It’s exciting to get that new opportunity – one that means you will need to relocate to the nation’s capital: Kuala Lumpur. Before you start dreaming of big city lights and enjoying the nightlife, best be prepared for the change you need to deal with.
Short stays and visits don’t really give you enough of an idea what it means to work and live in the Klang Valley if you’ve lived elsewhere most of your life. Here’s the lowdown of useful things you should know to make the transition easier.
1. Kuala Lumpur is expensive
Best get used to this one. Though you might think you know how much it costs to survive in KL, consider revising your estimates by 20 per cent. While KL is the most developed as far as infrastructure is concerned, all that comes with a price. Say goodbye to eating out for less than RM10 and if you drive, the combined amount of toll, petrol and parking could make you weep.
Residents of KL put up with the high cost of living in exchange for better amenities and prospects but it can take some time for people from small towns to get used to the much higher prices.
The only other city that would come close in experience where expense is concerned is Johor Bahru, but even JB is still a tiny bit cheaper than KL. Have some emergency savings handy for unexpected expenses or at least know who you can contact if for some reason you’re in a bind.
2. It’s both easy and hard to get around
Kuala Lumpur has a host of public transportation options: rail, buses and taxis are all options. What no one tells you is that one of the rail lines is slow and unreliable, that the buses often don’t come on time and that taxi drivers often ‘forget’ to use the meter.
Having your own car doesn’t make it easier either. KL jams make travelling a test of your patience and the contents of your wallet. There’s a lot of construction going on, which means traffic obstruction and rerouting happen frequently so you’ll have to learn backup routes in case your regular one doesn’t work. Still, at least in this smartphone age you have apps such as Google Maps and Waze to help you figure how to get around.
RapidKL’s website and Facebook page are good sources to get information on train and bus routes, though the latter can be tricky schedule-wise. As for taxis, make sure the driver will use the meter and if the driver doesn’t, just take down the taxi’s license plate and report the errant taxi to SPAD.
The good news is that more rail stations are being built but the question is: will your workplace and home be accessible to either? You’ll have to consider that when figuring out where to stay.
3. Finding a room to rent can be challenging
Most rentals will ask for two months of deposit at least and finding affordable digs can be a headache, especially when trying to find one that makes work accessible. Living further out of KL might get you cheaper rent but the travel time and travel costs might not make it worth it. Consider living closer at slightly higher rent, it may work out to be a more practical solution.
Get the lay of the land carefully before deciding and consider what options your place of residence will offer you. Ask yourself a few pertinent questions and don’t feel rushed to settle too quickly.
- Is it near major roads or highways?
- Are public transportation options easily accessible in case you cannot drive for whatever reason?
- What is the travel time to the places that matter such as workplaces, schools, clinics and hospitals, convenience stores, police stations as well as other public amenities?
KL is a great city to launch your career and ambitions and choosing to live there or in the surrounding Klang Valley can prove rewarding. Just be prepared to do your homework prior and if your big move involves moving a lot of your stuff over, be sure you hire competent professionals to help make the move smoother and lot less scary. That way you’ll be sure to be starting your new adventure right.
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