Nobody wants their standard of living to drop dramatically when they retire, which is inevitable when rising costs and lower interest rates are a reality of our times. Many American citizens realize that retiring in the United States with limited funds and resources compromises their vision for retirement – as a result, they contemplate relocating to countries in Asia, which are more affordable and provide a comfortable, even luxurious, lifestyle.

The Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Cambodia are some countries where one can find a safe retirement haven, friendly people, lower cost of living, and a lifestyle comparable to that in the developed economies. With low air fares,  it is also possible to travel to these countries affordable.  Malaysia, on account of its strategic geographical location, good weather and high standard of living is considered as a smart choice for people to retire in.  It has a legitimate retirement visa scheme called “Malaysia My Second Home”, which makes the process of immigration very simple.

About Malaysia

Malaysia is a tropical paradise. Situated in the heart of Asia, Malaysia has pleasant, warm and balmy weather, with moderate rain throughout the year. There are highland residential areas and resorts with permanent spring-like weather throughout the country. Its geographical locale is such that there are no earthquakes. Malaysia is one of the most politically stable countries in Asia. The rule of law is prevalent and the British Common Law system of justice, with an independent, reliable and dependable judiciary, is in practice. Low crime rates makes it the one of the safest countries to reside in. English is widely spoken by a majority of the people. There are some great places to visit, like the Petronas Twin Towers, Niah Caves, Mount Kinabalu and Genting Highland.

Malaysia has plenty of natural attractions for adventure seekers – forests and oceans – with an enormous variety of flora, fauna and marine life.

Infrastructure and Facilities:

Malaysia has one of the most well developed infrastructures among the countries of Asia. Some of these are summarized below:

Cost of living

Standard And Cost Of Living: Malaysia has one of the highest standards of living in the region with modern infrastructure and facilities. The Cost of living is one of the lowest in Asia and is expected to remain so for a very long time. This is achieved through the local government’s efficient monitoring of the economy to keep inflation low at all times. Support services in the form of full-time housekeepers, gardeners, and cooks are affordable. A night in a decent hotel would cost you anywhere between $20 to about $100 U.S. A meal in a fancy Malaysian restaurant would cost about $20 to $30 U.S, while a decent meal in a cheap local restaurant would only cost you about $2 U.S. A small bottle or a pint of beer can be purchased for about $2 U.S. Bottled mineral water is available in most shops and supermarkets and would cost about 20 to 30 cents. When it comes to transportation, a short taxi ride could cost you only about $4 to $6.

World-Class Telecommunication Infrastructure: Malaysia’s telecommunications network is impressive and is currently being further upgraded. Digital and fiber optics technology is being used to provide high quality telecommunication services at highly competitive prices. Fixed line telephone service is available even in some of the most remote parts of the country. Cell phone access is available nationwide, and one of the major operators in Malaysia, Telekom Malaysia, offers cheap call rates for nationwide calls. Inexpensive Internet access is available almost everywhere in Malaysia, while faster broadband access is available in major cities.

Transportation

Expressways And Transportation: The whole country is well connected with modern road, rail, air and sea transportation systems. Buses, taxis, and trains are comparatively efficient and inexpensive. Malaysia’s modern urban transportation systems make traveling fast and convenient. Malaysia’s world-class expressway system comprises of several types of roads – Federal Roads, State Roads and Municipal Roads, all well maintained by the government.

Mediacal facilities

Health Facilities: Malaysia has state-of-the-art health care facilities at various public and private hospitals that offer exemplary medical support services. The National Heart Institute in Malaysia is capable of handling all types of heart surgery, from normal routine angiograms to the most complex bypass surgery.

Food

Food: Food from different parts of the world is available in Malaysia at a reasonable cost. For example, a hamburger in Malaysia would cost much less than in the United States. Local Malaysian cuisine is even cheaper. With so many races and cultures living together in harmony, a blend of culinary traditions has developed resulting in Malaysia being referred to as ‘Food Paradise’. The tropical fruits of Malaysia are unique, exotic and available in abundance practically throughout the year.

What to do in Malaysia

Recreation, Entertainment & Shopping: The country has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment for the family – theme parks, jungle trails/sports, water sports and one of the highest golf-course-to-population ratio.

Most items that tourists normally like to buy such as perfumes, cosmetics, watches, fountain pens, electronic goods and branded goods can be bought tax free. Quality goods from all over the world are imported and are sold at moderate prices in Malaysia.

You could also dive into the beautiful tropical reefs around Malaysia.

Affordable Housing

Housing: There is a wide choice of housing options in Malaysia – quality residences – terrace houses, semi-detached bungalows, apartments and condominiums. There are also residences available in tourism zones – on beaches, near jungles and theme parks, recreational places and city centers. The monthly rentals for accommodations can range from as low as RM1,500 – 3,800 (US$395-$1,000) for a furnished 3-bedroom condominium in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur to RM16,000 – 20,000 (US$4,737-5,263) for a luxury bungalow in the posh neighborhood of Kenny Hills nearer to the city.

Education

Education: The country has a well-developed educational system – both public and private. International schools exist in all major towns and have English as the medium of instruction. There are also private colleges and universities offering joint programs with other well-known universities and major colleges from throughout the world. Quality education up to the highest level is available. Malaysia is already becoming an educational center of excellence for the region, with most courses being offered measuring up to international standards.

Finance and banking

Financial Facilities: A well-developed financial and banking sector with sophisticated financial facilities is available through domestic and foreign commercial banks and their nationwide network of branches. There are also representative offices of several foreign banks that have established a presence in the country.

Malaysia is a second home for people who want to retire abroad because it to offers good civic infrastructure, a reasonable cost of living and a safer environment. Expatriates enjoy a safe and comfortable living environment with 21st century amenities, good healthcare and medical facilities, excellent educational institutions, and world-class recreational and sports facilities – at costs much lower than in their own country.

Learn more about visiting and possibly living and retiring in Malaysia – one of the best places to retire in the Asia:

Malaysia currency exchange (April 2012):

1.00 USD = 3.06511 MYR
US Dollar    Malaysian Ringgit

1.00 EUR = 4.04221 MYR
Euro          Malaysian Ringgit

http://www.tourism.gov.my/

http://wikitravel.org/en/Malaysia

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2777.htm

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html

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Malaysia will offer you the best of a tropical climate, with beautiful scenery around you and a friendly local population. After the gloomy weather conditions you’ve been accustomed to back home, here is your chance to bask in the sunshine without a care in the world.

This is one place where you can really live, as you want to and decide whether you’d rather live in a city, a mountain resort or a seaside. It’s a place where you can afford to retire early and live comfortably, yet spend less. Doesn’t that sound a little too perfect? Even so, it’s true, you know.

Malaysia offers a program to all foreign residents who would like to settle down in the country over the long term or even retire there. There are several advantages to this program. One of these is a 10-year Visit Pass and Multiple Entry Visa, which must be renewed every ten years. This is a provision, which will ultimately allow you to come and go as you please for life.

You can also own businesses in Malaysia and invest freely. This by itself is almost like having a second passport. Among other things, if you were to buy a new car or import one, you could do so without paying any tax on it.

In Malaysia, you can enjoy the simple pleasures of an equable climate and a low cost of living. Taking the cost of a burger as an example, it is far cheaper than what you would end up paying for the same thing in the US for example.

Malaysia is also located outside the so-called Ring of Fire, so there is no danger of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Take a look at basic living conditions and amenities available to you – about 66,000 kms of excellent roads, made up of different kinds of highways; fixed line communications even for remote areas; extensive health care facilities, including public and private hospitals that are equipped to perform complex surgical procedures at reasonable prices; wonderful sights such as the Petronas Towers, the Genting Highlands, the Niah Caves and Mount Kinabalu, to name just a few which will take your breath away.

With a good infrastructure, pleasant weather, a cost of living that is one of the lowest in the region coupled with one of the highest standards of living in the area, you have to admit that what you have is nothing short of a winning combination.

Malaysia is also politically stable and safe, a country, which by law treats everyone equally. This is a carryover from the British system of justice, which also offers an independent and stable judicial framework.

Looking at the lighter side of life, with regard to food, entertainment, recreation and shopping, let’s cut a long story short – Malaysia has something for everyone. The country also has well developed educational systems with good international schools where the medium of instruction is English. You’ll also find private colleges and major educational institutions from around the world.

There is a wide range of different kinds of residential accommodation here – apartments, condominiums, bungalows, semi-detached and terraced houses. Some of these apartments are located in picturesque settings – near theme parks, on beaches or near jungles. Foreigners are also entitled to take loans of 60% or more from local banks.

Well, how does it sound so far? Whoever said you can’t have everything didn’t know about this place, did they?

Malaysia currency (approx):

1.00 USD = 3.46446 MYR

United States Dollars   Malaysia Ringgits

For more information:

http://www.tourism.gov.my/

http://www.malaysia.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia

http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/my/

How To Get Dirt Cheap Airfare Tickets!

The post Retirement in Malaysia – Too Good to be True? first appeared on 2026 Best Places To Retire.