ILA Magazine: The World’s Best Places to Retire Overseas Subscribe Now and Save 35% about subscribing to International Living Magazine “Almost everything in JB is one-third the price that it would cost in Australia. Those savings are represented in your bank account at the end of the year,” says Gold Coast native, Jodie George. Johor Bahru (JB) is located at the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. Just on the other side of the Straits of Johor, a mere kilometre to the south...
The popular image of Borneo involves headhunters, dense jungle, roaring rivers and grand adventures. Which can make for a shock when you arrive in the city of Kota Kinabalu (KK). Home to around 1 million people it’s every bit as sophisticated as other places in Malaysia, albeit with the thrills of Asia’s biggest island right on the doorstep....
At the half-way point between KL and Penang you’ll find the laidback little city of Ipoh (pronounced Ee-po). It’s an easy two-hour or so bus ride or car journey from either of the bigger expat havens. The road is good. But I would opt for the trains running daily from the magnificent colonial-era railway station in the centre of town to both...
Malaysia’s ultra-modern capital city, Kuala Lumpur (KL) offers the best of city living in a glorious fusion of “east meets west.” It’s home to the world’s tallest twin towers, a shiny monorail makes travel around the city easy, and the fine dining scene is thriving. It’s a cosmopolitan place where retirees and other expats working for the many multinationals...
Why would you want to move to Costa Rica? As thousands of expats will tell you, Costa Rica offers a fantastic lifestyle at a reasonable cost. Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with a modern capital city, reliable utility service, clean water, lush rainforests, long stretches of deserted tropical beaches...
Costa Rica is one of the most popular retirement havens in Central America. But when it comes to choosing a location to live, there’s a lot of choices. With diverse climates and landscapes, Costa Rica offers you the opportunity to kick your shoes off on white-sand beaches, hike through lush lowland jungle or mountain cloud forests and bask in volcanic thermal springs...
The island of Penang off the coast of Malaysia has been the somewhat of a secret of savvy expat retirees for decades. Now the secret is out. This island of 1.6 million people packs in everything you could want. The low costs give you financial freedom, exploring the region from Penang is easy thanks to the international airport, and the...
Penang is a healthcare haven. For years many now people from neighbouring countries, like Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, have travelled there for affordable, world-class care. It is already considered an up and coming area for medical tourism. In fact, more than 700,000 foreigners came to Malaysia last year for medical treatment—and 60% of...
Costa Rica is one of the most popular retirement havens in Central America. Expats have been flocking here for more than 30 years. And when you are living in Costa Rica, you will enjoy the country’s long stretches of deserted and undeveloped beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts…dense jungles teeming with exotic wildlife…towering volcanoes...
When looking for a place to retire, cost of living is the first concern for most. Many are on a fixed budget and want to live in a place that has all the comforts of home, without the same high costs. Penang, Malaysia is that place.On $3,300 a month, a couple can live in luxury. Rent in a modern highrise with a pool, a gym and security guards will cost around $1,000. While that may seem expensive, you’ll be getting a modern three-bedroom, three-bath, 213-square-metre apartment with a balcony overlooking the ocean. If you don't care to live with a view or by the beach, you can rent a nice two...