I am a Singaporean who is now comfortably retiring in Malaysia, Cyberjaya. I have worked in Singapore since 21yrs old and have quit Offshore Oil and Gas industry when I'm 41yrs old in 2018. I was fortunate that I earned USD before and have built 3 passive income from Restaurant franchise in Australia, property rental income from Spore and Stocks & Derivatives income. I feel that Cyberjaya is safer compared to JB and more well connected. Malls, Restaurant, Infrastructure, International School and Medical are excellent too. Its nice retiring here. Those with similar interest can consider Cyberjaya.
I knew one Singaporean who gave up his citizenship and moved elsewhere. Now he is having a good life after claiming his CPF . It’s not because Singapore is not good but cost of living is just too high for certain people .
I have spoken to many people on this topic and it boils down to personal preference. In general, the young ones (age 18-35) prefer Singapore as there are more job opportunities based on one merit regardless of your background. Strong SGD is good for purchasing luxury goods or traveling abroad. Single, or ladies would feel safe as one can walk alone at midnight. The downside side if one loves driving, a car is a privilege here. (driving for a short getaway for outdoor activities like hiking, beaches etc). Community bonding is stronger in Msia I personally felt. When one gets older, it is easier to retire in Msia as one could still get around with a small used car, the pace is slower, and lots of good hawkers stall still remain in smaller towns as rental is cheaper to sustain for a long term. If one is disciplined and manages own EPF well, it will be good news. In short, one needs to attain certain affluent to retire comfortably in Singapore. In Malaysia, one can still downgrade your lifestyle on food spending or lowering purchasing power. But you still get a good roof over your head with decent size and a small car to move around when old. This is an unfair advantage as Malaysia has bigger space and less costly land in the rural areas.
Well, you don't know what you actually have there. I am from the San Francisco/Bay Area, yet I want to retire in Malaysia (I can afford to live pretty much anywhere). While it was only a month, my time there recently was wonderful. Penang has everything I would want and more. Great food, warm people, general safety (no guns) and enough privacy that I can just hang out and relax.
totally agreed! 5 star hotel is much cheaper in KL. I live in US now, cost of living in Singapore is the same as US, not worth it, and to be honest, KL is a lot more fun, Malaysia in general has a lot more to offer!
I am retired here in Malaysia, On average I spend around USD 2200 per month living the good life here in Sarawak. What you are comparing to is city life.
Thanks Kelvin... as a Malaysian, i do always believe Malaysia is the best place to live & retire... however if there are any other people(malaysian) who want to move elsewhere, i think it's fair to them to do so...
I guess since I moved to KL, I will retire here. I don't think I could return to America to retire as financial security is uncertain. I like it here in Malaysia; my standard of comfort as an American is attainable here, and my Islamic values are normal in Malaysia vs how strange I was seen in my own country.
Maybe your experience with malaysia is mainly places like ipoh and Penang, I can understand why you won’t want to retire in Malaysia, those places are very boring and troublesome to me too. As a Singaporean who has been residing in KL for the last 2-3years, I actually grow to love this place. Organic vegetables and quality meats are 30-50% cheaper than SG, nice condo are cheap ( whether rent or buy) for retirement too. Accessibility and travelling? Stay at places like Bangsar, Mont Kiara, Hartamas - so convenient and so many things to do. I really enjoy my life here but it is still a tight choice between SG and KL to me, especially for the sake of children. For myself, pure retirement wise - KL is a great place and it’s sad you as a Malaysian don’t realise that. I have so many Koreans n Japanese neighbours who love malaysia ( particularly KL) so much.
@@limbehh8494 wouldn’t deny that.. we were even talking about how in many countries when you are in trouble, look for the police.. but not in malaysia, run far away from them. Lol. That being said, it doesn’t discount Malaysia being a beautiful country, especially for retirement.. while I appreciate our SG government, there are bunch of Singaporeans eager to complain SG gov sucks too. Green seems greener on the other side isn’t it? Anyway, my issue with this video is it’s does not do malaysia justice as an retirement place, not properly thought out/ researched, just another video to generate content. PS. I enjoy my life both in SG and MY. I feel one just need to learn to appreciate what we have, plan and enjoy the journey.
@hotlime totally, KL is one of the best retirement cities. Friendly people, cheap organic food, safe. Adding to that, public transport is super good here with MRTs, LRTs and even free GO KL buses (which city council in the world does that??). My only regret is not coming back here much earlier 😃
Good for you. You’re really stretching the dollar. The children can attend international school if you can afford it. It is expensive and limited placement because other expat communities are also vying for the spots. There are only two international schools in Mont Kiara. However there many in KL i.e Ampang, Wangsa Maju, Setapak etc. There are also French schools that can carry them to French speaking countries. They can work anywhere in the world.
At age 62, I plan to retire to Malaysia in early 2023 but spend a few months each year in other countries as long as I'm healthy enough to travel. My career took me to 40+ countries over the past 30 years so I know what to expect and for me, Malaysia is the ideal low-cost home base. It will certainly be safer and less corrupt than living in America.
I heard that MM2H has changed and requires Foreigners to have a monthly income of 40,000 Ringgit and a bank account of 1.5 million Ringgit. Is this correct?
We are on the same page. Same age, also planning to retire in Malaysia in January 2023. Going over in January to visit for 2.5 months and check out the possibilities 👌
I checked out Bali, Malaysia and Thailand 13 years ago and when weighing the pros and cons, Thailand won hands down. I moved to Chiang Rai, 12 years ago and will never leave.
agreed i've worked and stayed in most of se asian countries with the exception of laos and if I want to migrate from singapore, thailand will be my top destination followed by maybe vietnam or indonesia. but i doubt i will ever retire anywhere else other than singapore.
I'm the HoneyMoney guy who talked about retiring in Malaysia on my channel and I agree with Kelvin's message in this video. There are always pros and cons living in each country, and no place is 100% perfect. So don't just look at what is nice on the surface and make a huge decision. Maybe stay for a longer period then see if you really fit the life there 🥳
Sir, after watching TH-cam on retirement in Malaysia very inspiring and factual. I like to seek your opinion between retiring in Thailand and Bali , any great opinion... appreciated Bob
I love KL so much that I bought a condo in Mont Kiara for my early retirement (lack of a better word). Once my youngest daughter is in University then I will move over from Hong Kong and stay most likely 9 months per year. It's totally financially sound since my rental income will support my lifestyle in KL. The food is excellent, people are friendly, and the language spoken is either English, Cantonese or Mandarin. Green fees are super cheap in Malaysia with excellent golf courses around the KL area. But the most important thins that's warm all year round!! HK is currently 10 degrees celsius which is damn cold and I grew up in Canada.
One thing for sure is dont mistake the good times u experience as a tourist as a indicator of the country. E.g. good food, many activities, "cheap" petrol blablabla shouldn't be the reason why u choose a certain country to retire in. Healthcare should be one of the priority.
I would not retire in 1 country...best is to make Singapore as the base hub and move around the SEA countries across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia (bali) while mobility is still possible. Once you start to hit old age like 70 years old and above, you would want to be around families, friends, familiarity of the place and good healthcare system so back to the base again.
To be honest, once you hit 50 years old, you would not be thinking about stay in as many countries as you want, talk to their local and enjoying their food. I have been living oversea for many years, it is not easy especially when you don't have large support group. I know people who migrated to Australia only to return after 3-4 years, citing loneliness as the main factor. Living in some foreign countries may sound exciting, but the truth is that fun as it appears to be.
You are so right. I’m in U.K. for over 16 years now and I’m so lonely but I have to be strong as I need to be here for my children the youngest is 10years old so I can’t wait until he finishes his A level I definitely go back to Indonesia. U.K. is great country but the people as cold as their country, the food don’t ask me😢
We had plans to retire in Malaysia and even bought a house near the 2nd link, just in case of medical emergencies, we can still go back to Singapore. As always, we went over during weekends about once or twice a month but I fell sick on a recent trip, we only stayed there a few hours because I missed my fall-sick food in Singapore. There isn't a lot of good food around the 2nd link and we didn't want to travel across town due to floods since we aren't familiar with places in JB on the whole. Somehow, the trip made me realise that I'd be worrying about the food selection when we retire. 😅
Currently I'm living in Msia back n forth to SG I'm fully working online and income is in Crypto ≈ USD so for my case living in Msia is cheaper and saving up for BTO in Singapore 😂 Final goal to retire is around the world.
Only when you reach retirement age then will you be able to decide. Old folks want to be near their children and grandchildren. To them, it's not about the money or the food or the travel. Old folks are vulnerable - security is very important - got money no life also no point. Lastly, one must be able to feel at home, at ease with their surroundings, in company of friends. At that age, you will have different priorities, and it will not be about money, or even youself.
Dude, you missed out on social/family ties - on why we choose to retire in Malaysia. We are probably going to choose Ipoh. And dude, we don't need 10k a month. I can't finish using 2.5k. Food is just 5 min away and it's everywhere. Delivery cost is just 2-3RM. Parcels through online shopping take less than 2-3 days. Not so bad lah
I once worked in Spore in the 1990s. After 5 years I decided to go back to work in KL. Yeah Spore is nice, modern & advance but after so long coming back to Msia I have no regrets. Soon will be retiring in a few years time & still have my cpf monies in Spore.
It's hard to compare Singapore and Malaysia, one is merely a city, and the other is a country. I was once in Singapore, and I asked the cab driver why the low crime rate, and he said "because once you commit a crime, there is no where to run!' There is nothing Singapore has that Malaysia doesn't, and the difference in cost of living is huge. It won't make sense for people to retire is Singapore if cost of living in other countries such as US, UK or Australia is the main reason to relocate.
I have been working & travelling in SEA countries past 30 years, semi retired. Preferences for Msia/Spore, other SEA countries are based on personal circumstances & life experience. But generally, if one prefers familiarity with English speaking world, big living space, cheap living with reasonable std of living, Msia stands out Vs other SEA countries. Many foreigners like to live in new places with some similarities to their own place of origins. Sporeans no different, and many non/retirees see Msia as less developed Spore with 1/3 living cost + reasonable living std + variable food/places to go. Bribe culture? that's not unique to Msia, or other SEA countries, not even the West. Why do you thinks Spore-KL flights was most busy in the world & 500K people crossing the straits pre-Covid time. Discriminations? There's always discriminations in 1 form or another against foreigners Vs locals, on planet earth, worst for Asians/non-white living in the west.
For me it’s a matter of personal perspective. What’s good for you might not be good for others. As long you as you can stay and enjoy conformably in your retirement years it’s fine where you are. Also money talks, the more you have and the more and where you can stretch it’s usefulness is the better. Regarding racism and bribery, any country have it. Some says in Singapore the local Chinese is the top, other races are second class. Some says in Malaysia the local Malay is the top, other races are second class. But the super wealthy always on the top 😅. If you are a foreign tying to either stay in Malaysia or Singapore in your retirement years, do your proper research in every matter. Stay in each country (at a rented house/apartment and not at in a hotel) for at least a month to get the “feeling” and face any daily difficulty you might encounter. After that as long you are a law abiding people, don’t involve too much or too loud in local politics, be nice and respect other people culture & religions, you should be fine wherever you stay. Peace 😃.
We can get passport done in 1 hour in Malaysia now (except peak period of course). Also, you don't have to bribe if you you do nothing wrong and you are polite.
Good one. As you mentioned, every country has pros and cons. We should determine the country to live in or retire from based on what is most important to us. I am a Sri Lankan who has been living in Singapore for nearly five years now. What I feel is that Singapore is almost a perfect country. Yes, there are some challenges in Singapore. But I think Singapore’s safety & efficiency are not tradable. Want to have good food or want to visit a good place? Just take a cheap flight and go to a country around SG. Also, if you are an active person, Singapore is one of the most excellent places to form a business and earn big money.
My antenna can drop down, and I don't need to carry my bag in front or put my bag on the inner side of the road ( I never knew I had to do this when my msian friend reminded me to shift my bag in when we are eating at the corridor of the resturant, hanging my bag behind the chair, "here is not SG"- right from his mouth🤣) I can safely walk at night in most areas in sg alone, and most places are lit, at least my hangout places.
Make another video in 30 year's time when you've lived in a few more countries, experienced the problems associated with living in any foreign country, tried to keep warm in harsh winters with escalating energy costs, experienced racism because you *are* a foreigner (btw, that's endemic in any culture), and getting to grips with only seeing your family every five years because you do live so far away. Singapore, by then, will have 20% GST (like the UK today) and I guarantee you will be seriously considering RETIRING (not driving an hour to your office every day!!) in your home country where your citizenship guarantees you permanence.
Also the covert racism wherever you go. It really gets depressing after a long time of living in a western country and no matter how hard you try to assimilate you will never be equally accepted as fully part of the society.
I agree. Born and bred in KL, I have studied and lived in Melbourne, travelled and stayed in Christchurch, New Zealand, worked 7 years in HK before the landover, Beijing in year 1999-2000, travelled extensively to Tokyo, Singapore and West Coast, US. Worked for British and American MNCs. As you said, racism is endemic in any culture, even in HK and Singapore where a Malaysian Chinese is somehow a lesser being. Malaysia wins hand down as the retirement home for me, although I could have migrated to Australia or New Zealand. When you have money, why live in Australia or any other country? Just travel and stay for any period of time as vacation. Malaysia has it all, great weather (if you can handle the humidity and heat, no major natural disasters, great food, people are friendly, Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc..
@@chrissieng8146even in China, one would think it wouldn’t be too hard to “blend” in for a Malaysian Chinese, but no, mainlanders are very territorial, even in small cities, the locals are jealous of people from other parts of China who work or have businesses there.
Nice video Kelvin! Singaporeans should stop saying Malaysia is cheap. I find that offensive. Try working in an average job that pays in ringgit and live in in KL or JB and people will realize that it’s damn expensive. It’s so much easier to save more in Singapore despite the higher cost of rental (no need to own a car as well).
I'm sorry that you're offended over common sense. This is abt relatively, obviously it is cheap for Singaporeans who shop there, u think Singaporeans dont know it aint cheap for Malaysians? Come on give us some credit as if we are that dumb. Should i go to Zimbabwe and say it is expensive for tourists just because ppl living there are struggling?
@@randomterror7 I am a Singaporean and I never say the word cheap but instead I used "reasonable".... heehee. So that the shop owner will not increase the price. Plse shop smart. Cheers
Cheap ? Many imported items in Malaysia are simply 3+ times eg S$5 here but RM16 or more . Even Malaysia Farm Fresh 2L fresh milk is RM 15 in Malaysia but S$5 here . I am also happy to pay S$1 for RM2.60 Coke Zero @ Value$ .
good for you but i am happily back in KL and never encounter any negative issues he mentioned. Also, we are going to have our 5G sooner than you all imagine.
Thanks Kelvin. I am a Malaysian living in Johor Bahru, so there is that pros and cons as in living anywhere in the world. I am very upset with this bribery business and would pay the fine than to give a bribe. I do feel for the average Singaporean who just want to have a good time here, taking advantage of the strong dollars. But then faced with some of these unpleasant experiences.
@@hockchweeong9883 i appreciate your effort to divert some retiree traffic to orher countries, i dont want to many foreigners to come and retire here and pay no taxes yet enjoy good stress free life while locals have to struggle like slaves
@@tenga3tango When You Reached Retiree Age, Retiring Does Not Mean Living Life Stress Free!! Many Retirees Apart From Being Financial Sufficient. LOOKOUT For. MEDICAL facilities For Ttheir ELDERLY needs.
Each to their own. Never listen to anyone on TH-cam. Assess your own needs and requirements. Then decide for yourself. Only you know what is best for yourself.
I am a Sarawakian-Malaysian living out of Malaysia since 20 years ago. Thank you for being a sport Bro. I've been to many countries; comparatively Malaysia is the best. Low cost of living, no/less natural disasters, relatively safe and, Very humble and, friendly people.
I have been PR much longer than you, over 35 years. The reason I stayed here is because of good governance, strong SGD and hence better pay and despite inflation spiked over last few months, the inflation in SG is lower than Malaysia. And most importantly English education. Singapore is good for employee. Malaysia is good for businessman. Malaysia is not as dangerous as the focus of SG mainstream reported it. The US and many cities in Europe are a lot more dangerous.
Nah, you can have English education here in the international school or simply home-school your kids. Agreed Malaysia is safe. I was PR in SG but have been back in KL and never regret a single day.
Malaysia is ranked 20th most peaceful country globally according to Global Peace Index. Those who comment clearly don't know what they're talking about. It's very safe in general, and in fact, one of the safest in the world!
employees are for pessimistic people...better to be employer to guarantee continuous income in Malaysia...wait until you retire or get fired from your job then you will understand
It boils down to the numbers, how much you can support yourself. Malaysia is one of the best place to retire due to its affordability. You dont need to retire in KL, its expensive, but you can live in the a rural area close to KL, dont worry you will be able to get Internet in rural area too. Or live in a more affordable State in Malaysia like Johor, etc. There are many options.
I agree with your strategy. I am currently practicing retirement by traveling to countries that are affordable and near the ocean. After 40 countries, Panama is at the top of the list. I am planning trips to Msia, Philippines, and Uruguay.
Paiseh needs to share with you that, Driving can no longer be bribed (your thinking was old era), now learning aldy very expensive Rm2000+, and now all got CCTV very strict. Also, for Gov renewing like IC, Passport now very fast aldy(pls don't take the case when covid recovery and many want to renew passports, that one indeed waits for 3 months but this also happening same in SG), you should ask your friends to get the most updated news lah. Also, other sectors also can be done online... a lot of areas have improved a lot ah...but I agreed with other points that you mentioned 80% which was true. Anyway, both MY and SG got pros and cons, just depends on how people want to take it and what they prefer. This is a good video, tks for sharing, Kelvin.
Hi, Kelvin. Thank you for your video. I hope you'll find somewhere you really love when you retire! As for me, I hope to plan in Malaysia. Who knows. I'd like to retire in the countryside and have a yard where I could run, garden, hang out with friends and family, and have animals. New Zealand is a nice place to retire, by the way, especially if you're thinking about settling down on the South Island. Have a good day! 😃
I'm sure u end up retiring in Malaysia at the end..but maybe u will go and lives in few countries before that..Malaysia is not perfect with many cons but I think it's still the best place to retired..and Singapore is still the best place to work and earn.
😀probably so hahahaha, once they have built enough wealth in SG and have had enough of the pressure cooker lifestyle but MM2H is gonna be too expensive for many of them.
Thanks for sharing. I am like you, I plan to retire and experience living in different part of the world. And when I am too old and need medical attention, then just come back to Singapore.
At the current high inflation and living cost, it is very normal to see that this topic is in majority of many Singaporeans mind. I agree on your closing statement. Instead of thinking to retire in 1 place forever, I would prefer to still have choice living in different locations, depending on my age. For example, when I am 80s and above, Singapore nursing home might be ideal, due to the healthcare/hospital treatment. Overall, we need to up our savings/passive income to support our retirement goal.
I am also a Malaysian, Singapore PR. You are totally correct on the driving (daily routine) and extra car expenses although the car is cheap. Nowadays car instalment, petrol, toll, parking and maintenance is the highest cost which is more expensive than food. For those fresh graduate, car expense can be more than 50% of their salary nowadays. Did you find out who stole your slippers though?
Just fyi and update, the public transport system is KL is super good, efficient and KL city council also has kindly provided free GoKL buses. I dont own a car in KL and go out everyday and my monthly transport fee is
@@forevergraceful6160 Ya, no doubt about KL. I used to stay in KL for about a year and as per what you said, it is super convenient there. But for other states like me, a Johorean, not so lucky already.
A wonderfully fair, balanced and informative video. I first visited Singapore and Malaysia in the late 80s, have been back and forth on visits between them and Vietnam and Cambodia while living in Thailand for the past 35 years. Thank you for the time, effort and humor. More info on the dog shop-keeper next time will be appreciated.
I lived in Johor ,what your saying is 100% true. There are more details to this pod cast about Malaysia,but IV notice it's different in other parts of Malaysia .
For many Singaporeans MY would be more attractive than Vietnam, Thailand or Japan, simply for the reason that the culture is familiar, you can speak English or often your own language/dialect and the food is familiar (just bit better than in Singapore🙂 ) Other countries are wonderful to visit, but to retire, you want to be somewhere that is also easy to live. A Singaporean living in for instance Japan wouldn't make many local friends.
Hi kelvin thanks for doing this video. This question of where to retire has been plaguing me for along time. I love singapore and malaysia. Each has its attractions.
Now Malaysia broadband is cheaper. About RM140 for 300 mps. Also now with LRT and MRT, you can easily go places without driving. Or call a grab. Stay near an LRT station and it is easy to get around. The LRT, MRT and monorail are all interconnected. But if you got the money, Australia is a good place to retire. It is clean, unpolluted and beautiful. There are way more places to visit than Malaysia. I agreed with you not to limit your choice to one place.
Good post but I disagree on few things. 1. It is a misunderstanding that Public transport is not there in Malaysia. Yes no mrt or buses but taxi is cheap. You can take grab / taxi anywhere you want to go. 2. When you look at a Singaporean retiree perspective, 10k RM per month is not a big amount considering what you might spend for similar lifestyle in Singapore. 3. Cost of medical and medicines in general. Easily a few times cheaper. However safety aspect is a good point. It is hard to get assimilated in Western countries or even countries like Vietnam or Thailand where language is an issue. Malaysia is attractive just from the perspective of land connection to Singapore and being able to come back anytime you need to apart from the similar culture, food and language. Once there are more transport options between JB and SG like upcoming mrt and probably more land connections and ferry, it might enable more retirees have one leg in SG and one leg in Malaysia enjoying best of both worlds.
I heard that MM2H has changed and requires Foreigners to have a monthly income of 40,000 Ringgit and a bank account of 1.5 million Ringgit. Is this correct?
I'm from Ipoh too and hv in SG for a decade until I decided to start my business back in Malaysia. For me I would to retired in any country except Singapore because I love to drive and my car is always my horse. The joy of driving is limitless and I hate to depend living on the mercy of public transport. Worst when u hv child and elderly parents but yet need to sardine in the MRT or bus. Very unpleasant when it rains and u hv to carry alot of groceries. Glad I had quit the rat race in SG and no longer living as a rat. This is a country where u will work till u died.
Personal experience about the bribe culture in MY. When I was young, have being to JB once every couple of months with my dad because of his work commitment at some of the factory at JB. Have been stopped once by the traffic police for not wearing seatbelt when clearly we always wear them but was let off with some help of kopi money. Another time, our family car nearly became a target for those car thieves but thanks to the one of the coffee shop uncle near the restaurant we always patronise which my dad will always treat him with foods/drinks, he managed to help us deter them away. He always carry a stick with him and can be seen roaming around the area.
Do passport in Johor 50 minutes. Singapore 3 months. When you die in Malaysia. You rest in peace. In Singapore, they dig you up after a few years. After die also no freehold. Still leasehold.
Its very difficult to decide on "retiring" in Malaysia due to the fact that its just next door, its so easy to get to so the idea of retiring permanently is far less attractive when you can be there within an hour for a short getaway (if you time the causeway jam right). Most Singaporeans buy a property there, rent out their HDB apartment for a few years and then come back when they saved up. The efficiency and security in SIngapore are very HARD to trade away for a long time.
Precisely Malaysia is next door to Singapore makes it an ideal place for 'retirement'. I take daily walks with my dog amidst nature among friendly neighbours in JB and am living a quality lifestyle without being extravagant. In fact, I do not consider myself 'retired'. I am still on a work visa in Malaysia after working in Singapore for more than 30 years. I love both countries and have lived my life thus far, to the fullest.
Let’s get to THE POINT. Let’s get REAL. If ure single & hv a guaranteed rm10k per month income, JUST RETIRE IN MALAYSIA. If ure one of those who whine bout efficiency, cleanliness, bribery, “Malay supremacy” etc, then it’s not bout d money. M’sia is just not for u. I’m happily retired in KL.
It’s so true. You can retire in so many countries that have the best of both worlds. You can live in Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan. Further out, New Zealand, Australia, even further out, the UK, even places like Turkey, Georgia.
Also depends how retirement in another place is defined. One can park their assets in sg with its strong dollar, but reside in other countries, 3 months in one part of Malaysia then 3 months in Thailand etc...
Agreed with your views. Singapore is one of the world most expensive cities to live in. If you are rich, living in Singapore is like living in Heaven. If you are retirees, it's best to retire in other Asean countries, maybe Thailand, Malaysia. 2 yrs ago, the hawker food price was around $3, and this year, the average hawker food price shot up to around S$4 to $6+. For retirees, people with sickness with no income are badly affected. Medical expenses and utilities are also expensive.
Thanks Kelvin. I do agree that it is a big and wide world with hundreds of places to retire. Presently I am considering Labuan Bajo, Indonesia a new paradise city in Indonesia. Although it is quite far , 2 1/2 hours flight from Jakarta, there is already a lot of developments meaning it is becoming very expensive to live there.
One thing Malaysian always say Malaysia is big they can freely travel, while sg too small and not much place to go . But they forgot once we holding a passport, we sharing equally travel opportunities
@Kesidang 2021 the stress I guess mostly came from custom jam, try go to indonesia there is still many undiscovered jem there to look for and I think the indo should not only focus on promoting bali
I like your video... very informative... rational...fair... and others. There is no right or wrong who is best. But remember people can't compare the price of Singapore against Malaysia as Singapore is a first world country while Malaysia is a developing country. Can't deny in Malaysia there are plenty of places to go because she is much much bigger than Singapore. I like your quote when u mention about WIFI speed comparison between these 2 countries. The younger generation would like the 5G in Singapore. Overall your video is awesome. It come down to each individual what is your preference. Cheers.
Not sure why you compare Msia and Sg while you prefer to retire in other countries. Like comparing Coke and Pepsi and conclude that you won't drink coke Coz you prefer water.
Agree with your observation of Malaysian's bribe culture. Yesterday in Ipoh I witnessed a car driver blocking a fire truck with siren on. This is one driver who must have paid bribes to get his driver licence instead of taking and passing the written and driving tests.
It's only cheap if you earn from a stronger currency country and spend in Malaysia ONLY. Singapore's infrastructure, transport, connectivity, safety, etc. I can take a bus and MRT and reach almost anywhere in Singapore around or within an hour. My Malaysian friend told me that waiting 1 hour for a bus in rural areas is common. And no guarantee it will come or not? My friend along with wife and kids took a taxi, but got kicked out at some unknown kampung with all his groceries and stuff just because he refused to a sudden change of the agreed fare by the driver. 😲
Staying in JB (with valid visa) and earning passive income (S$) to me is best of both worlds. Especially with the New RTS currently being built & targeted to come online 2026. Otherwise, even semi retirement in JB (travel in/out) couple times a week (no need visa) for ad-hoc work in SG during non-peak hours (border jams) can work as well. Ideally, some kind of residence permit (For singaporeans or foreign investors in Iskandar) would be ideal (perhaps it will happen next year after change of Govt). 🤭
Currently i retire in both Malaysia and Singapore. Just gave up my car in Singapore. Use public transport in Singapore and drive in Malaysia. Singapore is a place for me to rest and Malaysia to be more active...
I wont fixed myself retiring in one location. I will move every weeks or months, town to town, staying out of touristy areas. In this order of preference...Philippines> Thailand> Vietnam> China> Indonesia> Malaysia.
We can retire anywhere we desire ..my ideal place will be Kl...and travel everwhere...i am semi retired when i am 32 and been enjoying life. Most of people all around the world want to retire in Malaysia. It is a choice for every one and preferences. It is funny that only people living in Singapore think Malaysia isn't safe ironic
Probably in SG they are monitored everywhere 24/7 so anywhere in the world is not safe for them. Good for us if they believe that, we dont want too many of them here to cause more inflation and don't like that stressful pressure cooker culture to infiltrate our cities.
i live in kl for the past 40years..never encounter any bribery..maybe coz im not politician? too lazy to drive? there's grabfood/mart, foodpanda/mart, shopee food too..i ordered smoked duck from pasar selayang too...can go to beaches/waterfall/hiking/other cities on weekend...many private hospitals too
Singapore is better, very congested with high density of people. When you enter NTUC Fairprice (try the Jurung East branch) - it is like entering a maze. A family with children can play hide and seek there, no need to pay entrance fee at amusement centre.
Malaysia has similar pros and cons to the Southern US. It all really depends on personal preference. I can totally relate on the desire for reliable internet here in SG and your current requirements for work. Most of my family live in ulu areas of the countryside and neigh impossible to work on the road. I heard from some Chinese Malaysians (mostly from Melacca) that Chinese are treated like 2nd class citizens there. Nice vid!
2nd class? U mean enemies? Because magically during election year, every chinese is called a communist. And everytime accident, we are called "babi" and indians are automatically "mabuk"
I have lived in KL for 3 years now, the internet is super reliable so I don't understand this thing about internet issue. The Chinese are the richest group so far in Malaysia, most of our children have uni education, most of us live in good houses, condos and enjoy good city life, so does it matter if others think that we are considered a second class citizens 😃
@@forevergraceful6160 yeah KL is like the NY of Malaysia, super big city but doesn't really reflect the majority of the country. I'm thinking of the more small towns in Malaysia with my statements 😊
Great insight from a Malaysian perspective! Will still choose to retire in Singapore because of the kinship and friendship that are formed here (though there are likely more financial advantage for a Singaporean retiring within ASEAN)~
Malaysia is perfect to retire due to the big space, more nature, more mountains, fantastic beaches to trek onto. Problem is development is down the drain and its barely half as developed as singapore, crime is still everywhere. Maybe one day when Malaysia is more developed, itll be a better choice for retirement.
You are young and you’re not talking about retiring. I’ve lived in USA, Canada, Australia, Middle East and now Malaysia. I’ve also visited many countries in Asia and Europe. Malaysia is a good place to retire! And bribe?? There are many Malaysians who don’t bribe, I certainly don’t. Safety?? Try other countries first before you think Malaysia is not safe.
Try US, there is shooting everywhere like it's target practice! I have never felt unsafe in Malaysia. People are so friendly and honest! Yes, they are a little laid back, but their kindness make up for it.
well I got a alot of friends from Malaysia wouldn't want to retire there but prefer in sg instead and friend in Singapore prefer to retire in Malaysian instead of sg. Those Malaysian prefer sg is because they find it safe, gov support etc but then at the end of the day it's depends on individual tho.
if you're malaysia, better to fork out money to buy land and build your own home. i baught a sizeable land close to water source which i planned to be self sustainable off grid. with climate change and geopolitical events nowadays my plan was spot on. i am still in the process of building a turbine hydro and for internet we will be able to use starlink soon. but recent years TM has been expanding a lot and even some villages that are on the end city can enjoy fibre internet. it will improved, people just need to be more proactive in complaining to the authority just like my friend in singapore said, the different between us is singapore citizen kuat complaint 😂 so the responsible party take action fast, malaysian not so much
Kelvin, you forgot to mentioned that to apply a home telephone line, you need to wait for months. Renewal of passport also takes a longer time as compared to SG. My Ipoh friend (now a Singapore Citixen) told me passport renewal fee was RM$300 (about 15~20 years ago) valid for 5 years when he was a PR doing passport renewal at Malaysian Embassy in SG. I understand it's RM$200 if you do it in Malaysia. SG passport cost $70 and valid for 10years.which is still cheaper than Malaysia. My Malaysian friend told me there are many items so much cheaper in SG. Example is LED TV, computer, mobile phone. Things are only cheaper in Malaysia if they are made in Malaysia. Shampoo & baby powder that are imported into Malaysia are actually more expensive than SG
What BS misinformation are these?!! These are the facts: - u don't need home telephone line nowadays. This is not the 90s. Also it doesn't take 'months'. - passport renewal only takes 1 hour at counter, or u can simply renew it online. Also it costs rm200 - either u do it in Malaysia or in SG. Easy peasy. - consumer electronics goods like TV, computer, hp, etc are much more cheaper in Malaysia than in SG. Try compare iphone 15 price in Malaysia to SG, u can save rm100~ or abt sgd30. - consumer products like shampoo or baby formula are also cheaper. A packet of 800g Dumex Dulac Step 1 milk powder cost sgd20 in SG but the same item costs only sgd9 (rm27) in Malaysia. Also other costs are hyper inflated in SG, like healthcare, food, and rental. Dental in SG costs a bomb, but u can get very reasonable price in private clinics and hospitals.
So many of my relatives already bought a property in Malaysia and rent their homes in Singapore which is fully paid and I am planning of doing the same as well. Food in SG cost at least $4 in hawker centers which is equivalent to RM12+. COE last for 10 years before getting scrapped unless renewed and parking fees are everywhere. At least parking is free for those staying in Semi Detached type houses and utility bill is cheaper. Lastly, dental fees in SG is ridiculously expensive compared to MY
Hold on, the expenses example you gave at 6.31 is someone who is already retired, age above 60, car full paid, kids grown up with who are self sustaining, and parents might npt be around anymore (RM3190 saved and possible makan lower amount) or someone who is below 60 and yet to retire?
I think it depends how much one have at retirement. If i have say even 5mil sgd at retirement it is just normal and not super luxurious. But in Malaysia kl you will be living like a king.
No wonder I always 'LIKE' your videos...U from Ipoh ! I LOVE Ipoh very much. Many friends from Ipoh and met many Msians from there, ALL very nice! :) Ipoh -nice place and food!
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I am a Singaporean who is now comfortably retiring in Malaysia, Cyberjaya. I have worked in Singapore since 21yrs old and have quit Offshore Oil and Gas industry when I'm 41yrs old in 2018. I was fortunate that I earned USD before and have built 3 passive income from Restaurant franchise in Australia, property rental income from Spore and Stocks & Derivatives income.
I feel that Cyberjaya is safer compared to JB and more well connected. Malls, Restaurant, Infrastructure, International School and Medical are excellent too. Its nice retiring here. Those with similar interest can consider Cyberjaya.
Best thing in cyberjaya, no macet2
Mount kiara better
I knew one Singaporean who gave up his citizenship and moved elsewhere. Now he is having a good life after claiming his CPF . It’s not because Singapore is not good but cost of living is just too high for certain people .
KL ppl wont like Cyberjaya..bit on the outskirt. Puchong better. .more places to makan but traffic heavy.
Nice to hear of your sharing and experience living in Malaysia. Hope that you will continue to enjoy your retirement years here.......
I have spoken to many people on this topic and it boils down to personal preference. In general, the young ones (age 18-35) prefer Singapore as there are more job opportunities based on one merit regardless of your background. Strong SGD is good for purchasing luxury goods or traveling abroad. Single, or ladies would feel safe as one can walk alone at midnight. The downside side if one loves driving, a car is a privilege here. (driving for a short getaway for outdoor activities like hiking, beaches etc). Community bonding is stronger in Msia I personally felt. When one gets older, it is easier to retire in Msia as one could still get around with a small used car, the pace is slower, and lots of good hawkers stall still remain in smaller towns as rental is cheaper to sustain for a long term. If one is disciplined and manages own EPF well, it will be good news. In short, one needs to attain certain affluent to retire comfortably in Singapore. In Malaysia, one can still downgrade your lifestyle on food spending or lowering purchasing power. But you still get a good roof over your head with decent size and a small car to move around when old. This is an unfair advantage as Malaysia has bigger space and less costly land in the rural areas.
Well, you don't know what you actually have there. I am from the San Francisco/Bay Area, yet I want to retire in Malaysia (I can afford to live pretty much anywhere). While it was only a month, my time there recently was wonderful. Penang has everything I would want and more. Great food, warm people, general safety (no guns) and enough privacy that I can just hang out and relax.
I’m happily retired in kl!
What about Grand Rapids?
@@DarkPa1adin Can't get really, really good Thai food for under 5 bucks....
No guns? Hahahahahaha!
There is pros & cons living in Malaysia. However if you compare overall with Singapore. It is still better and much cheaper retiring in Malaysia.
I agree with you on this one.
Sg is a good place to work … but can’t beat Malaysia for quality of Life … Malaysia is just more relaxed and easy going …
Depends on what type are you working, i dont consider relaxed if i worked 5 and a half or 6 days per week. Plus, the salary alone cant make a living
totally agreed! 5 star hotel is much cheaper in KL. I live in US now, cost of living in Singapore is the same as US, not worth it, and to be honest, KL is a lot more fun, Malaysia in general has a lot more to offer!
I am retired here in Malaysia, On average I spend around USD 2200 per month living the good life here in Sarawak. What you are comparing to is city life.
My hometown 😀
What country are you from ? 😉
Thanks Kelvin... as a Malaysian, i do always believe Malaysia is the best place to live & retire... however if there are any other people(malaysian) who want to move elsewhere, i think it's fair to them to do so...
those with not enough money surely migrated
I guess since I moved to KL, I will retire here. I don't think I could return to America to retire as financial security is uncertain. I like it here in Malaysia; my standard of comfort as an American is attainable here, and my Islamic values are normal in Malaysia vs how strange I was seen in my own country.
Maybe your experience with malaysia is mainly places like ipoh and Penang, I can understand why you won’t want to retire in Malaysia, those places are very boring and troublesome to me too. As a Singaporean who has been residing in KL for the last 2-3years, I actually grow to love this place. Organic vegetables and quality meats are 30-50% cheaper than SG, nice condo are cheap ( whether rent or buy) for retirement too. Accessibility and travelling? Stay at places like Bangsar, Mont Kiara, Hartamas - so convenient and so many things to do. I really enjoy my life here but it is still a tight choice between SG and KL to me, especially for the sake of children. For myself, pure retirement wise - KL is a great place and it’s sad you as a Malaysian don’t realise that. I have so many Koreans n Japanese neighbours who love malaysia ( particularly KL) so much.
Good for you but the government suck !!!
@@limbehh8494 wouldn’t deny that.. we were even talking about how in many countries when you are in trouble, look for the police.. but not in malaysia, run far away from them. Lol.
That being said, it doesn’t discount Malaysia being a beautiful country, especially for retirement.. while I appreciate our SG government, there are bunch of Singaporeans eager to complain SG gov sucks too. Green seems greener on the other side isn’t it?
Anyway, my issue with this video is it’s does not do malaysia justice as an retirement place, not properly thought out/ researched, just another video to generate content.
PS. I enjoy my life both in SG and MY. I feel one just need to learn to appreciate what we have, plan and enjoy the journey.
@hotlime totally, KL is one of the best retirement cities. Friendly people, cheap organic food, safe. Adding to that, public transport is super good here with MRTs, LRTs and even free GO KL buses (which city council in the world does that??). My only regret is not coming back here much earlier 😃
Good for you. You’re really stretching the dollar. The children can attend international school if you can afford it. It is expensive and limited placement because other expat communities are also vying for the spots. There are only two international schools in Mont Kiara. However there many in KL i.e Ampang, Wangsa Maju, Setapak etc. There are also French schools that can carry them to French speaking countries. They can work anywhere in the world.
@@hotlime 💕
At age 62, I plan to retire to Malaysia in early 2023 but spend a few months each year in other countries as long as I'm healthy enough to travel. My career took me to 40+ countries over the past 30 years so I know what to expect and for me, Malaysia is the ideal low-cost home base. It will certainly be safer and less corrupt than living in America.
A comment from an experienced person.
I heard that MM2H has changed and requires Foreigners to have a monthly income of 40,000 Ringgit and a bank account of 1.5 million Ringgit. Is this correct?
Check
We are on the same page. Same age, also planning to retire in Malaysia in January 2023. Going over in January to visit for 2.5 months and check out the possibilities 👌
how about Okinawa, Spain, portugal, Bali & vietnam?
I checked out Bali, Malaysia and Thailand 13 years ago and when weighing the pros and cons, Thailand won hands down. I moved to Chiang Rai, 12 years ago and will never leave.
agreed i've worked and stayed in most of se asian countries with the exception of laos and if I want to migrate from singapore, thailand will be my top destination followed by maybe vietnam or indonesia. but i doubt i will ever retire anywhere else other than singapore.
What made you choose Chiang Rai over Chiang Mai and other cities?
@@alantew4355 cleaner air, less traffic, less scammers and friendly people.
@@AllAboutLifeInThailand How much would you say you spend per month living in Chang Rai?
My G-d, CR is booooring! Living there would add 10 years to my biological age.
I'm the HoneyMoney guy who talked about retiring in Malaysia on my channel and I agree with Kelvin's message in this video. There are always pros and cons living in each country, and no place is 100% perfect. So don't just look at what is nice on the surface and make a huge decision. Maybe stay for a longer period then see if you really fit the life there 🥳
Hey, that honey money guy who wants to retire with $1M at 35!!
Chris is everywhere with his comments!
@@KelvinLearnsInvesting He will need to postpone if he "unintentionally" made a kid🤭
You set back your next generation by going back to Malaysia long term.
All the hassle is worth if I'm able to stretch my dollar there while earning sgd dividend and investment return.....my opinion
I am a Singaporean whose stress level goes down the moment I cross the causeway into JB.
my stress lvl goes up while crossing the causeway and at JB customs :D
Not safe
Sir, after watching TH-cam on retirement in Malaysia very inspiring and factual. I like to seek your opinion between retiring in Thailand and Bali , any great opinion... appreciated Bob
Hahahaha....your ego; surely gotten arouse too :))) He She...She He all got one here and there.
@@compass_128 Not safe? You're paranoid.
I love KL so much that I bought a condo in Mont Kiara for my early retirement (lack of a better word). Once my youngest daughter is in University then I will move over from Hong Kong and stay most likely 9 months per year. It's totally financially sound since my rental income will support my lifestyle in KL. The food is excellent, people are friendly, and the language spoken is either English, Cantonese or Mandarin. Green fees are super cheap in Malaysia with excellent golf courses around the KL area. But the most important thins that's warm all year round!! HK is currently 10 degrees celsius which is damn cold and I grew up in Canada.
One thing for sure is dont mistake the good times u experience as a tourist as a indicator of the country. E.g. good food, many activities, "cheap" petrol blablabla shouldn't be the reason why u choose a certain country to retire in. Healthcare should be one of the priority.
I would not retire in 1 country...best is to make Singapore as the base hub and move around the SEA countries across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia (bali) while mobility is still possible. Once you start to hit old age like 70 years old and above, you would want to be around families, friends, familiarity of the place and good healthcare system so back to the base again.
I agreed with you especially the last sentence.
To be honest, once you hit 50 years old, you would not be thinking about stay in as many countries as you want, talk to their local and enjoying their food. I have been living oversea for many years, it is not easy especially when you don't have large support group. I know people who migrated to Australia only to return after 3-4 years, citing loneliness as the main factor. Living in some foreign countries may sound exciting, but the truth is that fun as it appears to be.
Agreed, loneliness, and in most Western countries racism. Too cold climate also no joy especially for older people. Miss local food.
@@choonhockong8215 agreed
You are so right. I’m in U.K. for over 16 years now and I’m so lonely but I have to be strong as I need to be here for my children the youngest is 10years old so I can’t wait until he finishes his A level I definitely go back to Indonesia. U.K. is great country but the people as cold as their country, the food don’t ask me😢
We had plans to retire in Malaysia and even bought a house near the 2nd link, just in case of medical emergencies, we can still go back to Singapore. As always, we went over during weekends about once or twice a month but I fell sick on a recent trip, we only stayed there a few hours because I missed my fall-sick food in Singapore. There isn't a lot of good food around the 2nd link and we didn't want to travel across town due to floods since we aren't familiar with places in JB on the whole. Somehow, the trip made me realise that I'd be worrying about the food selection when we retire. 😅
@Crystal you are very lucky just a few days in a month but I have been over 16years my tummy never received good food 😭
Thanks Kelvin for the great video about malaysia, but i still love my home SG Bagus !! 👍👍
Young man....hope you don't regret what you've said here. Life works in mysterious ways. Never say never.
Yes. You are too young to give such advice
Currently I'm living in Msia back n forth to SG
I'm fully working online and income is in Crypto ≈ USD so for my case living in Msia is cheaper and saving up for BTO in Singapore 😂
Final goal to retire is around the world.
Only when you reach retirement age then will you be able to decide. Old folks want to be near their children and grandchildren. To them, it's not about the money or the food or the travel. Old folks are vulnerable - security is very important - got money no life also no point. Lastly, one must be able to feel at home, at ease with their surroundings, in company of friends. At that age, you will have different priorities, and it will not be about money, or even youself.
You are spot on.
Dude, you missed out on social/family ties - on why we choose to retire in Malaysia. We are probably going to choose Ipoh. And dude, we don't need 10k a month. I can't finish using 2.5k. Food is just 5 min away and it's everywhere. Delivery cost is just 2-3RM. Parcels through online shopping take less than 2-3 days. Not so bad lah
I once worked in Spore in the 1990s. After 5 years I decided to go back to work in KL. Yeah Spore is nice, modern & advance but after so long coming back to Msia I have no regrets. Soon will be retiring in a few years time & still have my cpf monies in Spore.
It's hard to compare Singapore and Malaysia, one is merely a city, and the other is a country. I was once in Singapore, and I asked the cab driver why the low crime rate, and he said "because once you commit a crime, there is no where to run!'
There is nothing Singapore has that Malaysia doesn't, and the difference in cost of living is huge. It won't make sense for people to retire is Singapore if cost of living in other countries such as US, UK or Australia is the main reason to relocate.
I have been working & travelling in SEA countries past 30 years, semi retired. Preferences for Msia/Spore, other SEA countries are based on personal circumstances & life experience. But generally, if one prefers familiarity with English speaking world, big living space, cheap living with reasonable std of living, Msia stands out Vs other SEA countries. Many foreigners like to live in new places with some similarities to their own place of origins. Sporeans no different, and many non/retirees see Msia as less developed Spore with 1/3 living cost + reasonable living std + variable food/places to go. Bribe culture? that's not unique to Msia, or other SEA countries, not even the West. Why do you thinks Spore-KL flights was most busy in the world & 500K people crossing the straits pre-Covid time. Discriminations? There's always discriminations in 1 form or another against foreigners Vs locals, on planet earth, worst for Asians/non-white living in the west.
so the question we want to knw: which is best in your opinion? MY or SG ?
For me it’s a matter of personal perspective. What’s good for you might not be good for others. As long you as you can stay and enjoy conformably in your retirement years it’s fine where you are. Also money talks, the more you have and the more and where you can stretch it’s usefulness is the better.
Regarding racism and bribery, any country have it. Some says in Singapore the local Chinese is the top, other races are second class. Some says in Malaysia the local Malay is the top, other races are second class. But the super wealthy always on the top 😅.
If you are a foreign tying to either stay in Malaysia or Singapore in your retirement years, do your proper research in every matter. Stay in each country (at a rented house/apartment and not at in a hotel) for at least a month to get the “feeling” and face any daily difficulty you might encounter.
After that as long you are a law abiding people, don’t involve too much or too loud in local politics, be nice and respect other people culture & religions, you should be fine wherever you stay.
Peace 😃.
Thank you for the nice commentary.
We can get passport done in 1 hour in Malaysia now (except peak period of course). Also, you don't have to bribe if you you do nothing wrong and you are polite.
yepp, exactly, you don't hv to bribe and bribery is a crime.
Good one. As you mentioned, every country has pros and cons. We should determine the country to live in or retire from based on what is most important to us. I am a Sri Lankan who has been living in Singapore for nearly five years now. What I feel is that Singapore is almost a perfect country. Yes, there are some challenges in Singapore. But I think Singapore’s safety & efficiency are not tradable. Want to have good food or want to visit a good place? Just take a cheap flight and go to a country around SG. Also, if you are an active person, Singapore is one of the most excellent places to form a business and earn big money.
My antenna can drop down, and I don't need to carry my bag in front or put my bag on the inner side of the road ( I never knew I had to do this when my msian friend reminded me to shift my bag in when we are eating at the corridor of the resturant, hanging my bag behind the chair, "here is not SG"- right from his mouth🤣)
I can safely walk at night in most areas in sg alone, and most places are lit, at least my hangout places.
Make another video in 30 year's time when you've lived in a few more countries, experienced the problems associated with living in any foreign country, tried to keep warm in harsh winters with escalating energy costs, experienced racism because you *are* a foreigner (btw, that's endemic in any culture), and getting to grips with only seeing your family every five years because you do live so far away. Singapore, by then, will have 20% GST (like the UK today) and I guarantee you will be seriously considering RETIRING (not driving an hour to your office every day!!) in your home country where your citizenship guarantees you permanence.
Totally agree with you.. I have lived in many countries including US, EU, Japan and ME and what you have mentioned is ABSOLUTELY correct..
Also the covert racism wherever you go. It really gets depressing after a long time of living in a western country and no matter how hard you try to assimilate you will never be equally accepted as fully part of the society.
Wisely put 😀 btw he has forsaken his Malaysian citizenship so she is no longer his home country.
I agree. Born and bred in KL, I have studied and lived in Melbourne, travelled and stayed in Christchurch, New Zealand, worked 7 years in HK before the landover, Beijing in year 1999-2000, travelled extensively to Tokyo, Singapore and West Coast, US. Worked for British and American MNCs. As you said, racism is endemic in any culture, even in HK and Singapore where a Malaysian Chinese is somehow a lesser being. Malaysia wins hand down as the retirement home for me, although I could have migrated to Australia or New Zealand. When you have money, why live in Australia or any other country? Just travel and stay for any period of time as vacation. Malaysia has it all, great weather (if you can handle the humidity and heat, no major natural disasters, great food, people are friendly, Malays, Chinese, Indians, etc..
@@chrissieng8146even in China, one would think it wouldn’t be too hard to “blend” in for a Malaysian Chinese, but no, mainlanders are very territorial, even in small cities, the locals are jealous of people from other parts of China who work or have businesses there.
Nice video Kelvin! Singaporeans should stop saying Malaysia is cheap. I find that offensive. Try working in an average job that pays in ringgit and live in in KL or JB and people will realize that it’s damn expensive. It’s so much easier to save more in Singapore despite the higher cost of rental (no need to own a car as well).
I'm sorry that you're offended over common sense. This is abt relatively, obviously it is cheap for Singaporeans who shop there, u think Singaporeans dont know it aint cheap for Malaysians? Come on give us some credit as if we are that dumb. Should i go to Zimbabwe and say it is expensive for tourists just because ppl living there are struggling?
@@johnwig285 apparently no many Singaporeans don’t know it ain’t cheap for Malaysians I’m sorry. That’s how insensitive many Singaporeans are.
@@randomterror7 I am a Singaporean and I never say the word cheap but instead I used "reasonable".... heehee. So that the shop owner will not increase the price. Plse shop smart. Cheers
Cheap ?
Many imported items in Malaysia are simply 3+ times eg S$5 here but RM16 or more .
Even Malaysia Farm Fresh 2L fresh milk is RM 15 in Malaysia but S$5 here .
I am also happy to pay S$1 for RM2.60 Coke Zero @ Value$ .
@@randomterror7 well say... sometimes I felt sorry for the Johorean.
As a Malaysian living in Singapore, I agree with you. I won't choose to retire in Malaysia for the same exact reason too.
good for you but i am happily back in KL and never encounter any negative issues he mentioned. Also, we are going to have our 5G sooner than you all imagine.
Thanks Kelvin. I am a Malaysian living in Johor Bahru, so there is that pros and cons as in living anywhere in the world. I am very upset with this bribery business and would pay the fine than to give a bribe. I do feel for the average Singaporean who just want to have a good time here, taking advantage of the strong dollars. But then faced with some of these unpleasant experiences.
I agreed
I Know Many Singaporeans Retire In Perth Or Auckland Which Are Actually
Cheaper.
@@hockchweeong9883 i appreciate your effort to divert some retiree traffic to orher countries, i dont want to many foreigners to come and retire here and pay no taxes yet enjoy good stress free life while locals have to struggle like slaves
@@tenga3tango
When You Reached Retiree Age, Retiring Does Not Mean Living Life Stress Free!!
Many Retirees Apart From Being Financial Sufficient. LOOKOUT For. MEDICAL facilities For Ttheir ELDERLY needs.
Thanks for being so objective! It helps a lot. And you're pretty funny too. 🤣
Each to their own. Never listen to anyone on TH-cam. Assess your own needs and requirements. Then decide for yourself. Only you know what is best for yourself.
I am a Sarawakian-Malaysian living out of Malaysia since 20 years ago. Thank you for being a sport Bro. I've been to many countries; comparatively Malaysia is the best. Low cost of living, no/less natural disasters, relatively safe and, Very humble and, friendly people.
I have been PR much longer than you, over 35 years. The reason I stayed here is because of good governance, strong SGD and hence better pay and despite inflation spiked over last few months, the inflation in SG is lower than Malaysia. And most importantly English education. Singapore is good for employee. Malaysia is good for businessman. Malaysia is not as dangerous as the focus of SG mainstream reported it. The US and many cities in Europe are a lot more dangerous.
Nah, you can have English education here in the international school or simply home-school your kids. Agreed Malaysia is safe. I was PR in SG but have been back in KL and never regret a single day.
Why is Malaysia good for businessmen?
Yes, businessmen prefer Malaysia. Low operating cost. For earning salary Singapore is better
Malaysia is ranked 20th most peaceful country globally according to Global Peace Index. Those who comment clearly don't know what they're talking about. It's very safe in general, and in fact, one of the safest in the world!
employees are for pessimistic people...better to be employer to guarantee continuous income in Malaysia...wait until you retire or get fired from your job then you will understand
It boils down to the numbers, how much you can support yourself. Malaysia is one of the best place to retire due to its affordability. You dont need to retire in KL, its expensive, but you can live in the a rural area close to KL, dont worry you will be able to get Internet in rural area too. Or live in a more affordable State in Malaysia like Johor, etc. There are many options.
That’s a surprise! Good a see a fellow Ipoh guy representing us in the personal finance market here!
I agree with your strategy. I am currently practicing retirement by traveling to countries that are affordable and near the ocean. After 40 countries, Panama is at the top of the list. I am planning trips to Msia, Philippines, and Uruguay.
Paiseh needs to share with you that, Driving can no longer be bribed (your thinking was old era), now learning aldy very expensive Rm2000+, and now all got CCTV very strict. Also, for Gov renewing like IC, Passport now very fast aldy(pls don't take the case when covid recovery and many want to renew passports, that one indeed waits for 3 months but this also happening same in SG), you should ask your friends to get the most updated news lah. Also, other sectors also can be done online... a lot of areas have improved a lot ah...but I agreed with other points that you mentioned 80% which was true. Anyway, both MY and SG got pros and cons, just depends on how people want to take it and what they prefer. This is a good video, tks for sharing, Kelvin.
Hi, Kelvin. Thank you for your video. I hope you'll find somewhere you really love when you retire! As for me, I hope to plan in Malaysia. Who knows. I'd like to retire in the countryside and have a yard where I could run, garden, hang out with friends and family, and have animals. New Zealand is a nice place to retire, by the way, especially if you're thinking about settling down on the South Island. Have a good day! 😃
I will retire in sg. This is home for me.
wait until you need to take queue number just to get out from the house
I'm sure u end up retiring in Malaysia at the end..but maybe u will go and lives in few countries before that..Malaysia is not perfect with many cons but I think it's still the best place to retired..and Singapore is still the best place to work and earn.
with sufficient wealth Malaysia is heaven
😀probably so hahahaha, once they have built enough wealth in SG and have had enough of the pressure cooker lifestyle but MM2H is gonna be too expensive for many of them.
I love to stay in Malaysia...but what kelvin mentioned is truly factual in some points he raised
I even live in KL running around Penang and Johor for one year and I totally agreed what Kelvin had share 👍!
Thanks for sharing. I am like you, I plan to retire and experience living in different part of the world. And when I am too old and need medical attention, then just come back to Singapore.
At the current high inflation and living cost, it is very normal to see that this topic is in majority of many Singaporeans mind.
I agree on your closing statement.
Instead of thinking to retire in 1 place forever, I would prefer to still have choice living in different locations, depending on my age. For example, when I am 80s and above, Singapore nursing home might be ideal, due to the healthcare/hospital treatment.
Overall, we need to up our savings/passive income to support our retirement goal.
I am also a Malaysian, Singapore PR. You are totally correct on the driving (daily routine) and extra car expenses although the car is cheap. Nowadays car instalment, petrol, toll, parking and maintenance is the highest cost which is more expensive than food. For those fresh graduate, car expense can be more than 50% of their salary nowadays. Did you find out who stole your slippers though?
Car park is the painful. So many cars so little parking lot...
Especially suddenly get saman but we always wait for the promotion period to pay it 🙈
@@SkyLee91 Lol exactly. And CNY time better dont drive to "Gen" Ting, if not you will have to sleep in your car while waiting for parking slot🤣
Just fyi and update, the public transport system is KL is super good, efficient and KL city council also has kindly provided free GoKL buses. I dont own a car in KL and go out everyday and my monthly transport fee is
@@forevergraceful6160 Ya, no doubt about KL. I used to stay in KL for about a year and as per what you said, it is super convenient there. But for other states like me, a Johorean, not so lucky already.
A wonderfully fair, balanced and informative video. I first visited Singapore and Malaysia in the late 80s, have been back and forth on visits between them and Vietnam and Cambodia while living in Thailand for the past 35 years. Thank you for the time, effort and humor. More info on the dog shop-keeper next time will be appreciated.
I lived in Johor ,what your saying is 100% true.
There are more details to this pod cast about Malaysia,but IV notice it's different in other parts of Malaysia .
I retired in Thailand and I love it. I recommend including Thailand on any list of potential retirement locations.
I believe Thailand or even Vietnam is a nice place to retired. Slow n easy.
Agree 👍 between I fr Malaysia!
Good nasi kandar and good nasi lemak at any time of the day and night.....how to move to other countries laaa. Haiiyaaaa !!!!
For many Singaporeans MY would be more attractive than Vietnam, Thailand or Japan, simply for the reason that the culture is familiar, you can speak English or often your own language/dialect and the food is familiar (just bit better than in Singapore🙂 ) Other countries are wonderful to visit, but to retire, you want to be somewhere that is also easy to live. A Singaporean living in for instance Japan wouldn't make many local friends.
Hi kelvin thanks for doing this video. This question of where to retire has been plaguing me for along time. I love singapore and malaysia. Each has its attractions.
Now Malaysia broadband is cheaper. About RM140 for 300 mps. Also now with LRT and MRT, you can easily go places without driving. Or call a grab. Stay near an LRT station and it is easy to get around. The LRT, MRT and monorail are all interconnected. But if you got the money, Australia is a good place to retire. It is clean, unpolluted and beautiful. There are way more places to visit than Malaysia. I agreed with you not to limit your choice to one place.
Good post but I disagree on few things.
1. It is a misunderstanding that Public transport is not there in Malaysia. Yes no mrt or buses but taxi is cheap. You can take grab / taxi anywhere you want to go.
2. When you look at a Singaporean retiree perspective, 10k RM per month is not a big amount considering what you might spend for similar lifestyle in Singapore.
3. Cost of medical and medicines in general. Easily a few times cheaper.
However safety aspect is a good point.
It is hard to get assimilated in Western countries or even countries like Vietnam or Thailand where language is an issue.
Malaysia is attractive just from the perspective of land connection to Singapore and being able to come back anytime you need to apart from the similar culture, food and language.
Once there are more transport options between JB and SG like upcoming mrt and probably more land connections and ferry, it might enable more retirees have one leg in SG and one leg in Malaysia enjoying best of both worlds.
I heard that MM2H has changed and requires Foreigners to have a monthly income of 40,000 Ringgit and a bank account of 1.5 million Ringgit. Is this correct?
I'm from Ipoh too and hv in SG for a decade until I decided to start my business back in Malaysia. For me I would to retired in any country except Singapore because I love to drive and my car is always my horse. The joy of driving is limitless and I hate to depend living on the mercy of public transport. Worst when u hv child and elderly parents but yet need to sardine in the MRT or bus. Very unpleasant when it rains and u hv to carry alot of groceries. Glad I had quit the rat race in SG and no longer living as a rat. This is a country where u will work till u died.
Yepp SG is a country that makes many Malaysians appreciate Malaysia like never before!
Kevin is young and talked as a single person…..
Enjoyed your well compiled advices on MY. Hope to hear some off topics stuff other than investing.
Personal experience about the bribe culture in MY. When I was young, have being to JB once every couple of months with my dad because of his work commitment at some of the factory at JB. Have been stopped once by the traffic police for not wearing seatbelt when clearly we always wear them but was let off with some help of kopi money. Another time, our family car nearly became a target for those car thieves but thanks to the one of the coffee shop uncle near the restaurant we always patronise which my dad will always treat him with foods/drinks, he managed to help us deter them away. He always carry a stick with him and can be seen roaming around the area.
Do passport in Johor 50 minutes. Singapore 3 months. When you die in Malaysia. You rest in peace. In Singapore, they dig you up after a few years. After die also no freehold. Still leasehold.
after die, do you know what going on :)
@@doggy4532 If don’t know what’s going on than why in Singapore every where peoples pray and offer food in 7th months? Also cannot eat?
Its very difficult to decide on "retiring" in Malaysia due to the fact that its just next door, its so easy to get to so the idea of retiring permanently is far less attractive when you can be there within an hour for a short getaway (if you time the causeway jam right). Most Singaporeans buy a property there, rent out their HDB apartment for a few years and then come back when they saved up.
The efficiency and security in SIngapore are very HARD to trade away for a long time.
it's just your opinion, some of us feel really good and safe, retiring in Malaysia.
Precisely Malaysia is next door to Singapore makes it an ideal place for 'retirement'. I take daily walks with my dog amidst nature among friendly neighbours in JB and am living a quality lifestyle without being extravagant. In fact, I do not consider myself 'retired'. I am still on a work visa in Malaysia after working in Singapore for more than 30 years. I love both countries and have lived my life thus far, to the fullest.
Let’s get to THE POINT. Let’s get REAL.
If ure single & hv a guaranteed rm10k per month income, JUST RETIRE IN MALAYSIA.
If ure one of those who whine bout efficiency, cleanliness, bribery, “Malay supremacy” etc, then it’s not bout d money. M’sia is just not for u.
I’m happily retired in KL.
It’s so true. You can retire in so many countries that have the best of both worlds. You can live in Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan. Further out, New Zealand, Australia, even further out, the UK, even places like Turkey, Georgia.
Turkey inflation 150%.
Dear Kelvin-Sir, no matter how thin you slice it, there will always be 2 sides.
Also depends how retirement in another place is defined. One can park their assets in sg with its strong dollar, but reside in other countries, 3 months in one part of Malaysia then 3 months in Thailand etc...
I also agree Malaysian food is better than Singapore! Malaysia food got soul... 🔥
Agreed with your views. Singapore is one of the world most expensive cities to live in. If you are rich, living in Singapore is like living in Heaven. If you are retirees, it's best to retire in other Asean countries, maybe Thailand, Malaysia.
2 yrs ago, the hawker food price was around $3, and this year, the average hawker food price shot up to around S$4 to $6+. For retirees, people with sickness with no income are badly affected. Medical expenses and utilities are also expensive.
Thanks Kelvin. I do agree that it is a big and wide world with hundreds of places to retire. Presently I am considering Labuan Bajo, Indonesia a new paradise city in Indonesia. Although it is quite far , 2 1/2 hours flight from Jakarta, there is already a lot of developments meaning it is becoming very expensive to live there.
One thing Malaysian always say Malaysia is big they can freely travel, while sg too small and not much place to go . But they forgot once we holding a passport, we sharing equally travel opportunities
Haha this is very true
Travelling can be stressful....
@Kesidang 2021 the stress I guess mostly came from custom jam, try go to indonesia there is still many undiscovered jem there to look for and I think the indo should not only focus on promoting bali
During pandemic. Malaysians can still move around in their own country i.e the reason for saying Malaysian is big.
@@beeyunwong1445 don't you also under the MCO which only allow to travel within your neighbourhood?
I like your video... very informative... rational...fair... and others. There is no right or wrong who is best. But remember people can't compare the price of Singapore against Malaysia as Singapore is a first world country while Malaysia is a developing country. Can't deny in Malaysia there are plenty of places to go because she is much much bigger than Singapore. I like your quote when u mention about WIFI speed comparison between these 2 countries. The younger generation would like the 5G in Singapore. Overall your video is awesome. It come down to each individual what is your preference. Cheers.
Bali and Taiwan are not countries. They are just provinces of their respected countries.
uh oh....
Not sure why you compare Msia and Sg while you prefer to retire in other countries. Like comparing Coke and Pepsi and conclude that you won't drink coke Coz you prefer water.
He just want to attract ppl to watch his channel .
😆😆😂😂🍾🥂🍾🍾
You are right
He is comparing beef and checken then finally prefer to eat pork
Agree with your observation of Malaysian's bribe culture. Yesterday in Ipoh I witnessed a car driver blocking a fire truck with siren on. This is one driver who must have paid bribes to get his driver licence instead of taking and passing the written and driving tests.
Great information. Thank you.
It's only cheap if you earn from a stronger currency country and spend in Malaysia ONLY. Singapore's infrastructure, transport, connectivity, safety, etc. I can take a bus and MRT and reach almost anywhere in Singapore around or within an hour. My Malaysian friend told me that waiting 1 hour for a bus in rural areas is common. And no guarantee it will come or not? My friend along with wife and kids took a taxi, but got kicked out at some unknown kampung with all his groceries and stuff just because he refused to a sudden change of the agreed fare by the driver. 😲
Can't be helped. Malaysia is a vast country. It's easier to have better infrastructure if the area of the country is small.
It's only cheaper if you are paid in sgd and retire in ringgit but if you earn in ringgit , gg man
Actually no choice......see where your wife says and chose....... the power of peace...
Staying in JB (with valid visa) and earning passive income (S$) to me is best of both worlds. Especially with the New RTS currently being built & targeted to come online 2026. Otherwise, even semi retirement in JB (travel in/out) couple times a week (no need visa) for ad-hoc work in SG during non-peak hours (border jams) can work as well. Ideally, some kind of residence permit (For singaporeans or foreign investors in Iskandar) would be ideal (perhaps it will happen next year after change of Govt). 🤭
Currently i retire in both Malaysia and Singapore. Just gave up my car in Singapore. Use public transport in Singapore and drive in Malaysia. Singapore is a place for me to rest and Malaysia to be more active...
I wont fixed myself retiring in one location. I will move every weeks or months, town to town, staying out of touristy areas. In this order of preference...Philippines> Thailand> Vietnam> China> Indonesia> Malaysia.
yeah I prefer in that way too , Bulgaria , Romania , Hungary , Ukraine , Bosnia , Serbia , Poland
We can retire anywhere we desire ..my ideal place will be Kl...and travel everwhere...i am semi retired when i am 32 and been enjoying life. Most of people all around the world want to retire in Malaysia. It is a choice for every one and preferences. It is funny that only people living in Singapore think Malaysia isn't safe ironic
Agreed
Probably in SG they are monitored everywhere 24/7 so anywhere in the world is not safe for them. Good for us if they believe that, we dont want too many of them here to cause more inflation and don't like that stressful pressure cooker culture to infiltrate our cities.
i live in kl for the past 40years..never encounter any bribery..maybe coz im not politician? too lazy to drive? there's grabfood/mart, foodpanda/mart, shopee food too..i ordered smoked duck from pasar selayang too...can go to beaches/waterfall/hiking/other cities on weekend...many private hospitals too
Singapore is better, very congested with high density of people. When you enter NTUC Fairprice (try the Jurung East branch) - it is like entering a maze. A family with children can play hide and seek there, no need to pay entrance fee at amusement centre.
Awesome video 👍
Malaysia has similar pros and cons to the Southern US.
It all really depends on personal preference. I can totally relate on the desire for reliable internet here in SG and your current requirements for work. Most of my family live in ulu areas of the countryside and neigh impossible to work on the road.
I heard from some Chinese Malaysians (mostly from Melacca) that Chinese are treated like 2nd class citizens there.
Nice vid!
2nd class? U mean enemies? Because magically during election year, every chinese is called a communist. And everytime accident, we are called "babi" and indians are automatically "mabuk"
I have lived in KL for 3 years now, the internet is super reliable so I don't understand this thing about internet issue. The Chinese are the richest group so far in Malaysia, most of our children have uni education, most of us live in good houses, condos and enjoy good city life, so does it matter if others think that we are considered a second class citizens 😃
@@forevergraceful6160 yeah KL is like the NY of Malaysia, super big city but doesn't really reflect the majority of the country.
I'm thinking of the more small towns in Malaysia with my statements 😊
I’m Chinese Malaysian. I used to b Chinese Australian.
I’m HAPPILY living in KL now. :)
@@djtan3313 it takes one to be away to appreciate what one had in KL/Malaysia hey? I am back from overseas as well!
Great insight from a Malaysian perspective! Will still choose to retire in Singapore because of the kinship and friendship that are formed here (though there are likely more financial advantage for a Singaporean retiring within ASEAN)~
wait until you run out of money
Great video ! I hate both driving and crime , and like you said - 1,650 USD a month is affordable but not cheap.
Malaysia is perfect to retire due to the big space, more nature, more mountains, fantastic beaches to trek onto. Problem is development is down the drain and its barely half as developed as singapore, crime is still everywhere. Maybe one day when Malaysia is more developed, itll be a better choice for retirement.
You are young and you’re not talking about retiring. I’ve lived in USA, Canada, Australia, Middle East and now Malaysia. I’ve also visited many countries in Asia and Europe. Malaysia is a good place to retire! And bribe?? There are many Malaysians who don’t bribe, I certainly don’t. Safety?? Try other countries first before you think Malaysia is not safe.
Try US, there is shooting everywhere like it's target practice! I have never felt unsafe in Malaysia. People are so friendly and honest! Yes, they are a little laid back, but their kindness make up for it.
well I got a alot of friends from Malaysia wouldn't want to retire there but prefer in sg instead and friend in Singapore prefer to retire in Malaysian instead of sg. Those Malaysian prefer sg is because they find it safe, gov support etc but then at the end of the day it's depends on individual tho.
When you are rich, everywhere you go is heaven
those are poor Malaysian preferring SG
You are funny, friend..Good one.
My base will be Malaysia for the food and a few friends left. I will travel extensively if finance permits.
if you're malaysia, better to fork out money to buy land and build your own home. i baught a sizeable land close to water source which i planned to be self sustainable off grid. with climate change and geopolitical events nowadays my plan was spot on. i am still in the process of building a turbine hydro and for internet we will be able to use starlink soon. but recent years TM has been expanding a lot and even some villages that are on the end city can enjoy fibre internet. it will improved, people just need to be more proactive in complaining to the authority just like my friend in singapore said, the different between us is singapore citizen kuat complaint 😂 so the responsible party take action fast, malaysian not so much
Kelvin, you forgot to mentioned that to apply a home telephone line, you need to wait for months. Renewal of passport also takes a longer time as compared to SG. My Ipoh friend (now a Singapore Citixen) told me passport renewal fee was RM$300 (about 15~20 years ago) valid for 5 years when he was a PR doing passport renewal at Malaysian Embassy in SG. I understand it's RM$200 if you do it in Malaysia. SG passport cost $70 and valid for 10years.which is still cheaper than Malaysia. My Malaysian friend told me there are many items so much cheaper in SG. Example is LED TV, computer, mobile phone. Things are only cheaper in Malaysia if they are made in Malaysia. Shampoo & baby powder that are imported into Malaysia are actually more expensive than SG
@Juan Don, where have you lived in Malaysia? Tree?
an hour for passport renewal, can do online some more nowadays..
Who buys tv and mobile phone every month huh?
Malaysian senior citizens passport renewal 100rgt only
What BS misinformation are these?!! These are the facts:
- u don't need home telephone line nowadays. This is not the 90s. Also it doesn't take 'months'.
- passport renewal only takes 1 hour at counter, or u can simply renew it online. Also it costs rm200 - either u do it in Malaysia or in SG. Easy peasy.
- consumer electronics goods like TV, computer, hp, etc are much more cheaper in Malaysia than in SG. Try compare iphone 15 price in Malaysia to SG, u can save rm100~ or abt sgd30.
- consumer products like shampoo or baby formula are also cheaper. A packet of 800g Dumex Dulac Step 1 milk powder cost sgd20 in SG but the same item costs only sgd9 (rm27) in Malaysia.
Also other costs are hyper inflated in SG, like healthcare, food, and rental. Dental in SG costs a bomb, but u can get very reasonable price in private clinics and hospitals.
Malaysia will be best place to retire.. So many Japanese, Hong Konger and Korean are retiring here.
So many of my relatives already bought a property in Malaysia and rent their homes in Singapore which is fully paid and I am planning of doing the same as well. Food in SG cost at least $4 in hawker centers which is equivalent to RM12+. COE last for 10 years before getting scrapped unless renewed and parking fees are everywhere. At least parking is free for those staying in Semi Detached type houses and utility bill is cheaper. Lastly, dental fees in SG is ridiculously expensive compared to MY
Hold on, the expenses example you gave at 6.31 is someone who is already retired, age above 60, car full paid, kids grown up with who are self sustaining, and parents might npt be around anymore (RM3190 saved and possible makan lower amount) or someone who is below 60 and yet to retire?
I think it depends how much one have at retirement. If i have say even 5mil sgd at retirement it is just normal and not super luxurious. But in Malaysia kl you will be living like a king.
You're funny! I really enjoyed your video
No wonder I always 'LIKE' your videos...U from Ipoh ! I LOVE Ipoh very much. Many friends from Ipoh and met many Msians from there, ALL very nice! :) Ipoh -nice place and food!