Rough budget for living

Old Feb 6th 2017, 7:34 am
  #31  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by SushiFan
You could be correct in general but I think that it will take some more time in Malaysia before online shopping gets a strong foothold. The logistics for online shopping incl. home delivery is not yet well-enough developed to use it for fresh produce.
Agree with Asian setup

But I know a German startup coming in 2017 to Australia that have a 15 minute click and collect and 90 minute no charge service. Their logistics and in particular vehicles and warehouses are lightning
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Old May 12th 2017, 10:35 am
  #32  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Thanks to lacmac, Epicurious and others for the details about the apartment situation. As the time comes closer to the actual move (mid-July), I have been researching more on specific areas, broadband access etc. So far, to my slight surprise, the best deal for my situation seems to be Simfoni Heights at Batu Caves. It has Maxis fiber, is cheap (RM 1.3-1.5k for a 3 br apt if the online ads are correct), is close to the train, has Indian restaurants nearby and is not too far from the city centre at half an hour by train. (I am not religious but I remember the cave temple to have a pleasant atmosphere and good view of KL so it might be a good place to burn a few calories as well.

Has anybody any experience of living there? Reality, of course, could be quite different than what appears to be the case on paper. I will be making a quick weekend trip to take a look at a few places soon. (Another one I was considering was Anyaman Residence at Bandar Tasik Selatan - a bit more expensive but very new and closer to town.)
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Old May 12th 2017, 2:43 pm
  #33  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Do you plan to work in KL? If not, i cannot really see a reason to live there. Meanwhile also the other big cities have good apartments for lower prices.

And make sure that the places are fully furnished, it is very common in Malaysia that the places are fully unfurnished.
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Old May 12th 2017, 10:44 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Do you plan to work in KL? If not, i cannot really see a reason to live there. Meanwhile also the other big cities have good apartments for lower prices.

And make sure that the places are fully furnished, it is very common in Malaysia that the places are fully unfurnished.
From looking at the ads for apartment rentals everything supplied with "fully furnished" looks cheap and plastic... If one is on some sort of temporary assignment all well and good...For mm2h retirees it might be better to buy your own higher quality/more comfortable furniture...
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Old May 13th 2017, 5:52 am
  #35  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Yes, even with condos in luxury compounds the "fully furnished" stuff is usually very low quality. If somebody make a long-term decision of cause it is better to rent only partly or not furnished or buy.

But i guess for people who just arrive a one-year-fully-furnished rental contract is the most suitable option.
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Old May 13th 2017, 7:22 am
  #36  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Yes, even with condos in luxury compounds the "fully furnished" stuff is usually very low quality. If somebody make a long-term decision of cause it is better to rent only partly or not furnished or buy.

But i guess for people who just arrive a one-year-fully-furnished rental contract is the most suitable option.
Alternatively you negotiate with the house owner about changing certain pieces of furniture before signing the rental agreement. That worked well in my case (twice).
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Old May 14th 2017, 11:01 am
  #37  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Do you plan to work in KL? If not, i cannot really see a reason to live there. Meanwhile also the other big cities have good apartments for lower prices.

And make sure that the places are fully furnished, it is very common in Malaysia that the places are fully unfurnished.
Well, probably because I am more familiar with it for now (which is not saying that much). I am also definitely looking for good broadband and ease for traveling abroad which is offered by KL (the longer term idea is to keep KL as the main base but with a lot of travel). Plenty of good, cheap Indian food is a further plus. Penang also seems to make a good base on paper but I am not so familiar with it. OTOH, choosing a beautiful place would be a plus. So, initially I was thinking of KL for a year while I familiarized myself more with the places in Malaysia until I settled on the ideal one.
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Old May 14th 2017, 11:01 am
  #38  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Yes, even with condos in luxury compounds the "fully furnished" stuff is usually very low quality. If somebody make a long-term decision of cause it is better to rent only partly or not furnished or buy.

But i guess for people who just arrive a one-year-fully-furnished rental contract is the most suitable option.
Yes, that is the principal idea here.
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Old May 15th 2017, 4:20 am
  #39  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

I don't like the Batu Caves area, but I've been there only three or four times. It has a rather gritty, low class atmosphere. I know I sound like a snob, but westerners should not expect western standards without paying a premium for them. There's a reason most expats live around Mont Kiara and Bangsar - high standard amenities, food shopping and accommodation.

If you want to travel a lot then BTS will be a lot better for reaching KLIA, but I don't know anything about that area.
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Old May 15th 2017, 8:21 am
  #40  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by physdude
So, initially I was thinking of KL for a year while I familiarized myself more with the places in Malaysia until I settled on the ideal one.
Actually this was our plan also. But as we did not have a car at this time we choose to live in the center of KL. But the noise in the night was unbearable, so we decided to leave KL faster. Noise is a topic you should consider also, you would not expect this after seeing the place in the afternoon

After you have arrived I would suggest you to not just focus yourself on KL and Penang. Meanwhile all other big cities have also great luxury condos.
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Old May 15th 2017, 1:46 pm
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Actually this was our plan also. But as we did not have a car at this time we choose to live in the center of KL. But the noise in the night was unbearable, so we decided to leave KL faster. Noise is a topic you should consider also, you would not expect this after seeing the place in the afternoon

After you have arrived I would suggest you to not just focus yourself on KL and Penang. Meanwhile all other big cities have also great luxury condos.
I have been particularly interested in the Borneo cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu...KK especially with many new condo developments...But it seems that mostly only Chinese go to those cities...Much better air quality for starters...
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Old May 15th 2017, 3:12 pm
  #42  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by Epicurious
I don't like the Batu Caves area, but I've been there only three or four times. It has a rather gritty, low class atmosphere. I know I sound like a snob, but westerners should not expect western standards without paying a premium for them. There's a reason most expats live around Mont Kiara and Bangsar - high standard amenities, food shopping and accommodation.

If you want to travel a lot then BTS will be a lot better for reaching KLIA, but I don't know anything about that area.
Interesting - I need to look out for it as I didn't really think about this apsect (in HK, you have grittier areas but everywhere is super safe which might be another thing I have to look at a bit closer than I am used to). I am fine with a more local feel which might even be nostalgic if it is similar to old time Singapore but the area needs to be safe and reasonably clean and the apartment itself reasonably quiet and comfortable.

I have been to the temple once before but didn't really look at the surrounding area - liked the temple and the "Dark Cave" place below it. I have a liking for limestone karst type formations like Guilin or Halong bay. (I should probably look into Tambun in the longer run.)
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Old May 15th 2017, 3:25 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by eCdD
Actually this was our plan also. But as we did not have a car at this time we choose to live in the center of KL. But the noise in the night was unbearable, so we decided to leave KL faster. Noise is a topic you should consider also, you would not expect this after seeing the place in the afternoon

After you have arrived I would suggest you to not just focus yourself on KL and Penang. Meanwhile all other big cities have also great luxury condos.
Wow, I wouldn't have suspected that too and a good point to keep in mind! I am a bit sensitive to night noise myself so I can understand the issue.

What other cities would you suggest? Ipoh sounds decent too but I am still a bit worried about broadband which I tend to use a lot. I liked KK too on my single visit there (especially the marine park) but internet is a bit spotty from what I have heard.
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Old May 16th 2017, 3:18 am
  #44  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

I have passed Ipoh a few times and my impression is that it is hot and dusty (from the limestone crushing and cement plants) as it is located in a valley with mountains around it.
I have never stayed there though, only driven through.

We live in the outskirts of Penang which we find OK.
The climate is quite moderate and it is not too crowded and there are excellent medical facilities.
There is a quite large expat community as well.
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Old May 16th 2017, 6:09 am
  #45  
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Default Re: Rough budget for living

Originally Posted by physdude
What other cities would you suggest? Ipoh sounds decent too but I am still a bit worried about broadband which I tend to use a lot.
Well, as I live in Ipoh I am not really neutral, for me it is the best place in the world

Broadband outside the city center was a big problem until a couple of month, but now most of the town is fully connected, yes, also Tambun.

The advantages: House buying limit is only 350k, you can really get decent stuff like OASIS for this price. Also big selection of top end luxury project that go on the market much cheaper than in KL. Close to Cameron Highlands, Pangkor, Penang and also KL.

Special advantages not important for most Westeners: Chinese Majority, "Little Guilin" (I lived in Beijing and Guilin before).

But yes, it is more hot than Penang.
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