Hi guys, we were in KL in April, stayed in the same complex! But we were in the opposite tower, with views of KL and Petronas Towers. Absolutely loved the city, blown away by how modern and clean it was.
I agree ….I had the best Chinese food in SE Asia in KL. I ate the same meal 3 days in 9 days in Chinatown and I loved Lot10’s food court! Thanks for the great video😊you definitely hit the jackpot with the $39 transportation cost 🚆
Haha - we did the same thing, same meal at the same place 3 different times ☺. Yes, transportation was so affordable, considering the majority of that cost was our bus ride from Penang. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers
Hi, I’ve started my “nomad life” by moving to Portugal. I’m actually an immigrant rather than a nomad. However, I’ve got the whole of Europe to move about. It sort of counts as being a nomad in a way. I’ll be a nomad in Portugal as I intend to see it all. Malaysia will have to wait! It looks great 😊
We spent two months in the Algarve last spring! Portugal is still our favorite country. We actually considered doing what you are doing in the begging but decided to travel instead. Enjoy Portugal!! Thank you for watching our channel! Cheers!!❤
can a couple who are pretty modest live in Portugal for a 1000 dollars a month, we don't need anything fancy, nothing big either, a small studio or tiny house to be exact, tired of the rat race in America just watched two of my bosses getting canned for doing there jobs with no complaints.
The condo in KL looks great! and the pool, gym, etc. are a nice touch. And from what I saw, their grocery stores have all the essential stuff... Thanks for sharing.
I did not know much about KL Malaysia until this video, learned a lot. The beauty, cleanliness, organization, etc. So with all the places you have been so far, which country would you consider retire in? I have to say, you guys are not only budget travelers but very well planners. It takes a lot of organizational skills, like a backup plan, health treatments, lodging location, etc. You kick in high gear for planB if planA does not work. This is commendable and thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for all the kind words, we very much appreciate the support. We really love Portugal and everything it has to offer. The climate and cost of living are something that we really like. We have so many places yet to explore so we will see if that changes. 😆
Great video, as usual! My Wife and I are using your videos to help us plan for our retirement travels. Thank you for how thorough you are on your itenerary and we also greatly appreciate the cost breakdowns. Can't wait to see your next travel adventure. Thank you!
Another great video, guys! I have been pricing out condos for rent or purchase in Penang for retirement soon and they are pretty reasonable if not cheap. I got my MM2H done fortunately right before the changes but Malaysia is still a great bang for the buck even if under the 90 days tourist visa max.
We would agree with that. It may not be the least expensive country in SE Asia but, as you say, it does have a big bang for the buck! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Hi , you fortunately got your MM2H under the old ( reasonable ) requirements, but the MM2H now requires putting $250K USD in their banks and you must qualify with at least $9000 USD monthly income. So, how is it still a good bang for the buck ? How can you retire if you are only allowed a 90 day tourist Visa ? Thanks
@@getsmartpaul Well, first of all, the govt is reviewing the policy right as we speak and while there are no guarantees we should expect a relaxing of the requirements IF the government wants the capital investment by foreigners. As you know there are too much empty RE sitting there. Malaysia is a great bang for the buck still because the exchange rate is favorable regardless if you stay long or short term. That is my opinion. Take it or leave it....
@@vwchan841 hi, you have a better understanding of the government motivation to relax the MM2H requirements to attract more foreign capital and RE investment. Hopefully you are correct. But, there must be opponents that don’t want more and want to limit the program to only wealthy expats. Thanks 🙏
@@getsmartpaul Oh for sure, opposition is definitely coming from the Malay people themselves. The thing is, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Your own people can't even afford to buy the condos that keep sprouting up each day. You need help yet you don't want help. Come on, pick a side!!!!!!
The apartment in KL looked fantastic and a bargain given the location. Plus the pool gym and everything else. If it was in Miami it would be $5,000 a month. I am looking forward to the Singapore video. Keep up the good work the videos are great!! 😊
Some hints for better life budget for long stays: Try to find where locals eat to save on meals. Groceries and daily essentials usually the locals would shop at the wet markets, or places like Giant or Lotus or 99 speedmart
Thank u for this wonderful video n for also showing your explorations in Malaysia. Hope that u guys have had a good time in Malaysia. Yes, u can afford living luxury in KL.
Thank you. Great advice. Heading to KL in a couple days and staying similar area. Will for sure use the covered walkway and suggest to my wife the malls for food and just going to the street market once. I’ll watch the other videos as well.
We are currently in KL City Center in a 2-bedroom condo (90SQM) that we got for $50 night. One-bedroom condos were going for $30-50. I generally agree with your cost assessment and are loving our first time in Malayasia. We spent 9 nights in Langkawi when we first got here. What an awesome Island with such beautiful beaches.
Nice overview of your costs in Malaysia. We have been to KL several times now in our lengthy exploration of Southeast Asia because we like it. Regarding the food... Although I generally agree that it can be more expensive than other places in Southeast Asia, there is great inexpensive local eats to be found. There are places where the local business people go for lunch for example. There are also great little family run places that can be found. It's one of the things we enjoy about KL. It is this big modern developing city, but you can still get plenty of local Malaysian culture if you seek it out. Like you, we have found good shoes to be quite expensive by Southeast Asia standards. I paid close to the same as what I would have paid in the U.S. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the same money saving tactics that I used in the U.S. for things like good shoes. However, it's definitely money well spent when you walk as much as we do. I've definitely noticed prices for rent creeping up over the last year in KL. An apartment we stayed in a year ago is now approximately $400/month more. Airbnb? Post Covid rebound? Inflation? Maybe all if the above. BTW... I love Brian's dry sense of humor 😂
Hi! We have had some great recommendations of places to eat that are less touristy and more local, where prices were much less. Unfortunately, we didn't get those till after we left, but now have some great ideas for when we return ☺ Airbnb prices and for sure been creeping up, I think this is just a combination of all the things you mentioned above. We just have to search a bit more for ones that fit within our budget. Hopefully, they level out and costs don't continue to climb so quick. I will let Brian know - he loves all the support for his humor 😂 Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
You’ve discovered a gem to retire here in Malaysia for affordable living with English language widely used. It might surprised you professional healthcare is more expensive in Thailand and Singapore than Malaysia 😊
We have heard about how great the healthcare in Malaysia is and very affordable. A very well-developed country!! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻
i am a cancer survivor so i have several costly yearly tests done, where can i go to find costs for insurance or just out of pocket costs for medical procedures in Malaysia.
@@chrisschmitt1931 there are several options of private hospitals e.g. SJMC, Pantai Hospital, etc with cost of treatment in Malaysia Ringgit as opposed to $USD in most Western countries. There are a few more local hospitals around Kuala Lumpur that treats cancer patients that you may be keen to check it out. Hope this tiny info helps.
We have a lot of medical tourism in Malaysia...among the top private medical centres are KPJ group of Hospitals, Sunway group, Pantai Hospitals, SJMC, Gleneagles etc. Private lab - BP Healthcare, Pantai etc Google them
Greetings from Bucharest 🤗 Don’t underestimate the importance of great comfortable shoes! I left the states with what I thought was a nice pair of Brooks running shoes, which are expensive, but it turned out that they wore out from all the walking we’ve been doing in the past two months, so I needed a new pair of comfortable shoes. In all honesty, I’ve had them for a long time and I thought they still had a long way before they wore out, but I was wrong 😂Anyway, I somehow managed to find a pair of Reebook shoes for only $43, yes, that’s correct, in Belgrade…I think I just got lucky, because all the other shoes everywhere else cost well above $100 if not close to $200. I was prepared to pay that much too because I know good shoes cost a lot. I guess I will find out how long my new shoes will hold up during our full time travel with time. 😉 Looking forward to visiting Malaysia and exploring Kuala Lumpur in the future. Looks exciting and affordable.
Hello in Bucharest ♥ We absolutely agree - a great pair of walking shoes is key! We walk on average 6- 8 miles a day and in cruddy shoes that just would not happen. We now have found, shoes are something we do have to replace more often than we may have first anticipated. But, when you only travel with one or two pairs of shoes, quality is key. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
We don't mind spending money on good footwear and doing as much walking as we do. We are also limited on what we carry if you only have one pair of walking shoes you need to make sure they are good ones!! We loved our time in Romania!! Such a beautiful country!! Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
I have been watching lots of videos about Malaysia as I’m planning to visit and later on retire. Brian and Carrie had explained it very thoroughly very detailed way just what I was looking for. I had subscribed your channel and gave a thumbs up. Thanks again for your good work ❤👍
Penang Malaysia or Algarve Portugal which is better for a retiree couple with about $3K per month income. What is your honest opinion. Nice and quiet stress free. Please let me know. Greatly appreciated.
Hi Brian and Carrie! I love watching your videos. Keep up the good work. It's incredible you gave up beer! That's easier said than done. I love the feeling a good new pair of shoes give you. Have a great week. I look forward to your next destination.
Thank you, Kathy! Giving up beer wasn't easy but it was short-lived.😆 We will be heading back to Europe in July so we will be plenty of affordable beer options to be had. Cheers!!🍻
Another super interesting video, very informative. Malaysia seems very modern and clean, and the food once again looks deeeeeeelicious... Miammm!!! Thanks for the info.
As always a thorough and detailed account down to the dollar to show actual expenses for a month in Malaysia. I have to admit for the quality of your place in KL I think that is very affordable. This is a major city, and you were well situated. I can agree that a meal cooked in after eating out so often is very welcome. Looked like a really good grocery store. Buying shoes to me is an essential, especially given how much you guys are walking. It is a health expense. Safe travels back home and I look forward to your next post. Cheers!
Carrie and I were talking about footwear and Carrie said the same thing. Buying good shoes is essential for what we do. It is a need not a want. Thank you Robert for all the continued support on this channel!! Cheers!!🍻
Fantastic video as always- and incredibly informative. Sooo curious why you left Penang- it's such a great city. I spend 4 nights there a couple years ago and loved it. It's apparently exactly what Singapore used to look like before it blew up! And the food is great. Looking forward to hearing that story! Safe travels!
Hi, Dan. We had to leave our Airbnb and needed accommodations for the next month. We didn't have many options with such late notice in Penang so left for Kuala Lumpur. Our Airbnb video will be out next week and we will explain what happened! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for sharing such valuable information, I appreciate that you are realistic about budgeting. Looking forward to discovering your next destination, happy travels!
We loved Vietnam! Our time in Da Nang was so great that we are coming back to Vietnam next spring. This time we will be down in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
@Brian and Carrie if you get up north try the Hai Giang Loop motorcycle tour. Three days. Did last year, doing again in July. We did the one by Cheers Hostel. It was great!! There's videos if you want to check out. Stay safe and keep up the great work. We live in Trang, Thailand. If you're ever in the area we can show you some sights.
We made it to Hanoi and did the Ha Long Bay cruise but didn't get to the Hai Giang Loop. The 30-day vise makes it difficult. Hopefully that changes soon. It would be great to connect someday for a beer! Thank you for the support!
really good video guys!! Enjoying your channell, my wife and I have been all over SE Asia, but not been to Malaysia, after watching your video we are definitely going to KL and Penang!!
Hi Guys I been back home from kuala Lumpur ❤i was also there for 28days i been two KL 3times before loved each visit this time was the longest enjoyed every minute of it. The cost of living has gone up i noticed that food eating out but to be fair the cost of living has gone up worldwide. But beautiful video ❤from Australia 🇦🇺
Thank you for watching Robbie. With the world back to traveling it does seem like everything is more expensive than it was. It is still far less expensive than the US!! 🙄
Keep in mind, if you actually go through a realtor, and are looking to stay long-term, rents for similar places, near Petronas Towers, 1-2 BR in a luxury condo, run from RM2500-3500, or $500-700 USD. The longer the term, the lower the costs.
@@BrianandCarrie You re very welcome, We both hope as we venture on our Slow Travel world tour here in August that we get to meet the both of you in person somewhere along the way! it is going to be an exciting next couple decades !
Friends and family often ask us if we are excited about our next adventure. We respond that we are excited all the time. Thank you again for the support!
Hi guys - great video! I have not been commenting lately but have not missed a video. Thanks for sharing all those details. Question: does your health insurance cover you in the USA as well? For how long?
Hi! Thank you so much for continuing to watch and for your support, we really appreciate it ☺. The insurance we have through Cigna Global does have added US coverage which we pay additional for (that is included in the price we mention). You are covered for your time in the USA while visiting, you cannot be living there. Cheers!!
We spent 4 months in Malaysia during our trip to South-East Asia, and spent an average of 500 Euro per month on food. We cooked only once, but immediatly decided that value for money is better when eating out or ordering in.
Great coverage of KL. Been there half a dozen times as transit passenger enroute to Penang. Malaysia in general is a great country to live in clean, modern, safe and very affordable. Amazing how a smaller country has the infra structure so nice and modern. If the weather there were a bit nicer it would be a Paradise. Unfortunately you don't get everything in one place. Hats off to you guys on how despite all the fun things you get do and enjoy, you keep the cost very manageable. Cameron highlands and Genting are two nicer cooler places where you can beat the heat but wont have all the nicer fun life style of KL. would be worth a visit though. Now the question is where next? Having been in Thailand and Vietnam I thought you would have covered Angkor wat. Cheers and Safe travels!!!
We were a bit surprised with how clean and modern KL was, very nice city. We have a video coming out next week on our Airbnb experiences then, Singapore before arriving back in the US. We will do something here before we head back to central Europe and Italy for the 3 months. Thanks for watching CM! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie - Since you are in Singapore you should perhaps swing by New Delhi India, Visit the Taj Mahal (a day trip... less than $150 per person including ride, tour guide, admission fee, Lunch, pick up from Hotel and drop), may be 2 days in Delhi followed by a 5-6 day tour package from Delhi to Srinagar Kashmir and back to Delhi (including flights can do it for $500-600 per person on the higher end package). Kashmir is the switzerland of Asia and a must see.
We may be doing that next year when we are back in the region. We will start 2024 in the Philippines and Indonesia but after that we really aren't sure yet.
@@-EHC - Thanks for asking. I personally like the Gurney Plaza area since it is a happening place and GTown is not too far from it. There are buses that run from that area to GT frequently. Also near Gurney Plaza is a Hawker stall with a variety of food choices very economical i have heard (me being a vegetarian havent eaten there as no choices for me). Also there are 2 malls Gurney and paragon that will be lively. There are buses that go from there to Batu Ferringhi the beach side and there are night markets on the streets where you can buy cheap fake clothing purses etc. Gurney area is really lively and alive till late hours with some events happening on week ends. GT you can always go during day time and late evenings will be dead in my opinion. Of course Gurney area may be a little pricey, Every time i went it was business trip and was lucky to stay at the G Hotel one of the top ones and if you want you can stay there and they have a an excellent free buffet with certain room choices. Straits quay is a place you should visit may be a mile and half from G plaza on the way to Batu Ferringhi. More...
@@-EHC - As far as sight seeing places, I liked Gurney area. Things you must see Penang Hills (take the cog rail), Kek Lok si temple), An Indian temple (Murugan temple) on top of a hill have to climb about 400 steps- (awesome view from the top), Botanical gardens, Batu Ferringhi are alll easy access from Gurney. Grab ride share is not expensive. The ride to batu Ferringhi ehare the beaches are is very scenic, winding and buses go right from Gurney and the beaches are there and a hard Rock cafe too.. You can do a trip to GT during the day see Little India and the old British style buildings and architecture. be sure to take a ferry ride from GT to Butterworth the mainland Penang will be a nice experience and a half a day event. If you want a taste of Thailand take a van pool service from GT (they pick up at your hotel too) and cross the border to the first town and they will take you up to Hat yai pick, pick you back same or next day. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
We are about to do our 6th trip to KL and for us being Australians soo cheap!! We love KL so much and it is a wonderful place to chill and enjoy a relaxing holiday. The food, drinks and shopping are amazing and very affordable. I found as a female it is very safe to go shopping anywhere on my own day or night.
You guys might know this already. You can message any Airbnb host prior to booking asking them to consider a monthly lower offer. This might open up cities you felt too expensive (Paris, Rome, Naples…) you guys are great. 🎉
Thank you, Shea. We usually stay in each location for 28 days to get the monthly discount. We have asked for a discount beyond the monthly rate many times with no luck. We are starting to think Airbnb prices are going up. We have a video out next week all about our Airbnb experiences. Thank you for the tip and for supporting us!! Cheers!!🍻
Dining out is cheap in Malaysia really, if you're adventuous enough to eat like locals, where locals eat on daily basis. Tomato ketchup there is Heinz, it's imported. Local brands are much much cheaper. For ketchup and chili sauce, go for Life brand, you could get one for around 1 USD. We're net importer of dairy products... dairy cows don't produce milk very well in hot weather like ours.
Hi! Thank you so much for the info and recommendations. I'm sure had we been there longer, finding all those local spots, we would have been able to eat out and shop for much less. Thank you so much for watching! 😊
Rental for a 2 to 3 rooms fully furnished condo outside the City center (15 km with shops and supermarket nearby) but close to mass rail train (MRT) or LRT is about USD500 to 600 per month. Food is reasonable cheap unless you dine out in fancy restaurants. You save money by cooking yourself (buy food item from local markets or NSK supermarket) or eat in local food outlets frequent by locals. Alcohol is expensive especially in bars and restaurant. So drink at home. Lastly you would save up to 30% of your living expenses if you choose to stay in towns (equally beautiful and full of activities) outside KL like Penang, Ipoh, JB or even Melaka.
Thought the AirBnb was pretty pricey for that part of the world but amazing view though! KL I hear is a hotspot for digital nomads, perhaps that is driving up the prices there.
The locals do vacation a lot during school holidays hence the prices do climb higher during those seasons. It's best to also check the school holidays schedule in Malaysia in case you're traveling there, flight and accommodation prices will usually increase during those periods.
Another great video, thank you! Question… you never mention bugs. I live in Minnesota and when it’s hot/humid we have a ton of bugs. Do you find bugs to be an issue in Southeast Asia?
Not sure about other cities but in KL it's the usual mosquitoes and cockroaches but it's not that common unless the place is really dirty. On high rise buildings though there's no/rare to find mosquitoes, it does come with the season. You can buy bugs repellent from 7/11 if you're sensitive to their bites.
Wow. Another place that I really never considered going that I've now added to my list along with Montenegro. Thank you! I'm really looking forward to next week's Airbnb video. I'm very curious to know if you've run into any bug issues. Roaches? Spiders?
We have had a few experiences but only one that was an absolute NO! Roaches or spiders? We weren't there long enough to find out. 😆 Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
I went to KISL back in the days 1980s. Dad was an oil executive. Miss all my international friends back in KL, JKT, SING, BKK....Go IASAS! Expat kids...
Hi Guys! The month flew by so fast again! We are planning our Asia trip for January-April 2024. Were there any previous episodes of yours that talked about visas and vaccines for these Asian countries you have traveled to?
The months sure do fly by! We actually did a video not long ago about traveling to Thailand and Vietnam and all you need to do before you go. It would also be similar for the other areas as far as vaccines. Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/29-w_C_sZ9Q/видео.html Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
Hello. Eating out still is so much less expensive in Asia. We live on the coast of Oregon in a small community. Yesterday we walked a block away to the only restaurant here. For a salad, a fish taco, 1 beer, and a soda it was $30 w/o tip. Needless to say we don't eat there often. But, everywhere around here in bigger towns (Newport, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Florence) are the same. And, these are just average restaurants. Where are you going next? Kathleen
Hi, George. We love the Oregon coast!! We are home for a couple of weeks and just north of you in Bellingham WA. We never eat out anymore, It is just too expensive. Thank you for watching and enjoy this beautiful weather we are having!! Cheers!!🍻
Hi, try Langkawi if you get chance. There’s no tax on alcohol there. It’s a beautiful island with plenty of amazing walks and waterfalls. You can catch a ferry to Koh lipe Thailand for a visa run and that little island is even better!
@@BrianandCarrie Holy crap! Good on you for losing that much weight! Other than walking I am not seeing a work out routine. Eating out makes that very difficult at times. High five! Well done.
Great video guys, thank you. Awesome shoes Brian! I love when you give the prices in the grocery stores. It’s so good to complain to our prices back here in Australia. Love the view from your apartment, looks amazing! Where are you off to next? You didn’t say 😊
Hi, Annette. I love my new shoes!! Our next video will be about our Airbnb experiences, how we try to avoid getting poor accommodations, and what we do when it happened recently in Penang. We will be heading to Singapore after that, home for a couple of weeks then back to Europe! Thank you so much for following us, we very much appreciate the support! Cheers!!🍻
Hi guys….wow love your video….think we just missed you as we checked in at The Robertson on 5th June….also on 43rd floor south tower…would have been great to catch up. We started our travels back in February and are also here for a month before heading of to Bali then Koh Samui.
Yes, just missed each other!! Such amazing views of the city that high up. Sounds like you have some great upcoming destinations - Bali is on our list for next year, can't wait. Safe travels! Cheers 🍻
Just so you know Malaysia imposes a heavy tax on alcohol...be that beer, wine or liquor. It's the most expensive place for drinking in SE Asia besides Singapore. Did you discover the non-Halal (pork) section of the supermarket? I've always found that a hoot. Will be going there in July thru October. My wife is originally from there and I also worked there many years ago. The condos there are really nice but always try to haggle the price. Malaysians are known for being very friendly and they love to eat out and shop! lol
It's a stunning view, but I am too scared to live that high up. A good "nap sofa" is worth it's weight in gold 100%. When you guys make it to Mexico, they are few and far between so just a heads up. Lucky to even find a sofa with arms lol
Hi! Yes, the 43rd floor was a ways up, that's for sure. We tried not to think about it much as then it could make me nervous (that's a lot of stairs to go down in the case of an emergency). It's so appreciated when we can find a real sofa, and have it actually be big enough to lay on - a rarity for sure! Thanks for the heads up for Mexico, better to just prepare yourself ahead....no naps for Brian 😂 Cheers!
It sounds as if you visited Jalan Alor during the day, because I have been there many times during my 15 holidays (so far) in Malaysia, and at night it is almost, if not totally, closed to traffic, because the restaurants spill out onto the street on both sides, and it is so busy with pedestrians, either going there to eat or just to enjoy the atmosphere.
I was just curious since you were in Penang island why skip Langkawi island? Btw there's nice foodcourt at the Lot 10 shopping mall which opposite of Pavilion mall serve varieties of food too. Also if you wanna get cheaper groceries take the subway to Aeon mall, Taman Maluri which you will find lots of local products too. And maybe next time can visit Borneo Sarawak or Sabah. Thank you for the videos, I am just another Malaysian who reside at the Baltic state EU for almost 4yrs now. Havent been back to my home country since. Really appreciate your vlogs. Take care & enjoy 🎉😊
Nice video guys. We're in the middle of a heatwave that will likely last until August. Even for locals its unbearably hot during the day at the moment.
UHG!! We have arrived back in the US, and where we are now it is 75 with a cool breeze. Despite the heat and humidity, we had a great time in Kuala Lumpur! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻
There are many affordable western food in KL and Petaling Jaya...or greater Klang Valley..if uou know where to locate them. Might be useful to get info from the locals . Try Meat Point in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in KL .
Thanks for sharing. Very nice condo. I was wondering if you had trouble finding your shoe size there? When I go to Manila I think I need to visit KL also. Looks clean and a nice city.
I did have some trouble finding the size of the shoe that I wanted. I wear size 11 and I was finding a lot of 10.5. KL is a very nice city with plenty to see. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Medicare and Medicaid do not provide coverage if you are outside America unless you are in a U.S. territory or are a military veteran. All travelers should consider getting 3rd party medical and/or travel insurance coverage for international travel. Also, some credit cards provide limited coverage depending on the destination and length of trip so that's worth checking out as well.
Correct, those will only cover you in the states so it's very important to carry some coverage while you travel. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
Hey Brian and Carrie - dude 140 bucks for Salmon sneakers and that too in southeast asia. Don't they have cheap chinese knockoffs for a fraction of that over there :). Hey Brian, since you only use one pair of sneakers a year. You may want to consider buying a pair of Sorbothane Insoles. It will make your shoes more comfy and make em last longer. By the way, just food for thought, this trainer I used to see told me that you should not walk on the same pair of shoes each day. Apparently the sole needs 24 hours to spring back to original state. I know I was surprised too.
Guys, great video and overview of KL. Not sure if missed your condo name, but I dont think saw it. Can you share or you are not supposed to share that info? Thanks and keep it up with the great simple reviewes.
Here is the link: Where we stayed: www.airbnb.com/rooms/40387470?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=fa666623-b057-4125-a919-658cdaf0539c We always add the link to where we stayed in the video description for future reference unless we don't recommend it. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
KL looks like a great place and is affordable. Great for vacation however I heard the retirement rules have changed. The new MM2H program requires about $215K in a Malaysian bank AND a monthly income of $8K. That priced a lot of people out of retiring in KL or anywhere else in Malaysia. Apparently they only had 357 people on the new program compared to the old program that 6,000 people took advantage of. I guess KL will only be a vacation spot for now. thanks for the video.
There were so many rentals in that condo....we loved the place we stayed and now feel even better about what we paid 😊. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers
Hi guys, we've been following you for while...thank you for great videos and info's. quick question, we're going to KL in next month. where did you got your vaccines?? just fyi-stayng same apartment as you recc.
We got our vaccinations while in Croatia before heading back to the US for the holidays in 2022. It was much less expensive, and the timing worked out perfectly. We hope that you enjoy the apartment as much as we did. Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
Great video as usual Brian and Carrie. Sorry if I missed it, but did you mention the name of the AirBnb Condo you stayed at while in KL? Would love to stay there in the future. Also, my wife and I would like to take a 3 week trip to SE Asia. If only there for 3 weeks, what would be your "must visits"? I'm thinking maybe a week stay in three different areas. Unfortunately, we're still working so we can't afford more time there for now.
Hi Brad! Thank you so much. We put the link in the video description for the Airbnb we stayed in. If not that specific Airbnb, I would also just recommend finding one in that building as there were many and it was a great central location. Out of all our travels in SE Asia, we loved our time in Chiang Mai,, Thailand, Da Nang, Vietnam, and Koh Samui. We are returning next year to visit more of Vietnam and will for sure stop back into Thailand if only for the food ☺
The reason chicken, eggs are cheaper than in the US, is because the Malaysian government subsidizes and restricts market fluctuations for its residents. One other thing the government subsidizes is gas. It's 43c a litre or $1.63 a gallon for regular unleaded. It has been that price for over 3 years. It was as low as $0.26/litre ( $0.98/gal) in 2020. This is why Electric cars don't sell much here when gas is rather affordable.
Although you prob won't come back due to the cons (more expensive food/beer/housing), you may want to check out Kota Kinabalu. It is my favorite in Malaysia as it is not quite as "city". Things are cheaper there, the vibe is different. The fireflies, not like the American lightening bugs, are just GORGEOUS. And if you like hiking, this area of Borneo, is fabulous (from what my friends have said). I lived in Seoul for over five years and travelled all over. My favorites were Ubud, Ho Chi Minh City, & Chiang Mai. Been to each more than 5 times. If you go to Seoul, it is more expensive but there are some ways to save big money. Have fun!
We will be back in the region in early 2024 and plan on going to the Philippians, Indonesia, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia, Seoul, and Tokyo. We spent a month in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Da Nang and loved them all. We really had a great time in SE Asia for the last 5+ months. Thank you for watching and adding all the suggestions!! Cheers!!🍻
Hi guys, we were in KL in April, stayed in the same complex! But we were in the opposite tower, with views of KL and Petronas Towers. Absolutely loved the city, blown away by how modern and clean it was.
We wish we had been in that tower! Such an amazing view! Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
Can you please tell me the name of the Condo. Thanks
@@cindymorgan5188 It is Robertson Suites Kuala Lumpur. My friend from Australia always booked there when they travel to KL.
@thomasheng86 thank you. 😊
My husband and I, along with our friend stayed there too back in Feb 2020! I really like that area.
I agree ….I had the best Chinese food in SE Asia in KL. I ate the same meal 3 days in 9 days in Chinatown and I loved Lot10’s food court! Thanks for the great video😊you definitely hit the jackpot with the $39 transportation cost 🚆
Haha - we did the same thing, same meal at the same place 3 different times ☺. Yes, transportation was so affordable, considering the majority of that cost was our bus ride from Penang. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers
Hi, I’ve started my “nomad life” by moving to Portugal. I’m actually an immigrant rather than a nomad. However, I’ve got the whole of Europe to move about. It sort of counts as being a nomad in a way. I’ll be a nomad in Portugal as I intend to see it all. Malaysia will have to wait! It looks great 😊
We spent two months in the Algarve last spring! Portugal is still our favorite country. We actually considered doing what you are doing in the begging but decided to travel instead. Enjoy Portugal!! Thank you for watching our channel!
Cheers!!❤
can a couple who are pretty modest live in Portugal for a 1000 dollars a month, we don't need anything fancy, nothing big either, a small studio or tiny house to be exact, tired of the rat race in America just watched two of my bosses getting canned for doing there jobs with no complaints.
@@chrisschmitt1931 1500 max
Neither, that's just the way I look. 😁
The condo in KL looks great! and the pool, gym, etc. are a nice touch. And from what I saw, their grocery stores have all the essential stuff... Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching!!
I did not know much about KL Malaysia until this video, learned a lot. The beauty, cleanliness, organization, etc. So with all the places you have been so far, which country would you consider retire in? I have to say, you guys are not only budget travelers but very well planners. It takes a lot of organizational skills, like a backup plan, health treatments, lodging location, etc. You kick in high gear for planB if planA does not work. This is commendable and thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for all the kind words, we very much appreciate the support. We really love Portugal and everything it has to offer. The climate and cost of living are something that we really like. We have so many places yet to explore so we will see if that changes. 😆
Nice Info tqsm
Great video, as usual! My Wife and I are using your videos to help us plan for our retirement travels. Thank you for how thorough you are on your itenerary and we also greatly appreciate the cost breakdowns. Can't wait to see your next travel adventure. Thank you!
Thank you, Steve!!
so the viewers are paying for your travel.
Cheap street foods are available in nearby in Kampong Baru, Chow Kit Road, Jalan TAR-Masjid India, Brickfields..many more ..just check it out 👍
Thank you so much for all the suggestions ☺
@@BrianandCarrie my pleasure 🙏
Of course they said it is expensive, they are in the golden triangle. And most visitors go to high end grocers like jaya grocer, village grocer
@@keangwooichoo6138 yes, there are many cheaper groceries and foods can be found in Pudu market area, Pandan area, Keramat, Ampang etc..
Thank you for watching, Keang Wooi Choo!!
Cheers!!🍻
Another great video, guys! I have been pricing out condos for rent or purchase in Penang for retirement soon and they are pretty reasonable if not cheap. I got my MM2H done fortunately right before the changes but Malaysia is still a great bang for the buck even if under the 90 days tourist visa max.
We would agree with that. It may not be the least expensive country in SE Asia but, as you say, it does have a big bang for the buck! Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Hi , you fortunately got your MM2H under the old ( reasonable ) requirements, but the MM2H now requires putting $250K USD in their banks and you must qualify with at least $9000 USD monthly income. So, how is it still a good bang for the buck ? How can you retire if you are only allowed a 90 day tourist Visa ? Thanks
@@getsmartpaul Well, first of all, the govt is reviewing the policy right as we speak and while there are no guarantees we should expect a relaxing of the requirements IF the government wants the capital investment by foreigners. As you know there are too much empty RE sitting there. Malaysia is a great bang for the buck still because the exchange rate is favorable regardless if you stay long or short term. That is my opinion. Take it or leave it....
@@vwchan841 hi, you have a better understanding of the government motivation to relax the MM2H requirements to attract more foreign capital and RE investment. Hopefully you are correct. But, there must be opponents that don’t want more and want to limit the program to only wealthy expats. Thanks 🙏
@@getsmartpaul Oh for sure, opposition is definitely coming from the Malay people themselves. The thing is, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Your own people can't even afford to buy the condos that keep sprouting up each day. You need help yet you don't want help. Come on, pick a side!!!!!!
Malaysia is truly incredible!! Great video.
Malaysia is amazing!! Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
The apartment in KL looked fantastic and a bargain given the location. Plus the pool gym and everything else. If it was in Miami it would be $5,000 a month. I am looking forward to the Singapore video. Keep up the good work the videos are great!! 😊
Thank you! It was a bit more than we are used to paying but it was a great location! We did not get much for room in Singapore however! 😂
Some hints for better life budget for long stays:
Try to find where locals eat to save on meals.
Groceries and daily essentials usually the locals would shop at the wet markets, or places like Giant or Lotus or 99 speedmart
Great advice! Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
You can get unlimited data & unlimited calls for as low as rm 30 per month if subscribed with celcomdigi prepaid plan
Thank u for this wonderful video n for also showing your explorations in Malaysia. Hope that u guys have had a good time in Malaysia. Yes, u can afford living luxury in KL.
Hi Yasin! Thank you so much ☺. We loved our time in Malaysia and how you could live in luxury for such an affordable cost. Cheers!!
@@BrianandCarrie Hi there u guys. Good to know that u guys have had a great time. Cheers. 😀
Thank you. Great advice. Heading to KL in a couple days and staying similar area. Will for sure use the covered walkway and suggest to my wife the malls for food and just going to the street market once.
I’ll watch the other videos as well.
Thank you, Adam! We appreciate the support!!
Cheers!!🍻
We are currently in KL City Center in a 2-bedroom condo (90SQM) that we got for $50 night. One-bedroom condos were going for $30-50. I generally agree with your cost assessment and are loving our first time in Malayasia. We spent 9 nights in Langkawi when we first got here. What an awesome Island with such beautiful beaches.
Enjoy your time in Kuala Lumpur ☺
Can you please provide the name of the condo you stayed in KL? Thank you
The link is in the video description.
Nice overview of your costs in Malaysia. We have been to KL several times now in our lengthy exploration of Southeast Asia because we like it. Regarding the food... Although I generally agree that it can be more expensive than other places in Southeast Asia, there is great inexpensive local eats to be found. There are places where the local business people go for lunch for example. There are also great little family run places that can be found. It's one of the things we enjoy about KL. It is this big modern developing city, but you can still get plenty of local Malaysian culture if you seek it out.
Like you, we have found good shoes to be quite expensive by Southeast Asia standards. I paid close to the same as what I would have paid in the U.S. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the same money saving tactics that I used in the U.S. for things like good shoes. However, it's definitely money well spent when you walk as much as we do.
I've definitely noticed prices for rent creeping up over the last year in KL. An apartment we stayed in a year ago is now approximately $400/month more. Airbnb? Post Covid rebound? Inflation? Maybe all if the above.
BTW... I love Brian's dry sense of humor 😂
Hi! We have had some great recommendations of places to eat that are less touristy and more local, where prices were much less. Unfortunately, we didn't get those till after we left, but now have some great ideas for when we return ☺
Airbnb prices and for sure been creeping up, I think this is just a combination of all the things you mentioned above. We just have to search a bit more for ones that fit within our budget. Hopefully, they level out and costs don't continue to climb so quick.
I will let Brian know - he loves all the support for his humor 😂 Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
I was just there in mid- January. Absolutely beautiful and I loved it. I will definitely be going back again
You’ve discovered a gem to retire here in Malaysia for affordable living with English language widely used. It might surprised you professional healthcare is more expensive in Thailand and Singapore than Malaysia 😊
We have heard about how great the healthcare in Malaysia is and very affordable. A very well-developed country!! Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie just one last tip. You could always get away to Thailand by train, bus, flight and even ferry whenever you feel like holidaying
i am a cancer survivor so i have several costly yearly tests done, where can i go to find costs for insurance or just out of pocket costs for medical procedures in Malaysia.
@@chrisschmitt1931 there are several options of private hospitals e.g. SJMC, Pantai Hospital, etc with cost of treatment in Malaysia Ringgit as opposed to $USD in most Western countries. There are a few more local hospitals around Kuala Lumpur that treats cancer patients that you may be keen to check it out. Hope this tiny info helps.
We have a lot of medical tourism in Malaysia...among the top private medical centres are KPJ group of Hospitals, Sunway group, Pantai Hospitals, SJMC, Gleneagles etc. Private lab - BP Healthcare, Pantai etc Google them
Greetings from Bucharest 🤗 Don’t underestimate the importance of great comfortable shoes! I left the states with what I thought was a nice pair of Brooks running shoes, which are expensive, but it turned out that they wore out from all the walking we’ve been doing in the past two months, so I needed a new pair of comfortable shoes. In all honesty, I’ve had them for a long time and I thought they still had a long way before they wore out, but I was wrong 😂Anyway, I somehow managed to find a pair of Reebook shoes for only $43, yes, that’s correct, in Belgrade…I think I just got lucky, because all the other shoes everywhere else cost well above $100 if not close to $200. I was prepared to pay that much too because I know good shoes cost a lot. I guess I will find out how long my new shoes will hold up during our full time travel with time. 😉 Looking forward to visiting Malaysia and exploring Kuala Lumpur in the future. Looks exciting and affordable.
Hello in Bucharest ♥ We absolutely agree - a great pair of walking shoes is key! We walk on average 6- 8 miles a day and in cruddy shoes that just would not happen. We now have found, shoes are something we do have to replace more often than we may have first anticipated. But, when you only travel with one or two pairs of shoes, quality is key. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
We don't mind spending money on good footwear and doing as much walking as we do. We are also limited on what we carry if you only have one pair of walking shoes you need to make sure they are good ones!! We loved our time in Romania!! Such a beautiful country!! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie precisely 💯 thank you and safe travels to you as well 🤗
I bought Merrel universal, hiking shoes in Toronto Winners store 10 years ago for $75CAD or $56 USD. Still use them, no sign of wear.
*Welcome to New York Asia, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Truly Asia, Good food -Enjoyed*
🇲🇾💗❤️🩹🧡💖😍😍💝♥️💖❤️🩹💗🇲🇾
Hi guys. That’s an excellent vlog as usual. We are about to head to Malaysia so it’s super helpful. Thanks
Thank you so much! We're are always so happy to hear you found it helpful. Safe travels and enjoy Malaysia 😊
I have been watching lots of videos about Malaysia as I’m planning to visit and later on retire. Brian and Carrie had explained it very thoroughly very detailed way just what I was looking for.
I had subscribed your channel and gave a thumbs up. Thanks again for your good work ❤👍
Thank you so much, we appreciate the kind words. Thank you for subscribing and following along. Cheers!!
Penang Malaysia or Algarve Portugal which is better for a retiree couple with about $3K per month income. What is your honest opinion. Nice and quiet stress free. Please let me know. Greatly appreciated.
We didn't really care for Penang and love the Algarve. Your money will go further in Malaysia, but we would still pick Portugal.
You guys are getting younger and healthier looking!
Awww, well that's the best thing we've ve heard in awhile. Thank you ☺️
Looks like you both really happy in Malaysia
Hi Brian and Carrie! I love watching your videos. Keep up the good work. It's incredible you gave up beer! That's easier said than done. I love the feeling a good new pair of shoes give you. Have a great week. I look forward to your next destination.
Thank you, Kathy! Giving up beer wasn't easy but it was short-lived.😆 We will be heading back to Europe in July so we will be plenty of affordable beer options to be had.
Cheers!!🍻
Another super interesting video, very informative. Malaysia seems very modern and clean, and the food once again looks deeeeeeelicious... Miammm!!! Thanks for the info.
Hi! Thank you so much. Yes, Kuala Lumpur is so modern and clean, we loved it there. Thank you for watching!! Cheers 😊
As always a thorough and detailed account down to the dollar to show actual expenses for a month in Malaysia. I have to admit for the quality of your place in KL I think that is very affordable. This is a major city, and you were well situated. I can agree that a meal cooked in after eating out so often is very welcome. Looked like a really good grocery store. Buying shoes to me is an essential, especially given how much you guys are walking. It is a health expense. Safe travels back home and I look forward to your next post. Cheers!
Carrie and I were talking about footwear and Carrie said the same thing. Buying good shoes is essential for what we do. It is a need not a want. Thank you Robert for all the continued support on this channel!!
Cheers!!🍻
Fantastic video as always- and incredibly informative. Sooo curious why you left Penang- it's such a great city. I spend 4 nights there a couple years ago and loved it. It's apparently exactly what Singapore used to look like before it blew up! And the food is great. Looking forward to hearing that story! Safe travels!
Damn. You wrote the movie Last Supper 😳
Hi, Dan. We had to leave our Airbnb and needed accommodations for the next month. We didn't have many options with such late notice in Penang so left for Kuala Lumpur. Our Airbnb video will be out next week and we will explain what happened! Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@secrets.295 lol. Yes. I did! Have u seen it?
@@bagelsandmash I have and I love it. Awesome movie and u did a great job.
HA!! We just looked it up. So cool, we will be watching it soon!
Thanks for sharing such valuable information, I appreciate that you are realistic about budgeting. Looking forward to discovering your next destination, happy travels!
Hi Dominique! Thank you so much, so happy to hear you found it helpful. Cheers!!
Another great video.
Haven't been to Malaysia,maybe next year. Going to Vietnam jjuly- August for three weeks, then Danang for the month of November.
We loved Vietnam! Our time in Da Nang was so great that we are coming back to Vietnam next spring. This time we will be down in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
@Brian and Carrie if you get up north try the Hai Giang Loop motorcycle tour. Three days. Did last year, doing again in July. We did the one by Cheers Hostel. It was great!! There's videos if you want to check out.
Stay safe and keep up the great work.
We live in Trang, Thailand. If you're ever in the area we can show you some sights.
We made it to Hanoi and did the Ha Long Bay cruise but didn't get to the Hai Giang Loop. The 30-day vise makes it difficult. Hopefully that changes soon. It would be great to connect someday for a beer! Thank you for the support!
KL Robinsons is a nice place to stay. I did this last year. £34/night in January. The restaurants and supermarkets directly below were top notch, too.
Put this on the cost of living playlist... Amaz balls!
Thank you!! 😊
really good video guys!! Enjoying your channell, my wife and I have been all over SE Asia, but not been to Malaysia, after watching your video we are definitely going to KL and Penang!!
Thank you, Klee. We really enjoyed our time there as well as Singapore. We only had 2 days there, but it is amazing! Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!
Hi Guys I been back home from kuala Lumpur ❤i was also there for 28days i been two KL 3times before loved each visit this time was the longest enjoyed every minute of it. The cost of living has gone up i noticed that food eating out but to be fair the cost of living has gone up worldwide. But beautiful video ❤from Australia 🇦🇺
Thank you for watching Robbie. With the world back to traveling it does seem like everything is more expensive than it was. It is still far less expensive than the US!! 🙄
Fantastic video yet again, loved it BUT ….The Seattle Kraken!!! Lol….Edmonton Oilers here! You’re living the dream! Cheers 🍻
You should jump on the Kraken bandwagon now while there's still room El Ricko!! It's filling up fast! 😆
Cheers!!🍻
Keep in mind, if you actually go through a realtor, and are looking to stay long-term, rents for similar places, near Petronas Towers, 1-2 BR in a luxury condo, run from RM2500-3500, or $500-700 USD.
The longer the term, the lower the costs.
Thanks guys I really appreciate these cost of living videos helps me heaps with our planning. Happy travels
Thank you, Carol for watching our channel!! ❤
Thanks!
Thank you, Anthony! We appreciate the support!!
Cheers!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie You re very welcome, We both hope as we venture on our Slow Travel world tour here in August that we get to meet the both of you in person somewhere along the way! it is going to be an exciting next couple decades !
Friends and family often ask us if we are excited about our next adventure. We respond that we are excited all the time. Thank you again for the support!
Well done! Great videography and very informative. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Deb, we really appreciate the kind words. Cheers!!
Hi guys - great video! I have not been commenting lately but have not missed a video. Thanks for sharing all those details. Question: does your health insurance cover you in the USA as well? For how long?
Hi! Thank you so much for continuing to watch and for your support, we really appreciate it ☺. The insurance we have through Cigna Global does have added US coverage which we pay additional for (that is included in the price we mention). You are covered for your time in the USA while visiting, you cannot be living there. Cheers!!
We spent 4 months in Malaysia during our trip to South-East Asia, and spent an average of 500 Euro per month on food. We cooked only once, but immediatly decided that value for money is better when eating out or ordering in.
Great coverage of KL. Been there half a dozen times as transit passenger enroute to Penang. Malaysia in general is a great country to live in clean, modern, safe and very affordable. Amazing how a smaller country has the infra structure so nice and modern. If the weather there were a bit nicer it would be a Paradise. Unfortunately you don't get everything in one place. Hats off to you guys on how despite all the fun things you get do and enjoy, you keep the cost very manageable. Cameron highlands and Genting are two nicer cooler places where you can beat the heat but wont have all the nicer fun life style of KL. would be worth a visit though. Now the question is where next? Having been in Thailand and Vietnam I thought you would have covered Angkor wat. Cheers and Safe travels!!!
We were a bit surprised with how clean and modern KL was, very nice city. We have a video coming out next week on our Airbnb experiences then, Singapore before arriving back in the US. We will do something here before we head back to central Europe and Italy for the 3 months. Thanks for watching CM!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie - Since you are in Singapore you should perhaps swing by New Delhi India, Visit the Taj Mahal (a day trip... less than $150 per person including ride, tour guide, admission fee, Lunch, pick up from Hotel and drop), may be 2 days in Delhi followed by a 5-6 day tour package from Delhi to Srinagar Kashmir and back to Delhi (including flights can do it for $500-600 per person on the higher end package). Kashmir is the switzerland of Asia and a must see.
We may be doing that next year when we are back in the region. We will start 2024 in the Philippines and Indonesia but after that we really aren't sure yet.
@@-EHC - Thanks for asking. I personally like the Gurney Plaza area since it is a happening place and GTown is not too far from it. There are buses that run from that area to GT frequently. Also near Gurney Plaza is a Hawker stall with a variety of food choices very economical i have heard (me being a vegetarian havent eaten there as no choices for me). Also there are 2 malls Gurney and paragon that will be lively. There are buses that go from there to Batu Ferringhi the beach side and there are night markets on the streets where you can buy cheap fake clothing purses etc. Gurney area is really lively and alive till late hours with some events happening on week ends. GT you can always go during day time and late evenings will be dead in my opinion. Of course Gurney area may be a little pricey, Every time i went it was business trip and was lucky to stay at the G Hotel one of the top ones and if you want you can stay there and they have a an excellent free buffet with certain room choices. Straits quay is a place you should visit may be a mile and half from G plaza on the way to Batu Ferringhi. More...
@@-EHC - As far as sight seeing places, I liked Gurney area. Things you must see Penang Hills (take the cog rail), Kek Lok si temple), An Indian temple (Murugan temple) on top of a hill have to climb about 400 steps- (awesome view from the top), Botanical gardens, Batu Ferringhi are alll easy access from Gurney. Grab ride share is not expensive. The ride to batu Ferringhi ehare the beaches are is very scenic, winding and buses go right from Gurney and the beaches are there and a hard Rock cafe too.. You can do a trip to GT during the day see Little India and the old British style buildings and architecture. be sure to take a ferry ride from GT to Butterworth the mainland Penang will be a nice experience and a half a day event. If you want a taste of Thailand take a van pool service from GT (they pick up at your hotel too) and cross the border to the first town and they will take you up to Hat yai pick, pick you back same or next day. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
We are about to do our 6th trip to KL and for us being Australians soo cheap!! We love KL so much and it is a wonderful place to chill and enjoy a relaxing holiday. The food, drinks and shopping are amazing and very affordable. I found as a female it is very safe to go shopping anywhere on my own day or night.
You guys might know this already. You can message any Airbnb host prior to booking asking them to consider a monthly lower offer. This might open up cities you felt too expensive (Paris, Rome, Naples…) you guys are great. 🎉
Thank you, Shea. We usually stay in each location for 28 days to get the monthly discount. We have asked for a discount beyond the monthly rate many times with no luck. We are starting to think Airbnb prices are going up. We have a video out next week all about our Airbnb experiences. Thank you for the tip and for supporting us!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie AirBNB has gotten way to expensive for us over the last few years, not an option anymore in our opinion
We agree 100%. We will be looking into other options as well.
Dining out is cheap in Malaysia really, if you're adventuous enough to eat like locals, where locals eat on daily basis.
Tomato ketchup there is Heinz, it's imported. Local brands are much much cheaper. For ketchup and chili sauce, go for Life brand, you could get one for around 1 USD.
We're net importer of dairy products... dairy cows don't produce milk very well in hot weather like ours.
Hi! Thank you so much for the info and recommendations. I'm sure had we been there longer, finding all those local spots, we would have been able to eat out and shop for much less. Thank you so much for watching! 😊
Rental for a 2 to 3 rooms fully furnished condo outside the City center (15 km with shops and supermarket nearby) but close to mass rail train (MRT) or LRT is about USD500 to 600 per month. Food is reasonable cheap unless you dine out in fancy restaurants. You save money by cooking yourself (buy food item from local markets or NSK supermarket) or eat in local food outlets frequent by locals. Alcohol is expensive especially in bars and restaurant. So drink at home. Lastly you would save up to 30% of your living expenses if you choose to stay in towns (equally beautiful and full of activities) outside KL like Penang, Ipoh, JB or even Melaka.
Thanks for sharing very good videos
Thought the AirBnb was pretty pricey for that part of the world but amazing view though! KL I hear is a hotspot for digital nomads, perhaps that is driving up the prices there.
The locals do vacation a lot during school holidays hence the prices do climb higher during those seasons. It's best to also check the school holidays schedule in Malaysia in case you're traveling there, flight and accommodation prices will usually increase during those periods.
We believe that Airbnb pricing is going up around the world!!
Another great video, thank you! Question… you never mention bugs. I live in Minnesota and when it’s hot/humid we have a ton of bugs. Do you find bugs to be an issue in Southeast Asia?
Not sure about other cities but in KL it's the usual mosquitoes and cockroaches but it's not that common unless the place is really dirty. On high rise buildings though there's no/rare to find mosquitoes, it does come with the season. You can buy bugs repellent from 7/11 if you're sensitive to their bites.
Wow. Another place that I really never considered going that I've now added to my list along with Montenegro. Thank you! I'm really looking forward to next week's Airbnb video. I'm very curious to know if you've run into any bug issues. Roaches? Spiders?
We have had a few experiences but only one that was an absolute NO! Roaches or spiders? We weren't there long enough to find out. 😆 Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
What a nice condo....super nice
Right at $2400 seems very reasonable for a month! Just got the notification for your air bnb video so headed there now!
Thank you so much!!
Love your videos they are so. Informative. Sorry Brian Krakken couldn't pull it off. Go Knights Go!
HA!! That's ok, next year!! Thank you for watching our channel!!
Cheers!!🍻
I like the shoes well enough, but am a little disappointed you didn’t pull out those negotiating skills you displayed when you scored that shirt!
I should have at least tried!! 😂 Thanks for watching Thomas!
Thank you so much for this wonderful video.
Thank you for watching, George!
I went to KISL back in the days 1980s. Dad was an oil executive. Miss all my international friends back in KL, JKT, SING, BKK....Go IASAS! Expat kids...
Grab the grab! Really like the color of the "Air Brian" shoes. Love starting my weekend traveling vicariously. Another great, informative video.
Thank you, Doug! I like how "Air Brian" sounds, now if we could get a similar sponsorship! 😆 Thank you again for all your support!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I can see it, Brian running from street food vendor to street food vendor in is Air Brians. 😀
😂
Hi Guys! The month flew by so fast again! We are planning our Asia trip for January-April 2024. Were there any previous episodes of yours that talked about visas and vaccines for these Asian countries you have traveled to?
The months sure do fly by! We actually did a video not long ago about traveling to Thailand and Vietnam and all you need to do before you go. It would also be similar for the other areas as far as vaccines. Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/29-w_C_sZ9Q/видео.html
Thanks so much for watching! Cheers 🍻
Great again! Fantastic information. Greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
Thank you, Joe!!
Hello. Eating out still is so much less expensive in Asia. We live on the coast of Oregon in a small community. Yesterday we walked a block away to the only restaurant here. For a salad, a fish taco, 1 beer, and a soda it was $30 w/o tip. Needless to say we don't eat there often. But, everywhere around here in bigger towns (Newport, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Florence) are the same. And, these are just average restaurants. Where are you going next? Kathleen
Hi, George. We love the Oregon coast!! We are home for a couple of weeks and just north of you in Bellingham WA. We never eat out anymore, It is just too expensive. Thank you for watching and enjoy this beautiful weather we are having!!
Cheers!!🍻
Suddenly reading your post I miss Newport, OR. I am one of the rare Malaysian Ducks in KL.
Hi, try Langkawi if you get chance. There’s no tax on alcohol there. It’s a beautiful island with plenty of amazing walks and waterfalls. You can catch a ferry to Koh lipe Thailand for a visa run and that little island is even better!
Great vid! Definitely more expensive than I thought so good to get an objective review of that
Thank you so much! We were a bit surprised by the pricing, especially coming from Thailand where everything was so inexpensive. Cheers 🍻
Jalan Alor is one of the most expensive street food area.
Appreciate the insights and detail. Great work
Thanks for watching!
It's so obvious Bryan cut back with beer, that Boy is looking tight, I'd knock the dust off dat shelf!
HAHA!!! Down almost 20 lbs. my man!! 😂😂
@@BrianandCarrie Holy crap! Good on you for losing that much weight! Other than walking I am not seeing a work out routine. Eating out makes that very difficult at times. High five! Well done.
I had put on a few pounds in the Balkens last fall and then too much eggnog over the holidays. 😆
Go Kraken! What a run! I'm so happy to hear that you have been following them.
It was so exciting!! Love the Kraken!!
I've always heard the shoes were faster is Malaysia. Thanks for confirming.
Crazy how that happens!! 😂
Great video guys, thank you. Awesome shoes Brian!
I love when you give the prices in the grocery stores. It’s so good to complain to our prices back here in Australia. Love the view from your apartment, looks amazing! Where are you off to next? You didn’t say 😊
Hi, Annette. I love my new shoes!! Our next video will be about our Airbnb experiences, how we try to avoid getting poor accommodations, and what we do when it happened recently in Penang. We will be heading to Singapore after that, home for a couple of weeks then back to Europe! Thank you so much for following us, we very much appreciate the support!
Cheers!!🍻
Great video! How do you both stay in such great shape?
Thank you, Julie. We walk as much as we can, we try to get 6 to 8 miles a day.
Yah, just amazing what you get for the price. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for watching our channel!!
Cheers!!🍻
Hi guys….wow love your video….think we just missed you as we checked in at The Robertson on 5th June….also on 43rd floor south tower…would have been great to catch up.
We started our travels back in February and are also here for a month before heading of to Bali then Koh Samui.
Yes, just missed each other!! Such amazing views of the city that high up. Sounds like you have some great upcoming destinations - Bali is on our list for next year, can't wait. Safe travels! Cheers 🍻
Great video once again guys! Love the cost breakdown - it’s so useful. Enjoy your travels! Where next?
Thank you so much, Russ! After Kuala Lumpur, we headed to Singapore. Watch for those videos in a few weeks. Cheers 🍻
Just so you know Malaysia imposes a heavy tax on alcohol...be that beer, wine or liquor. It's the most expensive place for drinking in SE Asia besides Singapore. Did you discover the non-Halal (pork) section of the supermarket? I've always found that a hoot. Will be going there in July thru October. My wife is originally from there and I also worked there many years ago. The condos there are really nice but always try to haggle the price. Malaysians are known for being very friendly and they love to eat out and shop! lol
Yes, the "sin" tax is why the alcohol is so expensive. We did try to haggle pricing in a few places before booking with no success, unfortunately.
It's a stunning view, but I am too scared to live that high up. A good "nap sofa" is worth it's weight in gold 100%. When you guys make it to Mexico, they are few and far between so just a heads up. Lucky to even find a sofa with arms lol
Hi! Yes, the 43rd floor was a ways up, that's for sure. We tried not to think about it much as then it could make me nervous (that's a lot of stairs to go down in the case of an emergency). It's so appreciated when we can find a real sofa, and have it actually be big enough to lay on - a rarity for sure! Thanks for the heads up for Mexico, better to just prepare yourself ahead....no naps for Brian 😂 Cheers!
Thanks so much, we enjoy your episodes each week! Mo & Don Sarasota FL
Thank you, we very much appreciate your support!! ❤
Cheers!!🍻
Love your video..Happy enjoying stay safe in Malaysia
Thank you so much 😊
Hey Brian time is money. If you are faster now with the new shoes then you are basically saving money! Sound investment, I reckon.
That is a valid point, Dominic! Those shoes are basically free!!! 😆
survey suggestion for long time stay , basic cost of living is ( a couple ) is between 1,800 to 2,500 USD per month
That sounds about right.
It sounds as if you visited Jalan Alor during the day, because I have been there many times during my 15 holidays (so far) in Malaysia, and at night it is almost, if not totally, closed to traffic, because the restaurants spill out onto the street on both sides, and it is so busy with pedestrians, either going there to eat or just to enjoy the atmosphere.
I was just curious since you were in Penang island why skip Langkawi island? Btw there's nice foodcourt at the Lot 10 shopping mall which opposite of Pavilion mall serve varieties of food too. Also if you wanna get cheaper groceries take the subway to Aeon mall, Taman Maluri which you will find lots of local products too. And maybe next time can visit Borneo Sarawak or Sabah. Thank you for the videos, I am just another Malaysian who reside at the Baltic state EU for almost 4yrs now. Havent been back to my home country since. Really appreciate your vlogs. Take care & enjoy 🎉😊
Thank you so much for all the great suggestions - that is so helpful for when we return or other people visit. Cheers 😊
Nice video guys. We're in the middle of a heatwave that will likely last until August. Even for locals its unbearably hot during the day at the moment.
UHG!! We have arrived back in the US, and where we are now it is 75 with a cool breeze. Despite the heat and humidity, we had a great time in Kuala Lumpur! Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
Wow you are getting around, lovely to see x
Thank you for watching, Hannah! ❤
There are many affordable western food in KL and Petaling Jaya...or greater Klang Valley..if uou know where to locate them. Might be useful to get info from the locals . Try Meat Point in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in KL .
Great suggestion..thank you so much for watching 😊
Thanks for sharing. Very nice condo. I was wondering if you had trouble finding your shoe size there? When I go to Manila I think I need to visit KL also. Looks clean and a nice city.
I did have some trouble finding the size of the shoe that I wanted. I wear size 11 and I was finding a lot of 10.5. KL is a very nice city with plenty to see. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Medicare and Medicaid do not provide coverage if you are outside America unless you are in a U.S. territory or are a military veteran. All travelers should consider getting 3rd party medical and/or travel insurance coverage for international travel. Also, some credit cards provide limited coverage depending on the destination and length of trip so that's worth checking out as well.
Correct, those will only cover you in the states so it's very important to carry some coverage while you travel. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
Hey Brian and Carrie - dude 140 bucks for Salmon sneakers and that too in southeast asia. Don't they have cheap chinese knockoffs for a fraction of that over there :). Hey Brian, since you only use one pair of sneakers a year. You may want to consider buying a pair of Sorbothane Insoles. It will make your shoes more comfy and make em last longer. By the way, just food for thought, this trainer I used to see told me that you should not walk on the same pair of shoes each day. Apparently the sole needs 24 hours to spring back to original state. I know I was surprised too.
Thank you for the tips, Sunman! We very much appreciate the "Buy Me a Beer as well"! 😀
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Anytime, be well.
Guys, great video and overview of KL. Not sure if missed your condo name, but I dont think saw it. Can you share or you are not supposed to share that info? Thanks and keep it up with the great simple reviewes.
Here is the link: Where we stayed: www.airbnb.com/rooms/40387470?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=fa666623-b057-4125-a919-658cdaf0539c
We always add the link to where we stayed in the video description for future reference unless we don't recommend it. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
KL looks like a great place and is affordable. Great for vacation however I heard the retirement rules have changed. The new MM2H program requires about $215K in a Malaysian bank AND a monthly income of $8K. That priced a lot of people out of retiring in KL or anywhere else in Malaysia. Apparently they only had 357 people on the new program compared to the old program that 6,000 people took advantage of. I guess KL will only be a vacation spot for now. thanks for the video.
That's good to know! Thank you for adding this to the channel.
Cheers!!🍻
Glad you enjoyed yourselves. And now onward!
Yes, loved our time in Kuala Lumpur! Yes, onward to Singapore next ☺
Another great and helpful video! 🎉 thx 🙏
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching - Cheers 🍻
i paid 1700 for condo in the same building in January. you have made a much better deal.
There were so many rentals in that condo....we loved the place we stayed and now feel even better about what we paid 😊. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers
Love you brian and carrie,enjoy your holiday
Thank you so much ❤️
Hi guys, we've been following you for while...thank you for great videos and info's. quick question, we're going to KL in next month. where did you got your vaccines?? just fyi-stayng same apartment as you recc.
We got our vaccinations while in Croatia before heading back to the US for the holidays in 2022. It was much less expensive, and the timing worked out perfectly. We hope that you enjoy the apartment as much as we did. Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Go to Langkawi alcohol and cigarettes are duty free and for cool weather go to Cameron highland/Genting.
As always, a great informational video.
Thank you!!!
With the exception of the heat, this city does look 👀 very inviting on many fronts 👍🏾
KL is an interesting city. It's a melting pot of just about every country in the region.
Love you Brian and Carrie❤
Thank you so much!!! ❤
Another great one guys! Thank you!
Thank you so much ❤️
I glad you got such a great deal on that fabulous shirt 🤣 Great videos! New subscriber here
Thank you!!😂 And thank you for watching and joining our channel! ❤
Ooo thanks for mentioning safety for single travellers 👍
You are very welcome - we thought that was such a great feature to have and added a great element of safety in the park. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video as usual Brian and Carrie. Sorry if I missed it, but did you mention the name of the AirBnb Condo you stayed at while in KL? Would love to stay there in the future. Also, my wife and I would like to take a 3 week trip to SE Asia. If only there for 3 weeks, what would be your "must visits"? I'm thinking maybe a week stay in three different areas. Unfortunately, we're still working so we can't afford more time there for now.
Hi Brad! Thank you so much. We put the link in the video description for the Airbnb we stayed in. If not that specific Airbnb, I would also just recommend finding one in that building as there were many and it was a great central location. Out of all our travels in SE Asia, we loved our time in Chiang Mai,, Thailand, Da Nang, Vietnam, and Koh Samui. We are returning next year to visit more of Vietnam and will for sure stop back into Thailand if only for the food ☺
The reason chicken, eggs are cheaper than in the US, is because the Malaysian government subsidizes and restricts market fluctuations for its residents. One other thing the government subsidizes is gas. It's 43c a litre or $1.63 a gallon for regular unleaded. It has been that price for over 3 years. It was as low as $0.26/litre ( $0.98/gal) in 2020. This is why Electric cars don't sell much here when gas is rather affordable.
City center is expensive. PJ, Subang or Shah Alam much cheaper. Take LRT
Although you prob won't come back due to the cons (more expensive food/beer/housing), you may want to check out Kota Kinabalu. It is my favorite in Malaysia as it is not quite as "city". Things are cheaper there, the vibe is different. The fireflies, not like the American lightening bugs, are just GORGEOUS. And if you like hiking, this area of Borneo, is fabulous (from what my friends have said). I lived in Seoul for over five years and travelled all over. My favorites were Ubud, Ho Chi Minh City, & Chiang Mai. Been to each more than 5 times. If you go to Seoul, it is more expensive but there are some ways to save big money. Have fun!
We will be back in the region in early 2024 and plan on going to the Philippians, Indonesia, Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia, Seoul, and Tokyo. We spent a month in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Da Nang and loved them all. We really had a great time in SE Asia for the last 5+ months. Thank you for watching and adding all the suggestions!!
Cheers!!🍻
How does the cost in kota Kinabalu compare to KL?
We have not been to Kota Kinabalu.
@@jm-wz8ju Maybe 80% of KL