Here's a list of neighbourhoods of Penang for the benefit of those looking to rent or invest in real estate on the island. As I have advised, before you sign along the dotted line, be sure to do your homework in checking out the neighbourhood.
Among the things to consider:
The type of neighbourhood
Is it a working class, middle class or upper middle class neighbourhood? If you choose a neighbourhood where the median income is above yours, you will find yourself playing catch-up to the Joneses next door. Your choice should be a neighbourhood where the median income is slightly below yours.
Geographical location While it's nice to stay up on a hill with a panoramic view, the trade-off is having to drive up and down the hill every day, if you work in the city. This contributes to the wear-and-tear of your vehicle. In the same sense, while staying at the top floor of a 35-storey apartment will give you the view, consider the among of time you sacrifice just waiting for the lift every day.
Distance from work Is it worth commuting an hour from work every day in rush-hour traffic where you do anything but rush?
Location of Amenities Where's the nearest school, petrol station, hospital? Would you allow your tired child to suffer everyday with the long commute?
List of Neighbourhoods
Air Itam Working class neighbourhood. Highly congested with inadequate access roads.
Ayer Rajah Affluent neighbourhood with million-ringgit bungalows.
Bagan Jermal Mixed neighbourhood with working class flats, older residential houses and new high-rise condominiums.
Balik Pulau Township on the far side of the island now being developed with double-storey houses. Distance from George Town an issue if you work in the city.
Bandar Sri Pinang Newly developed mixed neighbourhood built on reclaimed land in Jelutong. Close to city centre.
Batu Ferringhi Neighbourhood on the main tourist belt. Distance from the city an issue as access road is narrow and winding. Ideal for retirees where distance from city is not an issue.
Batu Gantong Middle class neighbourhood comprising highrise as well as older grounded properties near major cemetery and crematorium.
Batu Lanchang Working class neighbourhood to the south of the city centre. Highly congested with more low-medium cost apartment projects on the way.
Batu Maung New residential neighbourhood built on former rural land, now booming due to the Second Penang Bridge project.
Batu Uban Middle class neighbourhood, midway between the north and south of the island, with some high-density high-rise condominiums.
Brown Garden Working class neighbourhood, predominantly government quarters, next to Minden Heights.
Bukit Dumbar Mixed middle class neighbourhood with low density apartment blocks and some landed properties.
Bukit Gambier Mixed neighbourhood with both working class and middle-class high-rise residential blocks.
Bukit Gedung Working class neighbourhood close to the Free Industrial Zone.
Bukit Jambul Mixed neighbourhood ranging from working class to the affluent, with flats, condominiums and hill-side bungalows.
Bukit Kecil Middle-class neighbourhood comprising mostly landed properties with some low-rise apartments.
Gelugor District with a good mix ranging from working class to upper middle class.
George Town City centre, with mixed properties, from lower-middle class to luxurious condominiums.
Green Lane Middle class neighbourhood with older grounded properties and newer high-rises.
Gurney Drive Affluent neighbourhood with million-ringgit high-rise condominiums.
Jelutong Working class neighbourhood, quite congested but close to city centre.
Kampung Jawa Lower middle class landed properties.
Kampung Kastam Working class neighbourhood predominantly government quarters.
Mount Erskine Mixed neighbourhood on hill land, some properties afford great views of George Town.
Paya Terubong Congested working class neighbourhood in the centre of Penang Island.
Perak Road Working class city street, some parts quite congested.
Pantai Acheh Rural area on the eastern side of the island.
Permatang Damar Laut Rural area slowly being developed into mixed landed properties.
Pulau Tikus Affluent neighbourhood to the west of the city centre.
Queensbay Newly developed upper middle class neighbourhood.
Relau Congested lower middle class neighbourhood hemmed in by the hills.
Scotland Road Upple middle class to affluent, but suffering congestion due to location as a major thoroughfare.
Seven Streets Precinct Congested, middle class inner city area, with mostly landed shophouses.
Sungai Ara Mixed neighbourhood from working class to upper middle class, main access roads congested during rush hours.
Sungai Dua Middle class neighbourhood with older landed properties and newer high-rise condominiums.
Sungai Keluang Subdistrict within Bayan Lepas, renowned as the location of the Snake Temple.
Sungai Nibong Middle class neighbourhood, moderate congestion, mostly landed properties.
Sungai Tiram Former village area on the way to the Penang International Airport.
Tanjong Bungah Upper middle class neighbourhood, with pockets of poverty.
Tanjong Tokong Upper middle class neighbourhood, also with pockets of poverty, mixed development of landed properties and high-rise condominiums.
Teluk Bahang Rural area on the northwestern corner of the island. Distance from city is an issue.
Teluk Kumbar Former rural land now developed with upmarket landed properties, good for those working in the Free Industrial Zone, but far from city centre.
Teluk Tempoyak Rural part of Batu Maung, still relatively untouched by development, blocked by hills.
Vale of Tempe Hilly valley with congested access road, working class neighbourhood.
Private Guided Tours of Penang
If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.
Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang
Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.
Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.
Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.
Disclaimer
Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.