Retirement in JB, KL or Stay Put in SG? My Ongoing Comparison...

[Levis]

Hey bros, thought I’d share some notes from my own retirement planning journey. I’m looking at options to retire by 50 (fingers crossed and 3.5 years more to go), and the top contenders are Johor Bahru (JB), Kuala Lumpur (KL), or just staying in good ol’ Singapore (SG).

 

Figured I’d break it down by some key factors — and hopefully this sparks more sharing from others here.

 

A. Budget Sustainability (Till We Go Upstairs ~84 yrs)
SG: Solid but premium pricing — every kopi feels like it's inflated with GST and childhood memories.

JB: Your dollar does gym-level stretching here. Groceries, hawker food, massages — all cheaper. Just don’t forget to factor in medical insurance and Grab fares.

KL: Similar to JB but with more temptation to overspend in big malls. Retirement might turn into "early reemployment" if you hang out in Pavilion too often.

 

B. Lifestyle Closeness to SG
SG: Comfort zone, no surprises. MRT delays are the most exotic part of daily life.

JB: Feels like SG from 15 years ago — familiar hawker food, Singlish everywhere, and even our favourite bubble tea chains made it over.

KL: A bit more rojak, but still very navigable for SG guys. More English signage, but also more traffic jams and confusing mall layouts.

 

C. Food Choices
SG: 24/7 food paradise, but lately everything comes with a side of "price increase".

JB: Legit good and cheap — but your tummy might need to build immunity if you're too used to NEA grades.

KL: Endless food choices too — with some amazing local and international picks. Be warned: their char kway teow is different (don’t fight the auntie over it).

 

D. Healthcare
SG: Excellent, if you can afford it or have enough MediShield/MediSave/meditations.

JB: Good for GP visits and dental, but serious stuff may still see you crossing back to SG with your CT scan results in hand.

KL: More established private hospital options than JB — some even with concierge vibes.

 

E. Housing Affordability / Variety
SG: Unless you’re ballin’ or inheriting a flat, prices here can kill your FIRE dreams.

JB: RM500K gets you a condo with pool, gym, and sometimes even a small ghost in the hallway.

KL: More developed options, slightly more expat-friendly. You might even find one with a durian ban written into the tenancy agreement.

 

F. Transport (Getting Around / Back to SG)
SG: MRT is king, even if it gets moody sometimes.

JB: RTS Link is coming (finally), but current crossings can still be a test of patience and bladder control.

KL: Affordable flights, but don’t expect Changi standards. And if you thought SG traffic was bad, wait till you try their rush hour.

 

G. Public Infra / Daily Convenience / SG Banking Access
SG: 10/10 convenience. Everything works — except sometimes Singpass OTPs.

JB: Maybank2u + DBS/POSB + PayNow magic still works, but don’t expect everything to be digitised — bring a pen.

KL: Better infra than JB. More modern malls, Grab everywhere, and decent banking options — just double check the ATM before you put your card in.

 

Final Thoughts
Right now, I’m leaning toward KL as I'm most familiar with it although JB is kind of "best of both worlds" — close to SG, cost savings, familiar lifestyle. KL is also appealing if I want more city life. SG is still the gold standard… but at gold bar prices.

 

Would love to hear what you guys are thinking. Anyone already testing the waters in JB/KL? How are you planning around CPF, healthcare, or visas? Let’s build this into a solid info thread for all the SG bros looking ahead!

 

 

P.S. I'm not a financial planner and not trying to solicit biz.

[radiusulnar]

Thanks for doing the homework! 

[cbm]

If you're holding Singapore passport, how do you plan on staying in Malaysia for long term?

 

 

[Levis]

5 minutes ago, cbm said:

If you're holding Singapore passport, how do you plan on staying in Malaysia for long term?

 

 

2 possible routes : 1) DE Rantu Nomad Pass, which has an earlier expiry of 1Y + 1Y and need one to have a WFH kinda employment which needs to figure out how to do that.  2) MM2H Silver, which needs investment into MY property and get a substantial amount of funds locked up. Also there's a risk that MY property may not hold it's value over long term, especially current administration not proven to be able to hold their political offices for long.

 

I also heard of stories of others in-out of JB but not sure how sustainable this is and whether can navigate CIQ's checks. If anyone can share this, would be good.

[cbm]

6 hours ago, Levis said:

2 possible routes : 1) DE Rantu Nomad Pass, which has an earlier expiry of 1Y + 1Y and need one to have a WFH kinda employment which needs to figure out how to do that.  2) MM2H Silver, which needs investment into MY property and get a substantial amount of funds locked up. Also there's a risk that MY property may not hold it's value over long term, especially current administration not proven to be able to hold their political offices for long.

 

I also heard of stories of others in-out of JB but not sure how sustainable this is and whether can navigate CIQ's checks. If anyone can share this, would be good.

 

Yah lor. I know about those 3 options and their corresponding complications. 

 

For the first one, you need to have a job. For the second one, people have bought property in Malaysia and the value actually become lower than when they bought it. For the third one, I know someone who was doing this until they were stopped and questioned by Malaysian kastam eventually. Too many visits and no job in Malaysia raised red flags. None of the 3 options is ideal really.

 

[radiusulnar]

Back to the drawing board. Best to plan on basis of retiring in SG

[cutejack]

Hi,Levis,

 

Glad to hear that u r retiring soon or planning to do so. As we r singles n unmarried, retirement should be in card anytime soon once u reach 40s as we have less commitments n most of us are holding high position n I believe one should have enough savings to retire happily.

OK, my late father is a Malaysian n we have a family house in jb. My siblings n myself are sporeans and my sister has retired n staying in jb. She travel to spore every month to get her passport endorsed. 

It doesn't matter whether one owns a property or renting a place in jb coz we all knew that rent is much much cheaper in jb. 

I suggest/ my experience/ my point of view is retiring in jb is a very good idea coz,

1) nearer to spore n u could easily travel here in case situation or family needs u.

2) lower n cheaper expenses n can sustain yr savings throughout your lifetime. 

3) u may do gardening, gym, window shopping at less crowded shopping malls, thus time flies n u don't feel bored.

 

All these need to be done while u maintain yr property in spore to rent the rooms for extra passive income. Remember to lock n spare a room for yrself incase u need to come back n u have a place to stay in spore. Do not rent the whole flat as u couldn't enter the premises but u may rent room by room, so that u could still sleep in the living area incase u r back to run errands. 

To me , retiring in jb is a very good idea especially now with self check in passports,  no officers would question u regarding yr frequent travel to n fro jb. In fact I'm doing this quiet often too but still not retired yet. Haha

All the best n feel free to pm me should u need any info on this. Best regards. Cutejack aka Jeff.

Edited July 14, 2025 by cutejack

[cutejack]

As we all ever heard or witnesses that many elderly resume work as part time or full time at their golden age coz savings depleting or bored etc etc reasons..staying in spore is not healthy unless u have extremely more than enough of savings. But again how much is enough? Nobody knows their expiry here on earth. So plan wisely n retire happily.

[Levis]

9 hours ago, cutejack said:

Hi,Levis,

 

Glad to hear that u r retiring soon or planning to do so. As we r singles n unmarried, retirement should be in card anytime soon once u reach 40s as we have less commitments n most of us are holding high position n I believe one should have enough savings to retire happily.

OK, my late father is a Malaysian n we have a family house in jb. My siblings n myself are sporeans and my sister has retired n staying in jb. She travel to spore every month to get her passport endorsed. 

It doesn't matter whether one owns a property or renting a place in jb coz we all knew that rent is much much cheaper in jb. 

I suggest/ my experience/ my point of view is retiring in jb is a very good idea coz,

1) nearer to spore n u could easily travel here in case situation or family needs u.

2) lower n cheaper expenses n can sustain yr savings throughout your lifetime. 

3) u may do gardening, gym, window shopping at less crowded shopping malls, thus time flies n u don't feel bored.

 

All these need to be done while u maintain yr property in spore to rent the rooms for extra passive income. Remember to lock n spare a room for yrself incase u need to come back n u have a place to stay in spore. Do not rent the whole flat as u couldn't enter the premises but u may rent room by room, so that u could still sleep in the living area incase u r back to run errands. 

To me , retiring in jb is a very good idea especially now with self check in passports,  no officers would question u regarding yr frequent travel to n fro jb. In fact I'm doing this quiet often too but still not retired yet. Haha

All the best n feel free to pm me should u need any info on this. Best regards. Cutejack aka Jeff.

 

Thanks @cutejack for your sharing. Great info.

 

Agree on your take to plan for retirement into our 40s and that's why I am here discussing this. Hopefully some bros here (like yourself) could share their take we all can get new insights which we ourselves may not be able to spot.

 

Rationally, don't disagree with you that JB seems like the best and obvious choice considering many factors in totality. Your family property in JB makes it easy for your sister to make that decision I guess. Yes, rental in JB wouldn't be that costly so COL is a big pull factor for me. Though I must say I don't quite enjoy crossing the borders on a regular basis. Mainly JB side's traffic is a nightmare. RTS may relieve a bit but JB's infra not gonna change significantly over the next few years given their public transport investment choice is ART. Overcrowding is another painful thing to endure.

 

Another consideration is to maintain the SG property you suggested, which itself has a lot of obvious & hidden cost while living across the causeway. Rental covers most of these cost but quite a bit of efforts to maintain with tenants which I would prefer not to deal with if given a choice between rental income vs. convenience. I even considered having an agent (who would broker for the tenants) to help out with these chores but many find it not worthy despite an offer for a retainer fee. If given a choice, I would prefer not to keep a property in SG but like you said, I may still need a base to return to when in SG. I wonder how bros who are based in JB or overseas are dealing with this w/o imposing your local siblings/relatives/friends?

 

Honestly, KUL is my personal fav in terms of lifestyle and city life but seems like the most sustainable way is to have MM2H which is not cost effective over long-term as there could be a hidden tax due to erosion of property value and RM devaluation compared to S$ and SG property. This would be worse if I were to keep a SG property concurrently, stretching my liquid funds thin.

 

Haha, no best and clear option for now. I still have a few more years. Many things or government rules changes can still happen to deviate the plans.

 

How are other bros considering your retirement location? Anyone considered PEN / MKZ / KCH / BKI / CNX / BKK / SGN / DAD / or even TPE? Care to share your considerations in these areas?

[Steve5380]

18 hours ago, cutejack said:

Hi,Levis,

 

Glad to hear that u r retiring soon or planning to do so. As we r singles n unmarried, retirement should be in card anytime soon once u reach 40s as we have less commitments n most of us are holding high position n I believe one should have enough savings to retire happily.

 

 

Retiring in the 40s ??  If you have a profession, established a career,  the 40s are too early to give all this up.  Is there no goal to make something useful out of one's life?  If one job, one activity ends its allure, isn't there a possibility to switch jobs, careers?   I was fortunate that my life career took place in just one employment with very satisfying work. Yet I found that my retirement at 56 was early, taken with the enticement of early retirement with full benefits and a lifelong pension.  And so I returned to the same employer to work part time as a consultant for the following 8 years.  At 56 I felt sufficiently young to start my gay life, get a boyfriend, do years of sex tourism, etc., feeling that I had missed nothing by not starting all this earlier. 

[Levis]

16 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

Retiring in the 40s ??  If you have a profession, established a career,  the 40s are too early to give all this up.  Is there no goal to make something useful out of one's life?  If one job, one activity ends its allure, isn't there a possibility to switch jobs, careers?   I was fortunate that my life career took place in just one employment with very satisfying work. Yet I found that my retirement at 56 was early, taken with the enticement of early retirement with full benefits and a lifelong pension.  And so I returned to the same employer to work part time as a consultant for the following 8 years.  At 56 I felt sufficiently young to start my gay life, get a boyfriend, do years of sex tourism, etc., feeling that I had missed nothing by not starting all this earlier. 

 

Hey @Steve5380, think retirement consideration is a pretty individualised thought process. Mostly shaped by one's life experiences, values and circumstances, concluded from chats with my friends and folks. Most of them have different opinions, concerns, budget, likings, etc. Safe to say that everyone's ideal retirement plan is different.

 

I am glad that your job gives you great satisfaction. Yet, I suppose this is a great fortune which many do not have the luxury to have. Sometimes, circumstances forced you to make less than ideal career decisions but I think these are something some of us have to go through to grow. Personally, I'm very grateful that some of my previous bosses trusted in me and gave me good opportunities for growth and advancement. However, deep down, I know somehow this isn't the life I would like to lead until I die. Not sure how many people feel this way but to me, my job is just a way for me to earn my keep and a source of funds for my retirement plan.

 

Nonetheless, I agree retiring in 40s may seem early and if that would happen, I should secure for myself what I want to do post-retirement, which I am still considering.

 

Bottomline, I don't buy the notion to work till EOL for money's sake. If my retirement life's cashflow throughout is properly planned, then a formal employment is just a means to it and not a life pursuit. Pursue interests, hobbies, religion, charity, companionship and etc would be more fulfilling, isn't it? LOL

[Levis]

 

 

Something to share with bros here. Maybe it may resonate with you.

[Steve5380]

1 hour ago, Levis said:

 

Hey @Steve5380, think retirement consideration is a pretty individualised thought process. Mostly shaped by one's life experiences, values and circumstances, concluded from chats with my friends and folks. Most of them have different opinions, concerns, budget, likings, etc. Safe to say that everyone's ideal retirement plan is different.

 

I am glad that your job gives you great satisfaction. Yet, I suppose this is a great fortune which many do not have the luxury to have. Sometimes, circumstances forced you to make less than ideal career decisions but I think these are something some of us have to go through to grow. Personally, I'm very grateful that some of my previous bosses trusted in me and gave me good opportunities for growth and advancement. However, deep down, I know somehow this isn't the life I would like to lead until I die. Not sure how many people feel this way but to me, my job is just a way for me to earn my keep and a source of funds for my retirement plan.

 

Nonetheless, I agree retiring in 40s may seem early and if that would happen, I should secure for myself what I want to do post-retirement, which I am still considering.

 

Bottomline, I don't buy the notion to work till EOL for money's sake. If my retirement life's cashflow throughout is properly planned, then a formal employment is just a means to it and not a life pursuit. Pursue interests, hobbies, religion, charity, companionship and etc would be more fulfilling, isn't it? LOL

 

Lewis, no one contests that retirement is individualized, the same as the whole life.  And no one proposes to be employed until EOL.  The idea here is that while enjoying life one should also try to be useful to society.  And employment is one way to do so,  although after retirement one can do volunteer work.  Yet many work until EOL because they die early while still employed... 

[cutejack]

4 hours ago, Levis said:

 

Hey @Steve5380, think retirement consideration is a pretty individualised thought process. Mostly shaped by one's life experiences, values and circumstances, concluded from chats with my friends and folks. Most of them have different opinions, concerns, budget, likings, etc. Safe to say that everyone's ideal retirement plan is different.

 

I am glad that your job gives you great satisfaction. Yet, I suppose this is a great fortune which many do not have the luxury to have. Sometimes, circumstances forced you to make less than ideal career decisions but I think these are something some of us have to go through to grow. Personally, I'm very grateful that some of my previous bosses trusted in me and gave me good opportunities for growth and advancement. However, deep down, I know somehow this isn't the life I would like to lead until I die. Not sure how many people feel this way but to me, my job is just a way for me to earn my keep and a source of funds for my retirement plan.

 

Nonetheless, I agree retiring in 40s may seem early and if that would happen, I should secure for myself what I want to do post-retirement, which I am still considering.

 

Bottomline, I don't buy the notion to work till EOL for money's sake. If my retirement life's cashflow throughout is properly planned, then a formal employment is just a means to it and not a life pursuit. Pursue interests, hobbies, religion, charity, companionship and etc would be more fulfilling, isn't it? LOL

Love, like, agree with yr last sentence.

U should have said, last but not least....

Pursue  interests, hobbies ,RELIGION,CHARITY companionship....would be more fulfilling. Love that.

Many believe especially in spore that working till funeral day is the right thing to do in life. Again ,as u mentioned, to each of its own, to me, my point of view,.how stupidity of sporeans. 

 

[cbm]

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/thousands-singaporeans-shopping-jb-driving-food-rental-prices-johor-chief-minister

 

This recent article says that JB prices have gone up. 

 

When comparing JB and KL, I do sense that KL is cheaper for food and hotels.

[Levis]

11 hours ago, cutejack said:

Love, like, agree with yr last sentence.

U should have said, last but not least....

Pursue  interests, hobbies ,RELIGION,CHARITY companionship....would be more fulfilling. Love that.

Many believe especially in spore that working till funeral day is the right thing to do in life. Again ,as u mentioned, to each of its own, to me, my point of view,.how stupidity of sporeans. 

 

 

On the contrary, I feel that life as a S'porean is pretty sad, though we may not be unique globally. The "system" puts you through a programme so you can be productive enough to generate certain outputs they want of you, to exchange for some numbers in your bank account to chase after price tags that could be growing faster than your bank account numbers. That's where I have so much resonance with the movie "The Matrix", if you know where I come from.

 

S'poreans, IMHO, are a lot of highly hardworking, responsible, obedient and efficient people, just as how the SG Govt designed - Useful, productive, good ROI. This has brought prosperity to SG, no doubt, and we all benefit from SG's overall success. S'poreans have been consistently told to work hard(er) for promotions, 5Cs are your goals, earn your 1st million, blah blah... Somehow, something's still missing and doesn't feel 100% right. I don't think I am the lone guy thinking like this.

 

Ultimately, no matter what choices we make, minimally it should not negatively impact anyone. In fact, if one's choices can send a positive ripple effect to others, that would be better. Just be responsible for one's own actions and take ownership to the outcomes generated.

 

2 cents' worth of thoughts.

 

σ

[Newbiegayguy]

Have you considered adding Penang to the list? More chill and laid back lifestyle if that works for you! 

[Levis]

10 hours ago, cbm said:

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/thousands-singaporeans-shopping-jb-driving-food-rental-prices-johor-chief-minister

 

This recent article says that JB prices have gone up. 

 

When comparing JB and KL, I do sense that KL is cheaper for food and hotels.

 

@cbm, ya, I biasedly think so too. Probably due to KL is much bigger and cost is more distributed across the KL / Selangor region. Whereas JB is much smaller and impacted by S'poreans' weekend warriors and retirees.

 

Perhaps one of these days should do a comparison between KL and JB food choices in the "BW Imperial Kitchen" forum, if this generates enough interests.

[Levis]

8 minutes ago, Newbiegayguy said:

Have you considered adding Penang to the list? More chill and laid back lifestyle if that works for you! 

 

@Newbiegayguy, yes. PEN is among one of the list of cities considered. Have been casually following news in that area. I'm so glad that PEN is finally building its LRT line. Though I've been to PEN quite a number of times, I do get bored with GT and Queensbay. Nothing new is really happening. But that's my impression during pre-COVID. Or perhaps I missed something?

 

In addition, I do read of an upcoming town at mainland, Batu Kawan. But looks deserted and probably still need some years ahead to develop before it's even a place for consideration.

 

How about you share about PEN? Are you a local, staying there now?

[Newbiegayguy]

44 minutes ago, Levis said:

 

@Newbiegayguy, yes. PEN is among one of the list of cities considered. Have been casually following news in that area. I'm so glad that PEN is finally building its LRT line. Though I've been to PEN quite a number of times, I do get bored with GT and Queensbay. Nothing new is really happening. But that's my impression during pre-COVID. Or perhaps I missed something?

 

In addition, I do read of an upcoming town at mainland, Batu Kawan. But looks deserted and probably still need some years ahead to develop before it's even a place for consideration.

 

How about you share about PEN? Are you a local, staying there now?

Yup, I’m from Penang! I’ve lived in both JB and SG for a while too, so I get where you’re coming from.

 

To be honest, I agree that apart from Gurney and Queensbay, there’s not that much going on unless you’re into food or enjoy a chill, slower pace of life. Occasionally you’ll get some cultural stuff or “hipster” markets like Penang Heritage Month or Hin Bus Depot Market, but nothing super exciting unless you know where to look. I heard they’re building a new mall called The Waterfront Shoppes, probably just another mall though haha. Some people do travel out of Penang to nearby towns like Ipoh & Taiping etc because it does get boring after a while. 

 

If you're into nightlife, there are a few chill spots like ChinaHouse, Tujoh, or 77 with bars or live music, but nothing too wild like in Maxwell SG. 🤣

 

About the LRT and Batu Kawan — from a local’s point of view, it’ll probably take at least another 5–10 years before things really pick up there. I do like Penang, but I feel like the vibe is a bit too slow for where I’m at in life right now. 

 

I have a SG PR friend who’s planning to get a place here and kind of rotate between Penang–JB–SG. He treats Penang more like a mini getaway — stay for a few weeks or a month, then fly back when bored. It helps that he has friends here too. Maybe you can try renting a place short-term (like 1–3 months) just to see if the lifestyle suits you?

 

Also just FYI — having a car in Penang (or anywhere in MY really, except maybe KL) is kinda necessary. Public transport here isn’t as connected or efficient as SG.

 

You can also look up "The Corporate Breakout Couple" on YouTube, the husband is from SG and his wife is from Penang, so I think you could get some extra info there.

[cutejack]

2 hours ago, Levis said:

 

On the contrary, I feel that life as a S'porean is pretty sad, though we may not be unique globally. The "system" puts you through a programme so you can be productive enough to generate certain outputs they want of you, to exchange for some numbers in your bank account to chase after price tags that could be growing faster than your bank account numbers. That's where I have so much resonance with the movie "The Matrix", if you know where I come from.

 

S'poreans, IMHO, are a lot of highly hardworking, responsible, obedient and efficient people, just as how the SG Govt designed - Useful, productive, good ROI. This has brought prosperity to SG, no doubt, and we all benefit from SG's overall success. S'poreans have been consistently told to work hard(er) for promotions, 5Cs are your goals, earn your 1st million, blah blah... Somehow, something's still missing and doesn't feel 100% right. I don't think I am the lone guy thinking like this.

 

Ultimately, no matter what choices we make, minimally it should not negatively impact anyone. In fact, if one's choices can send a positive ripple effect to others, that would be better. Just be responsible for one's own actions and take ownership to the outcomes generated.

 

2 cents' worth of thoughts.

 

σ

Exactly, I second that. Something is missing despite having best facilities n money. Lacking of humanity,  communications,  kindness, tolerance,cooperation and the list goes on. Something happened to me lately which when I compared both sg n jb. I feel that we are in not so good place to stay in. 

[Levis]

7 hours ago, Newbiegayguy said:

Yup, I’m from Penang! I’ve lived in both JB and SG for a while too, so I get where you’re coming from.

 

To be honest, I agree that apart from Gurney and Queensbay, there’s not that much going on unless you’re into food or enjoy a chill, slower pace of life. Occasionally you’ll get some cultural stuff or “hipster” markets like Penang Heritage Month or Hin Bus Depot Market, but nothing super exciting unless you know where to look. I heard they’re building a new mall called The Waterfront Shoppes, probably just another mall though haha. Some people do travel out of Penang to nearby towns like Ipoh & Taiping etc because it does get boring after a while. 

 

If you're into nightlife, there are a few chill spots like ChinaHouse, Tujoh, or 77 with bars or live music, but nothing too wild like in Maxwell SG. 🤣

 

About the LRT and Batu Kawan — from a local’s point of view, it’ll probably take at least another 5–10 years before things really pick up there. I do like Penang, but I feel like the vibe is a bit too slow for where I’m at in life right now. 

 

I have a SG PR friend who’s planning to get a place here and kind of rotate between Penang–JB–SG. He treats Penang more like a mini getaway — stay for a few weeks or a month, then fly back when bored. It helps that he has friends here too. Maybe you can try renting a place short-term (like 1–3 months) just to see if the lifestyle suits you?

 

Also just FYI — having a car in Penang (or anywhere in MY really, except maybe KL) is kinda necessary. Public transport here isn’t as connected or efficient as SG.

 

You can also look up "The Corporate Breakout Couple" on YouTube, the husband is from SG and his wife is from Penang, so I think you could get some extra info there.

 

Hey @Newbiegayguy, thanks for sharing on PEN's situation. So it seems situation is similar to pre-COVID days. But somehow Gurney's side is pretty populated with retirees. I heard the property prices there had grown to a ridiculous rate. Not sure if it's still worthwhile to consider there, given that things do get pretty bored after a while.

 

I must confess that I hesitate staying there for 3 months, given that I still enjoy city life like KL's. I recall everytime I visit PEN, I will get bored after 1.5 days. Hahaha. Btw, you are staying at PEN island or at mainland? If on the island, how did you pass your days? I honestly can't imagine staying there for anything more than 3 days.

 

Ya, agree that in PEN, you need a car. I tried taking your public bus to try it out and I almost vomited blood. Not that fun.

 

I watched "The Corporate Breakout Couple" videos sometime back for some of their earlier sharing. Not really following them anymore though.

[Levis]

 

6 hours ago, cutejack said:

Exactly, I second that. Something is missing despite having best facilities n money. Lacking of humanity,  communications,  kindness, tolerance,cooperation and the list goes on. Something happened to me lately which when I compared both sg n jb. I feel that we are in not so good place to stay in. 

 

Hey @cutejack, while true, think we should still be grateful that we are where we are because of SG. We do enjoy a good education system, public transport, employment opportunities, general safety, and to a large extent - social stability, when compared to many other countries. Our country's leaders are pragmatic and practical, though to the extent of overly and coldly rational. Relationship between the citizens and the government is a tad like a transaction. Just do your share for nation building to pay back whatever the country has provided us. I think that by doing our NS, pay taxes, do your job well and don't create problems to the society, we are already doing our nation a service.

[Anderson]

Resort style retirement home in KL.

The cheapest simple suite starts from RM8,500/pm (about $2,600) which is not too expensive,!

 

https://www.instagram.com/share/BATPFRId8n

[Gayman76]

How much do I need to retire comfortably as a gay man when I am 58 years old?

[Levis]

21 minutes ago, Anderson said:

Resort style retirement home in KL.

The cheapest simple suite starts from RM8,500/pm (about $2,600) which is not too expensive,!

 

https://www.instagram.com/share/BATPFRId8n

 

Thanks @Anderson, for sharing! It looks good.

 

Also sharing with bros on another option I found sometime back.

 

https://millenniavillage.com/ 

 

It's located at North of Seremban, a town south of KL city, east of KLIA. While not as glam as located in KL, it's not that far from KLIA so returning to SG is pretty convenient I reckon.

 

Price range from RM6K - 8K, similar to the one Anderson shared. 

[Levis]

31 minutes ago, Gayman76 said:

How much do I need to retire comfortably as a gay man when I am 58 years old?

 

@Gayman76, it really depends on your desired lifestyle, your savings/investments and your needs. Can be as simple as your [Monthly Expenses x 12 x __Years] but this doesn't factor inflation so can only be used as a very very rough gauge.

 

I also use this link as it contains various financial calculators. You may try the "Retirement Calculator". See if it helps. https://www.calculator.net/financial-calculator.html

Edited July 17, 2025 by Levis

[Anderson]

 

33 minutes ago, Gayman76 said:

How much do I need to retire comfortably as a gay man when I am 58 years old?

When working on retirement plans, always consider your own health condition first.

You may be reasonably healthy now at 58, but what about when you're at 68, 78, 88, etc. 

There'll be a time when you'll be less mobile and need some assistance for simple daily routine and obviously cost increases.

For those Retirement homes in MY, you still need at least $30k /pa., add another $20k for food, medication.

Later, for assisted living, the homes will charge accordingly.

[Newbiegayguy]

4 hours ago, Levis said:

 

Hey @Newbiegayguy, thanks for sharing on PEN's situation. So it seems situation is similar to pre-COVID days. But somehow Gurney's side is pretty populated with retirees. I heard the property prices there had grown to a ridiculous rate. Not sure if it's still worthwhile to consider there, given that things do get pretty bored after a while.

 

I must confess that I hesitate staying there for 3 months, given that I still enjoy city life like KL's. I recall everytime I visit PEN, I will get bored after 1.5 days. Hahaha. Btw, you are staying at PEN island or at mainland? If on the island, how did you pass your days? I honestly can't imagine staying there for anything more than 3 days.

 

Ya, agree that in PEN, you need a car. I tried taking your public bus to try it out and I almost vomited blood. Not that fun.

 

I watched "The Corporate Breakout Couple" videos sometime back for some of their earlier sharing. Not really following them anymore though.

You're right about that. From my observation, there seems to be more Indonesian and Chinese expats around the area besides the usual Angmohs. Condos along Gurney Bay could easily hit RM1mil+ per unit. If you do consider other areas such as Jelutong, Bayan Lepas or Air Itam, you could find new condo projects for prices starting around RM600k+. Not sure if there's any extra cost/tax incurred for foreigners though.

 

I am currently living in the island, and I have been cafe-hunting, hiking with friends and exploring food from new hawker stalls. Other than that, I just stay at home lol. I do like to jog at the new promenade along Gurney Bay and Botanical Garden. 

 

Coming back from SG, I do admit that there's a lot of room for improvement for our public transport. I wish they would accept credit/debit card or have something like EZlink instead of only taking cash/mutiara pass. (concession card for students and senior citizens only) I guess the low ridership does contribute to this. Even the MRT frequency in KL can feel lacking putting it next to SG. I recall having to wait 10 minutes for the train during non-peak hours whereas in SG it was only 5-7 minutes. In KL, the peak hour MRT runs every 5 minutes comparing to 2 mins in SG. It was so frequent that having a train arriving at the platform was something instinctual to me, lol. 

 

I had a car when living in JB and since I was living in Skudai, the living cost was rather manageable compared to downtown JB. Being in close proximity with SG, I think I had the best of both worlds between chill life and city life when I was living in JB. 

 

With all said, I think you could safely eliminate Penang from your list 🙂‍↕️

Edited July 17, 2025 by Newbiegayguy

[cutejack]

1 hour ago, Levis said:

 

Thanks @Anderson, for sharing! It looks good.

 

Also sharing with bros on another option I found sometime back.

 

https://millenniavillage.com/ 

 

It's located at North of Seremban, a town south of KL city, east of KLIA. While not as glam as located in KL, it's not that far from KLIA so returning to SG is pretty convenient I reckon.

 

Price range from RM6K - 8K, similar to the one Anderson shared. 

Jb rental for landed property can easily get for rm1300 to rm1600.

Have to ask the right people at the right time. Need to ask around.

 

[mate69]

Consider IPH, a lower-key alternative to the usual suspects

[nate42]

I think retiring in JB is definitely a good option for Singaporeans. Should consider it.

Buy a unit at Princess Cove.  Located just across the Causeway, which is a little more that 1km to SG immigration.  So coming back to SG is literally a breeze.

 

With CPF Life payout of about $1500 per month, and rent out your current HDB flat for $2500 (4rm), you will have about RM$13k per month to live on.  Which is plenty! And this is for a single person.  For a couple, like me and my wife, we would be looking at more than RM$18k per month. Besides, Thomson Medical is expected to open soon, if it hasn't already.  And we were told that, we may be able use Medisave for treatments there. 

Even if you choose not to buy, rents there are affordable.

i bought 3BR unit a couple years back for RM$1.1m (without my wife's knowledge at first) using part of my CPF savings and cash when I turned 55y.  She wasn't too keen to moving there at first, but is warming up to it.  We have been making small trips there from time to time to assimilate.  Will likely move there in 2-3 years. 
 

Cost around RM$1m (S$300k+) for a 2BR to date. 

Edited July 18, 2025 by nate42

[Anderson]

15 hours ago, cutejack said:

Jb rental for landed property can easily get for rm1300 to rm1600.

Have to ask the right people at the right time. Need to ask around.

 

If seeking rental, be very careful about the neighbourhood and it's better to go for gated property or condos. 

Also, living alone, so do consider as you get older and get more fragile, what are your plans to handle your daily chores like house keeping, laundry, meals, etc. and also that periodical trips for medical check-up/ treatment in SG.

[Levis]

18 hours ago, Newbiegayguy said:

You're right about that. From my observation, there seems to be more Indonesian and Chinese expats around the area besides the usual Angmohs. Condos along Gurney Bay could easily hit RM1mil+ per unit. If you do consider other areas such as Jelutong, Bayan Lepas or Air Itam, you could find new condo projects for prices starting around RM600k+. Not sure if there's any extra cost/tax incurred for foreigners though.

 

I am currently living in the island, and I have been cafe-hunting, hiking with friends and exploring food from new hawker stalls. Other than that, I just stay at home lol. I do like to jog at the new promenade along Gurney Bay and Botanical Garden. 

 

Coming back from SG, I do admit that there's a lot of room for improvement for our public transport. I wish they would accept credit/debit card or have something like EZlink instead of only taking cash/mutiara pass. (concession card for students and senior citizens only) I guess the low ridership does contribute to this. Even the MRT frequency in KL can feel lacking putting it next to SG. I recall having to wait 10 minutes for the train during non-peak hours whereas in SG it was only 5-7 minutes. In KL, the peak hour MRT runs every 5 minutes comparing to 2 mins in SG. It was so frequent that having a train arriving at the platform was something instinctual to me, lol. 

 

I had a car when living in JB and since I was living in Skudai, the living cost was rather manageable compared to downtown JB. Being in close proximity with SG, I think I had the best of both worlds between chill life and city life when I was living in JB. 

 

With all said, I think you could safely eliminate Penang from your list 🙂‍↕️

 

Think can sort of conclude that PEN is a nice place provided one doesn't like very city-like lifestyle and don't mind just function most of the times within your own neighbourhood and occasionally go to Georgetown and Queensbay to get some city-vibe. Probably more suitable for those who like sea view very much as most of the coastal areas have property developments and don't mind the slightly higher than average property prices. Lack of efficient public transport is a main consideration if you don't drive bah and can only rely on Grab. In this sense, I feel PEN and JB are quite similar.

[Levis]

18 hours ago, cutejack said:

Jb rental for landed property can easily get for rm1300 to rm1600.

Have to ask the right people at the right time. Need to ask around.

 

 

@cutejack, you are referring to which neighbourhood? I am kinda surprised that there's such rates in JB still.

[Levis]

17 hours ago, mate69 said:

Consider IPH, a lower-key alternative to the usual suspects

@mate69, can share some basic info about Ipoh? In my impression, it's an extremely quiet town without much amenities, apart from some light industries and mainly old folks. A highly slow paced place.

[Levis]

9 hours ago, nate42 said:

I think retiring in JB is definitely a good option for Singaporeans. Should consider it.

Buy a unit at Princess Cove.  Located just across the Causeway, which is a little more that 1km to SG immigration.  So coming back to SG is literally a breeze.

 

With CPF Life payout of about $1500 per month, and rent out your current HDB flat for $2500 (4rm), you will have about RM$13k per month to live on.  Which is plenty! And this is for a single person.  For a couple, like me and my wife, we would be looking at more than RM$18k per month. Besides, Thomson Medical is expected to open soon, if it hasn't already.  And we were told that, we may be able use Medisave for treatments there. 

Even if you choose not to buy, rents there are affordable.

i bought 3BR unit a couple years back for RM$1.1m (without my wife's knowledge at first) using part of my CPF savings and cash when I turned 55y.  She wasn't too keen to moving there at first, but is warming up to it.  We have been making small trips there from time to time to assimilate.  Will likely move there in 2-3 years. 
 

Cost around RM$1m (S$300k+) for a 2BR to date. 

 

@nate42, that sounds like a doable plan! I went to see that area before. As it's near CIQ, it's a pretty hectic place. Do the residents there get affected by the traffic/crowd often? I was previously advised not to look at R&F as it has been hyped-up alot because of RTS. In addition, the resident density of the project is high and was told it gives residents a cluttered feel. Is it true?

 

Another consideration is the property market stability. While there's the promise of JS-SEZ, JB's public infra is a major concern. The stability of the current administration is another.

[radiusulnar]

Getting great tips and ideas from this thread. For the moment it so sounds quite complicated and significant compromises are needed

[cutejack]

3 hours ago, Levis said:

 

@cutejack, you are referring to which neighbourhood? I am kinda surprised that there's such rates in JB still.

My neighbour in jb, his daughter renting one unit just oppo my terrace for rm1300. It's around that range. That is why I'm saying it's possible n healthy to retire in jb. 

[nate42]

16 hours ago, Levis said:

 

@nate42, that sounds like a doable plan! I went to see that area before. As it's near CIQ, it's a pretty hectic place. Do the residents there get affected by the traffic/crowd often? I was previously advised not to look at R&F as it has been hyped-up alot because of RTS. In addition, the resident density of the project is high and was told it gives residents a cluttered feel. Is it true?

 

Another consideration is the property market stability. While there's the promise of JS-SEZ, JB's public infra is a major concern. The stability of the current administration is another.

Yes.  The resident density is a valid concern.  For me, it is the lower cost of living there that appealed to me. To be able to have more accessible funds to enjoy the finer things in life; like travel and massages.

Besides, it is an upgrade of my lifestyle in retirement.  In SG, I would probably need to downgrade to a smaller home when I retire.  Like so many retirees opting to move to a 2-room BTO flat. 

 

Being a freehold development, I can leave it to my sons when I leave this world. The RTS will only serve to add value to the property although I am not sure if the appreciation will be substantial given the proximity of the development from SG.  The property is fully paid up.  I have a view that whether the property makes money or not shouldn't matter to my sons.  It is still a legacy left by me to them.

There are about 7 phases to the development.  I think they are on Phase 4.  So I think the values will continue to rise.

What matters in the end is for me to live life more fully while I am alive.

[auscent]

#1 Kuala Lumpur

 

Large city - has modern conveniences, easy connectivity, large population 

 

Reasonable distance to Sg - close enough to drop by Sg, far enough to experience new life (I dont want to retire in JB being swarmed by Sporeans)

 

Diversity - easy access to rural/ nature, social groups (Im into volunteering for refugees)

[Levis]

23 hours ago, radiusulnar said:

Getting great tips and ideas from this thread. For the moment it so sounds quite complicated and significant compromises are needed

 

@radiusulnar, ya, intent is to crowdsource the bros' experiences & previous analysis into this thread for the benefits of many others who want options for retirement.

[Levis]

20 hours ago, cutejack said:

My neighbour in jb, his daughter renting one unit just oppo my terrace for rm1300. It's around that range. That is why I'm saying it's possible n healthy to retire in jb. 

 

@cutejack, are you referring the usual suspects like Mt Austin, Bukit Indah, Iskandar Puteri or...? I know JBCC impossible to offer such rates. Not Larkin right? Hahahaha...

[Levis]

7 hours ago, nate42 said:

Yes.  The resident density is a valid concern.  For me, it is the lower cost of living there that appealed to me. To be able to have more accessible funds to enjoy the finer things in life; like travel and massages.

Besides, it is an upgrade of my lifestyle in retirement.  In SG, I would probably need to downgrade to a smaller home when I retire.  Like so many retirees opting to move to a 2-room BTO flat. 

 

Being a freehold development, I can leave it to my sons when I leave this world. The RTS will only serve to add value to the property although I am not sure if the appreciation will be substantial given the proximity of the development from SG.  The property is fully paid up.  I have a view that whether the property makes money or not shouldn't matter to my sons.  It is still a legacy left by me to them.

There are about 7 phases to the development.  I think they are on Phase 4.  So I think the values will continue to rise.

What matters in the end is for me to live life more fully while I am alive.

 

@nate42, I love your mindset. Many of us are so busy with our loved ones, worry for them, make arrangements for them, etc. But the most important person that they should take care of is themselves. Guess it's the Asian culture and upbringing. Good but sad for each individual who lived by that mindset. That's why retirement planning ahead is an important part of folks in this circle.

 

Since you have been staying @ R&F from time to time, how are you spending your time over there? What activities do you do there with your wife? How many days do you stay there each time and how are you and your wife planned to live there (or what are the main activities you would do to occupy your time) on a more perm basis?

[Levis]

6 hours ago, auscent said:

#1 Kuala Lumpur

 

Large city - has modern conveniences, easy connectivity, large population 

 

Reasonable distance to Sg - close enough to drop by Sg, far enough to experience new life (I dont want to retire in JB being swarmed by Sporeans)

 

Diversity - easy access to rural/ nature, social groups (Im into volunteering for refugees)

 

@auscent, I must say I am biased towards KL too. Besides what you shared, I find their rental for a Studio/1BR at BB/Pudu area very affordable at RM2K+ - 3K. Can be up to 3K++ if one wanted to stay at one the newer projects. Enjoyed the ease of connectivity between towns around KL with the extensive MRT/LRT/Monorail networks. Really a vast difference from 10 years ago. Even at the outskirts' neighbourhood like Mt. Kiara, Damasara, Maluri, or even in Puchong, Cheras, SK, OUG are all not bad a place to stay.

 

Are you retired there? What activities do you engaged in (besides volunteering) on a daily basis?

[auscent]

Not retired yet. Getting there, and sight is on KLumpur.

 

Activities for KL 

: my interests now a bit different from most friends I know. Volunteering for social causes should take up a fair bit of my time (Ive done it before)

 

: other interests I plan to do from KL include driving to differ parts of West Msia

 

: will keep current interests such as exercise/ attend courses/ digital creation etc

[nate42]

1 hour ago, Levis said:

 

@nate42, I love your mindset. Many of us are so busy with our loved ones, worry for them, make arrangements for them, etc. But the most important person that they should take care of is themselves. Guess it's the Asian culture and upbringing. Good but sad for each individual who lived by that mindset. That's why retirement planning ahead is an important part of folks in this circle.

 

Since you have been staying @ R&F from time to time, how are you spending your time over there? What activities do you do there with your wife? How many days do you stay there each time and how are you and your wife planned to live there (or what are the main activities you would do to occupy your time) on a more perm basis?

 

We could have rented the unit out and gotten about S$1,000 per month.  Which we (I) did for almost 2 years until the wife found out.  Last 8 months we have been going over a once or twice a month. To clean up the place.  We'd have massages, service my car, did grocery shopping and ate out.  Usual stuff.  On occasion, we would bring my in-laws along for a short holiday since we had the room.

[cutejack]

3 hours ago, Levis said:

 

@cutejack, are you referring the usual suspects like Mt Austin, Bukit Indah, Iskandar Puteri or...? I know JBCC impossible to offer such rates. Not Larkin right? Hahahaha...

Nope. It's at East of jb.  Not larkin.

Pmed u.

Edited July 19, 2025 by cutejack

[radiusulnar]

How important is it to speak and read malay to live there?

As a tourist it is possible to get by with English or Chinese. But day to day living outside tourist spots and dealing with government departments etc. how easy for non Malay speakers?

[Levis]

On 7/19/2025 at 8:27 PM, auscent said:

Not retired yet. Getting there, and sight is on KLumpur.

 

Activities for KL 

: my interests now a bit different from most friends I know. Volunteering for social causes should take up a fair bit of my time (Ive done it before)

 

: other interests I plan to do from KL include driving to differ parts of West Msia

 

: will keep current interests such as exercise/ attend courses/ digital creation etc

 

@auscent, thanks for sharing! Volunteerism is great. Something that I would want to take up in near future too. What are the social causes that you care for besides helping the refugees you mentioned earlier? What are some of the charitable organisations that you think are worthy to work with? I think some of us, including myself would want to explore that eventually when we go over. Good to do some homework 1st.

 

Another thing I wanted to check-in with you is whether you have tried staying in the various neighbourhoods and have shortlisted which areas you would likely settle in? I've tried staying at BB, Pudu, Cheras, Jalan Ampang, Bangsar South, etc. All not bad. But I find BB most exciting and probably with the most infra that would meet my city-life needs and lots of famous food around that area. Would want to try Damasara, Desa Park or even Kepong (because it's near FRIM). Any sharing on the neighbourhoods that are good?

 

I also like the idea of driving around M'sia too. There are really a lot of nice and not as touristy areas worth visiting (ie. East Coast area).