Malaysia has a lot to offer retirees, from its sandy beaches to its extensive rainforests to its dazzling capital city of Kuala Lumpur. On top of all this, it also boasts relatively inexpensive living costs, so it’s no wonder retirees are heading to Malaysia. If you want to retire in this southeast Asian nation, you’ll need to understand things like the culture, visa laws, taxes, and more. Here’s a summary of what you should know about retiring in Malaysia.

Cost of Living in Malaysia

One of the key factors when planning for retirement is assessing your cost of living during your golden years. You’ll need to account for housing costs, utilities, travel, and expenses associated with your lifestyle. Therefore, before you can decide if it makes sense to move to Malaysia, you’ll need to complete a cost analysis to decide if a life there fits within your budget. According to Numbeo, a website that collects pricing data from citizens, the average cost of living in Malaysia is 47.19% lower than in the United States. It’s important to note, however, that this number doesn’t include rent.

Renting in Malaysia is, on average, 73.73% less expensive than rent in the United States. Of course, your cost of living and rent will depend on your lifestyle as well as the city you choose to live in. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in the capitol of Kuala Lumpur will cost about $517.45 a month in the city center, and a one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs will cost on average $297.71. Whereas a one-bedroom apartment in the smaller community of Ipoh would cost, on average, $254 per month in the city center and $166 per month outside the city.

Many expats chose to live on the island of Penang, off the nation’s west coast. For $2,500 per month retirees can live “extremely well,” according to Internationalliving.com, and get a three-bedroom condo with a balcony overlooking the ocean. If you can do without such a view or don’t need to live right off the beach, $2,000 per month will more than suffice.

Visa Laws

American citizens can visit Malaysia and receive a visa on arrival for up to three months. When you move to Malaysia, you will need to go through the Malaysian Representative Office to arrange a visa. To get your visa, you will need approval from the Department of Immigration before applying.

Once you have gained approval, you will need to submit your passport and two photocopies of the ID page, two copies of the visa application form, two passport photos and a visa fee. You will likely also be asked for a bank statement, an invitation letter and two copies of your plane tickets. Then, the Malaysian Representative Office will evaluate your visa application and either approve or deny it.

Healthcare in Malaysia

Muslim physician talks with patients. More

Malaysia is known in the region for its affordable, high-quality healthcare. The World Health Organization ranks the nation’s healthcare system at 49th out of 191. Malaysia was once colonized by the British, so many of the doctors speak English. Additionally, the medical system adheres to Western medicine standards.

To receive healthcare from a specialist, you simply go to the doctor’s office, register and wait to be seen. Unlike in the U.S., patients do not have to schedule appointments for months in advance and prescriptions typically cost about a third of what they do in the United States.

The cost of healthcare is also small in comparison to the U.S. A first-time doctor’s visit typically costs about $15-$65, depending on the needs of the patient, and follow-up visits are around $11-$20. If you need an overnight stay in a hospital, a private room will cost about $200. Specific tests typically cost less than $100, including ultrasounds and more.

Malaysia has a two-tier healthcare system: government-run and private. Expatriates can choose whatever hospital they want to go to and may pay out of pocket if they do not have insurance. The private hospitals are subsidized by the government, so those who can afford it typically opt for private care.

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