Malaysia is the best place to retire in Asia right now, and there is no sign of that changing anytime in the near future.
In general, a couple can live comfortably in a luxury ocean-view condo on US$1,700 a month including rent.
The average temperature is 84F (28C) all year round, and you’ll find some of the best beaches in the world here in Malaysia.
There are cool hill stations, mountain retreats from the time of the British Raj, islands to hop or explore by yacht, and health care is second-to-none in Malaysia.
Malaysia is Asia’s Best Retirement Haven
Penang Island, in the northeast and Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital in the south, are medical centers of excellence.
The hospitals are top-notch and the physicians speak English, having been either been trained or completed their postgraduate studies in the U.S. or UK - which makes the cost of health care all the more incredible.
You can see a specialist without any need for an appointment for as little as $11. Just turn up. It’s the same with dentists.
Infrastructure here is First World and you’ll have no problem finding high-speed Internet or cable TV (Packages cost from $30 a month).
If you chose to drive you will find the roads are excellent. And when you move to Malaysia you can import a car and your household goods which are duty-free.
There is a program that allows non-Malaysians to stay in Malaysia on a social visit pass for 10 years. Called Malaysia my Second Home, it’s automatically renewable for an additional 10 years when it expires.
If you are retired, you need a fixed deposit of RM150,000 ($46,707), and you can draw down half that to buy a property, go back to school, or for medical purposes.
On top of that, you must show proof that you receive a pension from the government of RM10,000 ($3,114) per month. As a rule of thumb the older you are the easier and cheaper it is to join the program.
If you chose to buy property Malaysia makes it easier for you as a foreigner than anywhere else in the region.
You can buy the homes freehold and there is no limit on the number of properties you can own either, just a minimum purchase price set by the local government (it’s $163,500 in Penang).
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| View from Penang Hill, Malaysia |
The country’s diverse ethnic mix makes being a stranger here easy. Whether you live in bohemian Penang or Kuala Lumpur, the country’s hip capital, you will meet friendly locals who are happy to stop and chat and welcome you into their home.
People in Malaysia are very accepting, just ask the international mix of expats all on the same journey as you as they are always happy to share their experiences.
Many expats are members of organizations like the American Association of Malaysia and active social life is easy to find.
With good quality dining so cheap (you can have dinner for $3, a gin and tonic is $3) most people find themselves out at least a few times a week.
If you want to keep busy and earn some money, starting your own business is an uncomplicated process in Malaysia.
There are expats in Malaysia that are running cafés, yoga studios, restaurants, and schools and making money through exporting optic fiber cabling.
Malaysians are generally known to have a lot of respect for older people; in fact, it is an intrinsic part of their culture.
A full-time, live-in maid costs just $400 to $500 a month, and single older expats hire maids with nursing abilities, who care for them in the comfort of their own home.
Betty Cotton, who lived in San Francisco for many years does just that and wouldn’t be without her live-in maid.
People in Malaysia are very accepting, just ask the international mix of expats all on the same journey as you as they are always happy to share their experiences.
Many expats are members of organizations like the American Association of Malaysia and active social life is easy to find.
With good quality dining so cheap (you can have dinner for $3, a gin and tonic is $3) most people find themselves out at least a few times a week.
If you want to keep busy and earn some money, starting your own business is an uncomplicated process in Malaysia.
There are expats in Malaysia that are running cafés, yoga studios, restaurants, and schools and making money through exporting optic fiber cabling.
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| Antique and collectors flea market at Amcorp Mall, one of the expat hangouts in Malaysia. Photo www.greendaun.com |
A full-time, live-in maid costs just $400 to $500 a month, and single older expats hire maids with nursing abilities, who care for them in the comfort of their own home.
Betty Cotton, who lived in San Francisco for many years does just that and wouldn’t be without her live-in maid.
“I moved to Malaysia by myself when I was 85 years old. I live in my own home, I have my own things around me, and if I need anything, anything at all, I have great neighbors who are just a phone call away. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”- Source and full article from International Living.
The best places to retire according to International Living Global Retirement Index 2014:
1- Panama
2- Ecuador
3- Malaysia
4- Costa Rica
5- Spain
6- Colombia
7- Mexico
8- Malta
9- Uruguay
10- Thailand
11- Ireland
12- New Zealand
13- Nicaragua
14- Italy
15- Portugal
16- France
17- Philippines
18- Honduras
19- Guatemala
20- Brazil
21- Chile
22- Belize
23- Dominican Republic
24- Cambodia. Conclusion
If you are seriously considering a place to retire, you have the option to check a number of countries, and in the last few years, Malaysia has always been in the top 10 for places to retire.
With so much available for any kind of nationality, Malaysia has been rated as one of Asia’s Best Retirement Haven.