Penang is a charming island with an old cultural heritage, located in the Northwestern parts of Malaysia. It’s one of the top choices when foreign retirees and expats decide to settle down in the country.
It’s not strange that Penang has been voted as one of the top 10 destinations to retire in the world as living costs are low, the weather is great, and you can enjoy one of the best cuisines in the world. Worth mentioning is that Malaysia was voted as the fifth best country to retire in 2018 according to Forbes, where Penang is undoubtedly a big contributor.
In this article, I explain which areas that are most popular among expats, retirees and other foreigners in Penang at the moment. If you find it hard to decide whether you should buy or rent real estate in Penang, you can find valuable information in the end of the article.
Where do most retirees and expats stay in Penang?
The Northern parts of Penang have been the preferred place for foreigners since long back.
You can find more leisure activities and points of interest compared to the Southern parts, especially in areas of Georgetown to Batu Ferringhi. Some examples are the colonial buildings and local architecture, the Botanical Garden, Penang Hill, Penang National Park, Shoppings and more.
The Southern part is more local and less expensive, but have gained more traction among real estate buyers and long-term renters, and should also be of interest (more about that later).
