bakedbean

Not me. I'm settled here (currently) and no plans to move after 4+ years here. It could change of course

While there seems to be a steady flow of new MM2Hers coming in to Penang, there are also those that change their mind, or maybe their circumstances change. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it doesn't work out. Sometimes you just need a change, much the same as moving in your "home" country.

Whilst fiddling around the internet I stumbled on a guy's blog. Actually I know this guy. He used to live up the road from me. He spent 7 years in Penang and this year moved "back home" to the States (it's all on the blog). I hadn't realised he'd put an update on his blog recently. It's quite an interesting read and you can read here:
Retired in Malaysia

Some of the reasons for "going back". The humidity in Malaysia. Health issues. Missing European and American food.

JC3

Thanks for posting this. An interesting read.

I was surprised by Steve’s comments suggesting the cost of living is lower in Rochester NY, than in Penang, and that gasoline is cheaper in the US than in Malaysia. So just for fun I did a comparison on Numbeo.com.

Here’s the results:

Consumer Prices in Rochester, NY are 70.20% higher than in Penang
Rent Prices in Rochester, NY are 162.72% higher than in Penang
Restaurant Prices in Rochester, NY are 149.36% higher than in Penang
Groceries Prices in Rochester, NY are 96.78% higher than in Penang
Gasoline Prices in Rochester, NY are 66.86% higher than in Penang

The data above was supplied by 96 people in Penang and by 39 people in Rochester so the sample size is admittedly quite small, and Steve lives “just outside Rochester”. I have little doubt Steve is right about car prices and alcohol (i.e.wine) prices.

I agree with Steve about how nice it is (or would be) to have changing seasons too. Oh well, for a winter chill Penangites can always head down to Pok Brothers for some beef – it’s the only place in Penang where I’ve seen people dressed in thick anoraks, long trousers, gloves, balaclavas…brrr! Then there’s always the cinema, or the airport, pretty cold in there at times.

JC3

NeonHippy

I wonder if the blogger has changed his mind after upstate New York recently got hit by 8 feet of snow?

Having been an expat working in USA for a while I would agree with JC3 that the basic cost of living in the US is probably higher than Penang, but once you get past the basics I found the rich man's toys were very cheap & every one seemed to have multiple cars, speedboats and I even visited one friend with a massive flat screen TV in his garage! Certainly the cost of landed property in USA will be a fraction of the cost in Penang.

bakedbean

Yes some of the price comparisons are a bit curious, especially gasoline. Maybe someone got their US Gallons and Litres muddled.

InVinoVeritas

A quick check shows the cheapest petrol price in Rochester, NY is RM2.50 and it is currently RM2.10 in Malaysia. Quite a bit different to Numbeo.

Stuurman

The prices on Numbeo for Penang are to low and draw a false picture.
10 RM for a pint of beer in a restaurant? It's double or more.
60 RM for a 3 course meal for two in a mid range restaurant? You will need 100 RM or more. Bring double if you like a glass of wine with your meal.
1800 RM for proper 3 bedroom apartment in the city centre? In your dreams.
A litre of RON 95 gasoline is 2.27 RM not 2.10.
Taxi's don't run by the meter but I doubt any of them will take you even for a short distance for under 15 RM.
A fitness club is at least 160 RM per month, certainly not 100 RM.
Apartment prices are more in the range of 600/700 RM per square foot but there are several projects where they are above 1000 RM per square foot.

On the bright side wine is cheaper then the stated 55 RM, at the wine shop on Burma road a pretty decent bottle can be found for less then 30 RM.

JC3

Hi,

I agree prices for Penang on Numbeo.com look a tad on the low side, especially if you are an expat living an expat lifestyle on Penang Island.

Cost of Living comparisons are always tricky. It’s quite likely that the people providing the data for Malaysia on Numbeo are mostly locals (with lower salaries and budgets than many expats, and perhaps a different perspective on what constitutes a mid-range restaurant), and that some of the ‘Penang’ data relates to other towns in Penang not just to Penang Island.

Nevertheless, you can find Tiger beer at RM6 a can in restaurants on the island (i.e, about RM10 a pint) if you know where to go, and petrol at RM2.27 a litre is still more than 15% cheaper than the cheapest pump price today today in Rochester (US$2.98 a US Gallon) according to Rochester Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in Rochester, New York.

That’s despite pump prices in the US falling about 25% in the last year or so, and pump prices in Malaysia rising by about 20% from RM1.90 to RM2.27. – which may suggest Numbeo.com is struggling to keep its petrol price data up to date.

JC3

Stuurman

I can get a can of beer for about 3RM from the local booze smuggler but I wouldn't call that a restaurant experience. Well actually I can't anymore because they rolled up the smuggle line so have to buy them from the supermarket now.

In a proper restaurant (so no food court or backpackers hostel) a pint of draft Beer is at least 15++, I'm excluding happy hour prices.

I had a look today a t gas prices in the US, on average $2.67 per gallon and expected to go lower.

I think Steve mentioned by BB has a point. Malaysia isn't as cheap as it used to be, but I doubt the US is cheaper.

For 1000 Euro buying power in 2009 I wouldn't need 1500 Euro now, there are two factors inflation (which is pretty high and will get much higher once VAT is implemented) and the Euro getting weaker to the RM.

JC3

Draft beer in a 'proper' restaurant. Now you're talking. But are there more than a handful of such places on Penang island? If so, where? Please share.

JC3

Stuurman

Bens Gurney Paragon, five27 on Chulia street, Beach blanket Babylon next to the E&O, the Tree bar at the G-Hotel, Healy Mac, the Library etc. at Straits Quay. The new bar at the four points Sheraton and many, many more. If you are interested I take you on a pub crawl but bring your wallet

JC3

Hi,
Many thanks for the list.
I don't rate Beach blanket Babylon next to the E&O (32 at the Mansion 32 itself yes), the Tree bar at the G-Hotel, Healy Mac, the Library, or the new bar at the four points Sheraton as 'proper' restaurants.
But I will give Bens and five27 a try. Any more?

JC3

Stuurman

Well they are proper bars so maybe I should rephrase. Point is that you will not find a 10RM pint in any of them.

JC3

Not in a half decent bar, no.

But you will find canned beer for about RM10 a pint in a restaurant, such as Grumpiez Green Pepper Mexican Cantina in Hillside, Tanjung Bungah.
So saying: "10 RM for a pint of beer in a restaurant? It's double or more" could be a little misleading.

JC3

Stuurman

I was there and admit that's the cheapest place I saw in a long time but it's an exception and you will not find many places like that on the island. On general 20RM for a pint of draft is not misleading it's what I pay most of the time.