What Is Expat Life in Penang Like?

Penang really has it all: palm-fringed beaches, a huge national park, beautiful heritage buildings, bustling industry, and a growing arts scene. As mentioned, it's also a foodie haven, the city that most Malaysians concede has the best food in the country, from local Malay sweets and curries, to Chinese hawkers selling fresh seafood and kuay teow. Penang is also the Malaysian destination of choice for most travelers as it is known for its great nightlife, café culture, and shopping. All this makes for an invigorating experience. The biggest industry in Penang is actually manufacturing, which takes up much of the land in Seberang Perai (the southern part of Penang, separate from Penang Island). Back on the island, which is where most expats choose to live, banking and tourism are two of the biggest industries.

Improve Your Network of Fellow Expats in Penang

The InterNations Penang Community is lively and well developed, full of interesting people just waiting to meet you! You can join groups to suit every taste — arts, golfing, and cooking, to name just a few. These groups are an excellent way of connecting with like-minded people, who in turn will be able to help you with issues such as finding a local doctor and give you advice about health insurance. Alternatively, post your questions in the forums, for a range of different opinions. Another opportunity to meet the whole expat community is by joining one of the larger get-together events organized by InterNations. InterNations is a unique community with members who have gone through a careful approval process and all respect our guiding principles. This means that through trust, polite and friendly behavior and an open mind-set, you are able to interact in a safe and secure environment, making the most of your time in Penang.