Malaysia Named Top Best Place To Retire In The World, You’d Be Surprised
InternationalLiving credited Malaysia's natural wonders as one of the country's unique features that has influenced it's spot to be among the best countries to retire in. Picture here is Pulau Redang located in the state of Terengganu. Credit: TripAdvisor
InternationalLiving.com has just released its Annual Global Retirement Index for 2016 and has listed Malaysia as one of the top destinations for retirement in the world for expats.
The US based publishing group has compiled their most comprehensive index to date by taking in a quantitative approach to its annual list this year through gathering data and information from its ever-growing team of correspondents, editors and contributors all over the world.
Malaysia has great value rental properties thus making it one of the most ideal countries for expats to retire in according to reports gathered by InternationalLiving.com. Picture credit: Business Insider
The results gathered are all based on 10 categories, which range from cost of living to quality of health care and even entertainment and amenities.
Malaysia is ranked fifth out of 10 countries, with a total score of 87.8 behind Panama, Ecuador, Mexico and Costa Rica, while also achieving top points for healthcare, entertainment, buying and renting houses categories, among others.
Malaysia is ranked fifth out of 10 countries, with a total score of 87.8 behind Panama, Ecuador, Mexico and Costa Rica, while also achieving top points for healthcare, entertainment, buying and renting houses categories, among others.
As stated in InternationalLiving.com website: “Malaysia is bursting with things to do, see, and experience. From a rich culture to the tantalizing food, you’ll never be short of something to do, hence the country’s high score in entertainment and amenities.”
When it comes to buying and renting properties, our country is ranked high on its great-value rentals in comparison to other countries mentioned on the list as reported by local correspondent Keith Hockton to InternationalLiving.com
“My wife Lisa and I pay $950 (RM4,100) a month for a 2,100 square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo, with gleaming marble floors in the living areas, high ceilings throughout, and polished parquet floors in the bedrooms,” he says and added, “There’s a shared gym, a landscaped garden, a golf chipping green, and a swimming pool.”The article also notes that visas and residency benefits in Malaysia are among the qualities that have contributed to Malaysia’s rank on the list while noting the attractive option of the MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) visa towards expatriates entering the country.
The visa allows them to bring their spouse and children into Malaysia, as well as open a business here if they can prove a monthly income of at least $2,450 (RM10,000).
We also scored the highest on entertainment and amenities due to our reputation for being a foodie heaven.
Malaysia is considered to be a food heaven for food lovers. Picture here are people crowding hawker stalls late at night in George Town, Penang. Picture credit: davidsbeenhere.com
Apart from that, the rank also mentioned our rich cultural landscape and the natural wonders of our beaches and rainforest as being the main factors for our high score in this category.
“It (Malaysia) has everything that Canada has to offer but at a faction of the price,” says expatriate Jim Herrier who is currently residing in South East Asia with his partner Ellen, to the website.
“The local food is simply outstanding, and we discover new places every week.
“A round of golf back home was $72 (RM315), whereas here it’s $30 (RM130). A tennis pro could cost up to $100 (RM440) an hour back home, whereas here it’s $15 (RM65)…another reason why I’m taking lessons twice a week,” says Ellen.
As for quality and accessibility of healthcare, expat correspondent Keith Hockton has nothing but praises for the state of our healthcare.
“Prices have risen in the last few years, but the cost of seeing specialist is still just $20 (RM88).
“You don’t have to call ahead for appointments to see your general practitioner. There are numerous JCI-accredited hospitals in Malaysia, and most of the doctors have been trained in the U.K. or U.S. I’ve yet to find one who doesn’t speak English,” Mr. Hockton added.
Here is the rest of the list of the top 10 places to retire according to International Living’s Global Retirement Index 2016:
“It (Malaysia) has everything that Canada has to offer but at a faction of the price,” says expatriate Jim Herrier who is currently residing in South East Asia with his partner Ellen, to the website.
“The local food is simply outstanding, and we discover new places every week.
“A round of golf back home was $72 (RM315), whereas here it’s $30 (RM130). A tennis pro could cost up to $100 (RM440) an hour back home, whereas here it’s $15 (RM65)…another reason why I’m taking lessons twice a week,” says Ellen.
As for quality and accessibility of healthcare, expat correspondent Keith Hockton has nothing but praises for the state of our healthcare.
“Prices have risen in the last few years, but the cost of seeing specialist is still just $20 (RM88).
“You don’t have to call ahead for appointments to see your general practitioner. There are numerous JCI-accredited hospitals in Malaysia, and most of the doctors have been trained in the U.K. or U.S. I’ve yet to find one who doesn’t speak English,” Mr. Hockton added.
Here is the rest of the list of the top 10 places to retire according to International Living’s Global Retirement Index 2016:
1. Panama
2. Ecuador
3. Mexico
4. Costa Rica
5. Malaysia
6. Colombia
7. Thailand
8. Nicaragua
9. Spain
10. Portugal
2. Ecuador
3. Mexico
4. Costa Rica
5. Malaysia
6. Colombia
7. Thailand
8. Nicaragua
9. Spain
10. Portugal
- mD
