The Global Retirement Index has recently been published by International Living, one of the most respected resources for information on where to retire, invest, live and travel. The top 10 best places to retire is based on a selection of relevant criteria collated by experts on living and investing abroad.
Countries are judged on:
- Visas and residence: the ease of getting a visa to visit, stay and eventually obtain PR status
- Buying and investing: how easy it is for foreigners to buy and own a property and the returns on investment
- Property rentals: how easy it is to rent, the cost and the choice of property rentals from houses to condos
- Cost of living: comparing the cost of daily expenditure from utilities and rent to groceries and eating out
- Benefits and discounts: what retirees are entitled to in terms of travel concessions, healthcare benefits, duty-free imports and loans
- Development and infrastructure: the efficiency and safety of the public transport system, internet penetration, an accessible airport, overall cleanliness and reliable utilities
Photo: iStock
- Healthy lifestyle and healthcare: feeling / getting fit and healthy are major concerns for retirees and having a good healthcare system is imperative
- Fitting in and entertainment: whether there’s a good community of like-minded people to socialise with and what the cultural and entertainment landscape is like, e.g. theatre, cinemas, festivals and museums
- Climate: most of the countries on the list boast of warm weather almost all year round so it’s safe to say that sunny days are a top criteria
-
Governance: national security and political stability are important points to think about when moving abroad and the more peaceful a country is, the better
While most of the countries on the list are in Latin and South America, Malaysia did well to come in 5th, with Portugal and Spain garnering 7th and 9th place respectively.
The article states that when it comes to value for money, a couple can live comfortably in Malaysia on USD1,500 and extravagantly on USD2,500 including renting a nice property.
Food, island holidays, access to sports and leisure activities (golf, tennis) and excellent healthcare were the main reasons given by retirees who have already made Malaysia their home.
For more information on retiring in Malaysia, head to Malaysia My Second Home.
