nearby. Maybe like take a bicycle and explore or maybe just walking? What’s the scene with the public transport there? Is it okay, good?

Also I am the kinda who enjoys beaches and raves, does Penang offers some raves? Specially on the beachside? Also please feel free to share some vegetarian food recco’s. I’m okay with Non-Vegetarian cuisine when I’m travelling. But would love to know if something of this sort is good?

Looking forward to this trip :)

I plan to take the 7am train to goto KL Sentral, the ferry starts just at 7am so roadway seems to be the only option. How much traffic should I expect if I leave at 6am from Georgetown on a tuesday or do I need to leave sooner to reach on time for the train?

So after a while everyone in my family is no longer in Penang, and we're now looking to sell off the family home. What's the usual process to list a property? Hunt down real estate agents one by one? Or is there anywhere I can list and interested agents reach out to me?

Going to Penang and planning to visit the cat sanctuary beach.

I am thinking of buying some cat food in Georgetown so that I can bring over for the cats.

May I know where in Georgetown can I buy reasonably priced cat food? I don't have a car so prefer a place within Georgetown where I'm staying.

Anyone know where I can find durian stalls selling musang king?

Never really tried looking for durian before, but with the cheap prices now, I feel like getting some

Fyi, I prefer mainland area, but I’m good with island as wl