Job Discussion Forums

[adrianmark]

In terms of value for money, safety, quality of life for my wife and I plus the two kids (12/9) which would be better - KL or Penang?

We can't decide.

Cheers

[roamingteacher]

I can't answer that but I am starting a new job in KL in a few months with same family situation, and I reckon we'll be better off near a larger urban centre. There are still parks etc in KL and can always go away to coast / greener areas for hols. For sanity, I chose KL, but I can't speak about Penang, other than to say I've been there on a visa run and it was uninspiring. BUT I wasn't there to explore and I'm sure it had more to offer than met the untrained eye...

[Hod]

My missus is a Penangite, and I love it there. But for what you�re after, I�ll try and offer some waffle.

Value for money

Accommodation - I knew some Penang British Council teachers who were paying RM2500+ rent for very nice apartments, but that is barmy money, probably a third to a quarter of their take home pay. Maybe they felt the cheaper places were in less pleasant areas. Stating the obvious, but KL is bigger and has more choice/better value.

Transport � In KL with a family, you might just scrape by without a car, but in Penang it will be a must. Penang taxi drivers still do not use meters, and whilst they are not massively expensive, maybe starting at RM10 for a five-minute journey, you can imagine the expenditure building up.

Eating out � Chalk and cheese to compare. KL has hundreds more places.

Safety

For me, same same.

Quality of life

For just about everything, things to do, boring stuff such as schools and hospitals, travelling elsewhere in the region, western comforts, bars, bookshops, sports clubs, more bars and just about anything else, I say KL.