Cost of Living in Malaysia

[Serendipity2]

Thanks for your response Tumbleweeds,

I’ve visited KL [once] and liked it there but I think something smaller! Perhaps Penang would be a bit smaller and easier. When I visited KL I was a bit amazed by the taxis. As soon as it was dark all the cabs went off-meter and it was a matter of bargaining with them. Taxis weren’t all that plentiful so they didn’t give me much of a bargain. It was a very long walk to my hotel near Petronas Towers so I grudgingly paid the piper! I sure liked the train to the airport though. Talk about easy.

A suspect 3G is as good or probably better than my local Comcast connection. The customer service isn’t bad here but they keep raising the prices and since I’ve got my television and Internet through them I’m stuck. I DO beat then out of one service - telephone. I’ve got MagicJack and while there are a few problems occasionally I’ve learned how to solve them. MagicJack costs US$20 for the device and US$20 for one entire year of unlimited service. You might have someone send you one from the states. You’ll get a ‘new’ telephone number with the device and you do need a high speed Internet connection. The good thing about MJ is that your calls back home to US or Canada are FREE. Unlimited calls. Skype is great too but limits you to calling just those that also download Skype or, if you call a landline, while reasonable, I think MagicJack might be better but not for local Malaysian calls.

From what I understand, to buy property in Malaysia I would have to get the retirement visa which also requires a hefty deposit into a Malaysian bank. The only problem is the money stays there until you decide to depart Malaysia. As a retiree on fixed income, money in the bank that you can’t use, even to invest, is kind of rough. Obviously the person who came up with the retirement program wasn’t a retiree!

[tumbleweeds]

I'm not sure that you're correct about that - I don't believe it's necessary to have a retirement visa to buy property in Malaysia. If you do have a retirement visa, your house or property counts towards the amount of money you have to keep on deposit, also. Basically, you have to have funds to get the MM2H visa, but you do have the flexibility to either keep in on deposit with a Malaysian bank or buying property with it. You might want to check with the folks at Borneo Vision for more information about retiring in Malaysia. How much you have to deposit also depends on your age - it's less if you're over age 50. Personally, I don't think you get a lot with the MM2H - it's a hassle to get and the benefits are marginal. If you like to get out and see things, it's just as easy to head to Thailand or Singapore or Indonesia for a day trip or weekend every 90 days and keep staying in Malaysia on a social visit pass. There is no limit (yet) on how long you can stay there on this type of entry permit.

Skype is a good deal, but in Malaysia, you don't always get the best connections - the 3 and 4G is just a little slow, but during off-peak times, it's usually ok. For 2 cents a minute, it's a bargain. I had my hand-phone with Digi, which has special rates for calling the US and other countries - 5 sen a minute (less than US 2 cents) - with great sound quality. Rates are quite a bit higher for calls made within Malaysia. SMS calls to phones within Malaysia are either very cheap or free, so I've become a very speedy texter!

[Serendipity2]

Hi Tumbleweeds,

Thanks for the link to MM2H. I did find out I could take a portion of the money out [40% or RM60,000] of the RM 150,000 to buy a property but only after one year. I need to read more about buying property without the MM2H visa. There are many advantages to the MM2H visa but it might be prudent to spend a year there first to see if it’s where I would be happy. One thing I do worry about in any foreign country is intellectual stimulation. Another would be to see if I could possibly start up a business which would contribute to the economy and employ at least some Malaysians. The government might have other ideas but it’s worth pursuing. I guess one “job” [if allowed] would be to buy a plot of land and build. If it sold move on and build another. If it didn’t sell - move in! I think that would be allowed. I read somewhere you could own up to two properties - I don’t know if that’s the maximum. More reading…. I like the idea I can live there for 90 days at a time. In the Philippines its 21 days which can be extended but a hassle. In Thailand it’s 30 days but again you can extend. I can see a car would almost be a necessity. They do have a generous plan regarding a car with the MM2H visa but not sure if I could afford one.

Skype at $0.02/minute sounds cheap but a Magic Jack [assuming the 3G or 4G would support it] would be far cheaper. Including the device MJ is $40. But includes one year of free unlimited service to anywhere in the US or Canada. MagicJack calls “to” Malaysia are $0.02 or $0.05 for cellular calls so it might even be cost effective to just use a MagicJack if your Internet service is robust enough to allow it. So far Malaysia is looking pretty attractive and at the top of my list of places to more to and retire. Thanks a lot for your information!

Serendipity2

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by sandielenton

Depends on your expectations! You don't say if you are on your own or with partner, children etc. Rent of a good 2 bedroom apartment from about $300 per month; running costs probably around another $100. Fuel is reasonable - to fill an average car costs about $20; Food is cheap - you can eat at hawker stalls for about $10. Plenty going on if you want to join things. I would guess for a single person with average requirements you probably need around $800 per month. I am sure that you can do it cheaper and I know that you can do it a lot more expensive!

Regards
Sandie

Sandie,

Thanks for the information. I'm confused, though...

"Food is cheap - you can eat at hawker stalls for about $10."

Is that $10 per day? [sounds expensive to me!] or $10 per month? [dirt cheap]

[tumbleweeds]

A good meal at a hawker stall in KL will run between 3.50 - 5 rm (that's roughly US$1 - 1.50). For instance, a piece of chicken with a large serving of rice, some cucumber, maybe some peanuts and green beans would cost about 4.50 rm, or US $1.25.

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by tumbleweeds

A good meal at a hawker stall in KL will run between 3.50 - 5 rm (that's roughly US$1 - 1.50). For instance, a piece of chicken with a large serving of rice, some cucumber, maybe some peanuts and green beans would cost about 4.50 rm, or US $1.25.

Hi Tumbleweeds,

Thanks for the information on the cost of food. You should hire out as a consultant!

Do they have sticky rice, green papaya salad and chicken satay in Malaysia? [sounds like I like Thai food doesn't it ] at the hawker stalls? Can you buy whole cooked chicken as well? I suspect with the diversity of cultures ie Chinese, Indian and Islam there should be a superb range and choice of foods. I gather it's safe to eat "on the street" from the hawker stalls.

Is the water safe or is it bottled water or nothing? I would think tea would be pretty safe since they usually boil the water which should kill any organisms/ parasites.

I think you live in the Penang area. Can one find modest but good housing in that area for under $400? I would like to find a two bedroom place with a bathroom, living and kitchen about 100 sm. in size. Is that realistic? Apartment, house or condo would be fine. Probably furnished. Is security an issue in Penang [burglers/thieves] or is it pretty safe. Any area recommendations are appreciated, thanks in advance!

[tumbleweeds]

I just left KL after having spent 2 years there. I've been to Penang but I don't "know it" the way I "know" KL!

Chicken satay is readily available in the night markets and hawker stalls. Generally, there is beef satay, as well. I'm sure that you can find sticky rice and papaya salads at some hawkers - the night market where I bought most of my street food did not have any Thai vendors, and these foods were not offered there. I would expect that many of the hawker centers would have Thai vendors, especially in Penang, since there is more of a Thai influence there.

I have never gotten the slightest bit ill from eating street food in Malaysia. If the hawker is busy, you know that the food is good - they develop a loyal following! I haven't seen whole cooked chickens for sale by vendors, though you can buy the uncooked kampung chickens on the street for around 10 rm (US$3). And yes, there is always a huge variety of foods - it's truly a multi-ethnic country, and Malaysians love eating.

Tap water is safe to drink in KL, though most people will boil it first (get one of those electric water boilers at Jusco). I believe that it's chlorinated coming out of the tap. Bottled water is available everywhere and all restaurants will use purified water, as well. I'm not sure if the tap water in Penang is safe to drink "as is." My guess is that it would be safe, since Malaysia has been working on having potable water available to everyone as part of it's development plan.

Not sure about rents and neighborhoods in Penang, but here's a website which might be helpful: Penang Property: Real Estate Properties in Penang Malaysia. I would think that US$400 would be realistic for a condo as you described, but it would depend on the area.

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by tumbleweeds

I just left KL after having spent 2 years there. I've been to Penang but I don't "know it" the way I "know" KL!

Chicken satay is readily available in the night markets and hawker stalls. Generally, there is beef satay, as well. I'm sure that you can find sticky rice and papaya salads at some hawkers - the night market where I bought most of my street food did not have any Thai vendors, and these foods were not offered there. I would expect that many of the hawker centers would have Thai vendors, especially in Penang, since there is more of a Thai influence there.

I have never gotten the slightest bit ill from eating street food in Malaysia. If the hawker is busy, you know that the food is good - they develop a loyal following! I haven't seen whole cooked chickens for sale by vendors, though you can buy the uncooked kampung chickens on the street for around 10 rm (US$3). And yes, there is always a huge variety of foods - it's truly a multi-ethnic country, and Malaysians love eating.

Tap water is safe to drink in KL, though most people will boil it first (get one of those electric water boilers at Jusco). I believe that it's chlorinated coming out of the tap. Bottled water is available everywhere and all restaurants will use purified water, as well. I'm not sure if the tap water in Penang is safe to drink "as is." My guess is that it would be safe, since Malaysia has been working on having potable water available to everyone as part of it's development plan.

Not sure about rents and neighborhoods in Penang, but here's a website which might be helpful: Penang Property: Real Estate Properties in Penang Malaysia. I would think that US$400 would be realistic for a condo as you described, but it would depend on the area.

Thanks Tumbleweeds,

Looking forward to 'discovering' Penang. I was impressed with KL in my short visit but a city or town a bit smaller would be more to my liking. I appreciate your insights. Would you recommend a real estate person there or just contact individual owners advertising their apartments or condos? I'll check out "Real Estate Properties in Penang, Malaysia" to see what's available as well. Thanks

[tumbleweeds]

[QUOTE=Serendipity2;110335]Thanks Tumbleweeds,

Looking forward to 'discovering' Penang. I was impressed with KL in my short visit but a city or town a bit smaller would be more to my liking. I appreciate your insights. Would you recommend a real estate person there or just contact individual owners advertising their apartments or condos? I'll check out "Real Estate Properties in Penang, Malaysia" to see what's available as well. Thanks [/QUOTE

Before I first came to KL, I had emailed an agent, who agreed to meet me shortly after my arrival to show me several properties all on that same day. That was so easy! We looked at about 4 places, one of which was just perfect. So at least for me, it was much easier to go through an agent who had several properties - and I think that she was excellent, also, because she helped negotiate the rent, probably much better than I could have done without her. She also helped get the lease done, registering the lease, etc, so there were no worries. Others might have different experiences, but using an agent, for me, was definitely a good idea! One good resource for this would be Malaysia Property & Real Estate For Sale / Rent - iProperty. You can browse through their many properties, and look for an agent, too. Good luck!

[Serendipity2]

Before I first came to KL, I had emailed an agent, who agreed to meet me shortly after my arrival to show me several properties all on that same day. That was so easy! We looked at about 4 places, one of which was just perfect. So at least for me, it was much easier to go through an agent who had several properties - and I think that she was excellent, also, because she helped negotiate the rent, probably much better than I could have done without her. She also helped get the lease done, registering the lease, etc, so there were no worries. Others might have different experiences, but using an agent, for me, was definitely a good idea! One good resource for this would be Malaysia Property & Real Estate For Sale / Rent - iProperty. You can browse through their many properties, and look for an agent, too. Good luck![/QUOTE]


Hi Tumbleweeds,

I just checked out the real estate site you recommended. Prices range from RM550 to RM6500 - and beyond.

I think you're right about having a real estate agent help you. There are a TON of apartments and condos available. Do you have any suggestions on the better areas to live? There are a bunch of them. Georgetown is one I've heard of and would assume there are night markets and hawker stalls and shopping in that area.

I understand most want a one year lease but I hope one can negotiate that too. I suspect they'll want first and last month + deposit.

Did you feel the earthquake yesterday? I just learned they had an earthquake - I think up north with a magnitude of about 5.3 on the Richter scale. I guess earthquakes are fairly common. That can liven things up a bit! Thanks again.

Serendipity2