Pros and cons of living in Penang: is it really tropical paradise?

From a distance, life in Penang might look pretty idyllic, but what is it like to actually live here and start a new life here? We are a British family of four living on Penang Island and here we share the honest truths about living in Penang.

Want to know more about why we moved to Penang? Then read this post.

Not all pros and cons are created equal

The following is our personal opinion on what constitutes a pro or con for life in Penang. This is of course influenced by our own setup and situation in terms of family life, financial status and personal preferences. As you make your way through the list, some of our pros might seem like cons to you, and vice versa. In any case, we hope this post will give you some idea of what’s good and what’s not so good about life on Penang.

Pros

Tropical climate without most of the downsides

There’s no debate that is can get hot in Penang, with semi-frequent heatwaves drifting across the island making life sticky for a few days at a time. But on the whole (especially if you’re coming from Northern Europe), the weather is excellent, with any rainstorms typically being a very quick downpour. In general, there’s no need to scan the upcoming forecast or worry about the weather ruining your excursions, as long as you’re sun aware and sun safe.

The apartments, malls and restaurants have air-conditioning or, in the case of some outdoor food courts, industrial-sized fans which do the same job. Penang is a tropical island, so it’s subject to a wet season from September through to November, but it’s not usually severe enough to cause the issues faced elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Cost of living

Penang might be one of the more expensive areas of Malaysia but the cost of living is still a significant plus point if you’re coming from places such as the UK, US, Europe or Australasia. Day-to-day expenses such as eating out, grocery shopping, taxi rides and museum visits are cheap and affordable.

For bigger ticket items, such as school fees and accommodation, you’ll pay less than in other parts of the world, with the school fees in particular very low compared to other Southeast Asian countries. This is one of the main reasons we moved to Penang.

Location, location, location

Penang’s location has always been a key component in its growth and success, going back to the eighteenth century and the arrival of colonial powers. Today, its proximity to places including Bangkok, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore offer the chance to explore other destinations.

Looking farther afield, Penang also has a daily direct flight to Dubai, so trips to the UK or Europe are only one hop away.

Closer to home, the domestic transport connections via buses and trains mean it’s simple to reach other parts of Malaysia.

Safety and relaxed atmosphere

Malaysia is known as a safe country in Southeast Asia, and Penang in turn is considered a safe state within Malaysia. Violent crime is almost unheard of and, compared to most other places in the world, life in Penang feels safe and secure.

Living on a tropical island is (usually) just as relaxing as you might expect. When the traffic builds up around George Town, Batu Ferringhi or Gurney Drive, life doesn’t feel quite as relaxing but, on the whole, life drifts by at a chilled pace with less of the stress and ‘celebration of being busy’ you find elsewhere. Sat in one of the beach resorts in Batu Ferringhi with a comfy chair, glass of something cold, and the sun setting, life does feel pretty good.

Batu Ferringhi gets busy at the weekends and public holidays but, at other times, the whole island feels relatively quiet, with fewer tourists competing for space than in places like Thailand or Bali.

Foodie heaven

Depending on your preference, you could probably still be finding new food options in Penang after ten years of exploring. Food carts, hawker stalls, Indian restaurants, Chinese dumpling shops, chicken satay from a roadside vendor, char kuey teow from your local food court; the choice and quality of food here is immense.

If you’re a foodie, especially one with a preference for Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes, you’re in for a treat, three times a day, seven days a week. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Penang.

International schools

If you’re arriving with school-aged children the international schools in Penang are excellent. With half a dozen to choose from, in locations across the island, you’ll be able to find one which suits both you and your child.

The schools tend to follow the British curriculum and employ English speaking teachers originally from (mostly) the UK or Australasia. The standard of schooling and extra-curricular activities are both excellent, leading to happy kids who thrive in their new surroundings. This combination of relaxed island-living, year-round sunshine and top-standard schooling leads to a positive education experience for kids.

The opportunities for kids are extensive, ranging from outdoor swimming lessons, Bahasa, Mandarin, musical instruments, international residentials, and evening football training on 4G pitches. On top of this, they’ll still follow the British curriculum, which means the transition back to home life will be easier, should you ever need it.

School fees are also another plus point, coming out significantly less than private school fees in the UK, and also cheaper than some other parts of Southeast Asia (e.g. Thailand and Singapore).

Expat community

Penang has long been a favourite location for expats to move to, with English spoken widely throughout the island and numerous multinational companies setting up bases here. The MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) visa has been around since 2002 and thousands of people have moved long-term to Malaysia using this route, although this visa is much harder (more expensive) to now get. More recently, expats have been arriving on the De Rantau visa (that’s us).

The abundance of international schools has also increased the number of expats in Penang, with both teachers and parents making up a vibrant population.

Making friends and establishing a social group can be difficult when you arrive in a new country. If this is something you value, the large expat community will make this process a lot smoother.

The people

Malaysians are, almost without exception, friendly, kind, caring and hospitable people who welcome new arrivals into life on the island. Compared to many other countries, there is very little of the suspicion or outright hostility that immigrants face elsewhere.

Perhaps this is because Penang itself grew from the arrival of immigrants, or perhaps they’re just nice people.

Cons

Life isn’t always a beach

This may come as a surprise if you’ve only seen Penang Island in photographs but the beaches here aren’t great, even at the beach resorts in Batu Ferringhi. Jellyfish, plastic waste, rubbish and debris, combined with less-than-crystal clear water can make a visit to the beach underwhelming.

There are some nice beaches around the National Park and southwest corner of the island but these are difficult to reach and prone to strong currents and jellyfish. Luckily Langkawi is only a 30-minute flight away, with better beaches and resorts.

However, beaches aren’t just about swimming, and away from the water, Penang has some stunning beaches. Check out our guide to the best beaches in Penang.

Wacky races, driving your own car and traffic jams

Penang drivers have something of a reputation in Malaysia, with the diplomatic interpretation that they are ‘fearless’. If you plan to buy your own car, be prepared for tricky driving conditions with swerving mopeds, speeding cars, lane crossing and uncertain rules of the road.

Some parts of the island, especially between the airport and George Town, or around Batu Ferringhi, can get seriously snarled up with traffic jams and it’s apparently only getting worse.

Many visitors do get used to driving, perhaps we will too one day. Otherwise, stick to Grab and let someone else take the strain.

The weather can be a problem too

Yes, we know the weather is in the ‘pro’ column as well, but it’s worth mentioning that the hot weather can get in the way of some activities, particularly if you like spending time outdoors.

Exercising is basically out of the question between 10am and 5pm, so most people fit in their daily exercise regime either before 8am or after 7pm. If you’re someone who really struggles with the heat, it can feel relentless at times.

Letting your hair down

We’re getting older now, so this is arguably a plus point for us, but if you’re looking for a raucous night out every now and then, Penang might not be the place for you. Whilst there are some cool drinking areas around Love Lane and Chulia Street, Penang doesn’t really have a lively night-time party scene.

There are plenty of places to have a pint of beer or glass of wine, but they tend to be attached to malls and cater to the more sedate crowd.

The lowdown on low-rise housing options and outdoor space

Penang accommodation is predominately high-rise apartments, so if you’re used to large amounts of outdoor space common in places such as the US or Australia, you may be disappointed. Some traditional houses are available but they tend to be significantly more expensive, with maintenance and upkeep a constant headache.

Apartment complexes often have gyms and swimming pools but an element of cabin-fever could set in if you’re more used to having your own private outdoor space.

Summing up; is life in Penang a pro or a con?

There’s no doubt about it. Life is Penang is pretty amazing and the pros far, far outweigh the cons. The relaxed and safe lifestyle, combined with the glorious tropical location, make living here feel like a small slice of paradise.

No place is without its problems though, and we’ve tried to be as honest as possible with some of the challenges but, in truth, there was no contest. The ‘pros’ have it. Penang might not be perfect but, for us, it comes pretty darn close.