9 International Locales to Retire and Live Better

2) Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most culturally diverse countries on the planet with a fascinating history and stunning biodiversity. But the real reason many ex-pats are beginning to choose Malaysia as a place to retire is the incredible cost-efficiency. Quality of life in Malaysia is consistently ranked as one of the best in all of Asia, helped no doubt by the country’s continually thriving, robust and stable economy. Most ex-pats tend to favor capital city Kuala Lumpur or the gorgeous north east island of Penang when choosing their new home. There are some very high-quality real estate options available with desirable amenities like swimming pools and maid service for as little as $900 per month. Some think it’s worth retiring to Malaysia just for the food which is an incredible mix of traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines. The weather is predictably hot all year round and as Kuala Lumpur is the home of budget airline Air Asia, it’s just a short affordable flight to explore the rest of Southeast Asia.