Oh my! RM15 for a coffee? Working remotely sure isn’t cheap!
One interesting change brought on by the pandemic is the rising number of remote workers as plenty of companies now allowing remote work or work-from-home arrangements. There is also an uptrend of freelancers taking on remote work.
As not many workers are able to outfit their homes with a home office setup, Malaysians are frequently asking where can they set up shop at instead?
Co-working spaces are pricey but usually offer convenience of a comfortable set up. This is often out of budget for a fledgling remote worker.
Cafes are nice but one ought to purchase something to use the premises so it is expensive in the long run as even one coffee costs above RM10 and a meal is easily double that. This, on top of the rising cost of living in Malaysia, is too much for many.
So, are there any budget-friendly places you can remotely work from? Places that don’t burn a hole in your bank account every month, please?
Have no fear! This article will list down the top 5 affordable places that you can work from. Some of them even have air conditioning and wifi – without extra charges.
Contents
#1: Food Courts
Yes, food courts! They are becoming more popular among Malaysians for the variety of foods offered, and also the relatively cheap food and drink prices.
Food courts are everywhere in our towns and cities. Quite often you will find at least one conveniently attached to a morning market, with plenty of seating. Or, some are located in busy residential area or high traffic areas. You can even find air-conditioned food courts in shopping malls, particularly the larger ones.
Depending on your food court of choice, you can have the convenience of drinks, food, toilet access, and a nearby surau available throughout the day or night. Prices of drinks are about RM2 per glass, snacks are also about RM2, and a meal can be from RM2 to RM20 depending on what your tummy desires. You would be all set for breakfast, lunch, dinner, with tea breaks.
The downside of food courts vary:
- Some may not have air-conditioning, wifi, or electrical ports to charge your devices.
- You would have to pack up your belongings every time you need to use amenities such as the restroom or surau.
- It may get noisy and crowded if you pick a popular one.
- Some may also have expensive parking so you would want to plan around that.
- Shopping malls may not be open earlier than 10am.
#2: Kopitiam, Mamak, and Warung
Ah, the good ol’ kopitiam, mamak, and warungs. Thinking about them will surely invoke the warm, fuzzy feeling of having hot food and drinks in the morning with your family and friends.
There are many similarities in pros and cons when it comes to these outlets versus going to a food court. The vibe is likely to be more personal since these places are fully owned and are not a communal space.
As with food courts, do maintain good etiquette. Be aware that you may need to share a table if it gets crowded and do order more than just a drink for an entire day; afterall, these businesses need to stay profitable too. Make an effort to be friendly with the workers so they take a more positive view of you patronizing their space.
Consider finding a kopitiam, mamak, or warung that is located deep in a residential area or in a newly developed area as those tend to be less crowded during meal times compared to those in the city where office workers are.
#3: Fast Food Restaurants
Fast food restaurants wouldn’t be on this list if not for their menu rahmah and cheaper set offerings. We all know the pros. There is air-conditioning, wifi and a lot of seats. But they are inherently expensive.
This was not until they introduced food and drinks at affordable prices by the government’s menu rahmah initiative. McDonald’s and KFC have the most outlets in Malaysia. And they offer menu rahmah sets at RM5.
You can both work and feed yourself at affordable prices throughout the day. Admittedly, electrical outlets are more limited, but some are lying around at the corners. Just make sure to sit near them.
#4: Public Libraries
Public libraries are severely underutilised in Malaysia. They have everything that you need – air-conditioning, wifi, comfy chairs and tables, and information. It’s just that not many people are aware of them.
There are two types of libraries that you can go to. The first one is the big state libraries. They are meant for the masses as they have ample parking space (mostly free parking) and are easier to get to. Examples of this are:
- National Library of Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur Library
- Perak State Library
- Penang Digital Library
- Terengganu State Library
- Sarawak State Library
Meanwhile, the second type is the smaller libraries near your area. They are typically meant for children as most of their collections are children’s books and activities are regularly held for them. However, there are still places for adults to sit and read, and that means you can work too.
You can find each state’s library branches through their ‘Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam’ directory. Oh, and mostly free parking also.
Just remember that there are dress codes for public libraries. Find out about them first before being turned back at the entrance.
#5: Community Centres
Community centres are not always easy to find and even if you did find them, they might not be open despite their published opening hours. But with some legwork, you can certainly find them. Some even have internet facilities!
Community centers are often found in public housing projects, where the government has stepped in to provide amenities usually with internet to cater for lower income groups. Some of them may also be merged with a small library. These centers usually have tables, chairs, and air-conditioning. However, they may not be in tip top shape due to neglect.
Another method to finding a community center is looking for the Rukun Tetangga office in older neighborhoods, particularly those from the 80s. They would usually have a small little community center where they set up shop, and there may even be a multi purpose court (i.e. basketball, badminton, futsal) attached too.
In new neighborhoods, particularly if it’s a strata one (i.e. gated usually), is to look for the club house. This would be the community center for their own residents. This tip is good for you if you are a resident and were not previously thinking of this venue, or if you have a relative or buddy who lives in such a neighborhood and is willing to sign you in.
If you know the people managing these community centres well, they might even let you use the other facilities. Just don’t expect them to switch on the air-conditioning for one person. In return, it would be a win-win to offer to help with minor tasks such as housekeeping, arranging chairs, or even offering to bring in some furnishings.
Conclusion
Working remotely doesn’t mean having to work at home, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. These alternatives are hopefully useful to those who are unable to set up their own home office and for those who are often on-the-go. Make use of these spaces to reduce your overall spending!
PSA: Please don’t work or nap inside your car just because you want air-conditioning. Do read up about carbon monoxide poisoning and the dangerous risk you are taking.
Let us know in the comments below which places are you working at now!
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