- Andrew Taylor, 70, left the United States to retire in Malaysia ten years ago.
- He now lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, which costs about $620 a month.
- “I probably wouldn’t be retired if I was still in the United States,” Taylor said.
At age 60, Andrew Taylor retired and left the United States to move to Malaysia.
Taylor, who previously did administrative work, began thinking about retirement when he was in his 50s. But the top cost of living in the United States it seemed like a pipe dream.
“I realized that I probably wasn’t going to be able to stay in the United Statesor I was going to have to do it I worked until I was 80” Taylor, now 70, told Business Insider.
Taylor moved to Malaysia from the United States ten years ago. Andrew Taylor
He began to consider retiring abroad, and it was through his then partner, who lived in Penanga state in northwest Malaysia – that he first learned about the Malaysia My Second Home, or MM2H, visa program. The MM2H program was introduced by the government in 2002 to attract foreigners to retire and live in Malaysia.
The conditions for obtaining a visa have tightened over the years.
Based on the most recent rule changes announced in 2024, there are now three different categories: platinum, gold and silver. Depending on the visa category requested, applicants must have a minimum bank deposit between $150,000 and $1 million and also purchase a property in Malaysia. Visa validity ranges from five years to 20 years. Since Taylor had obtained a visa under an earlier version of the visa rules, he was not required to purchase property in Malaysia.
Having visited several times before, the idea of live in Malaysia appealed to him. He said he saw the visa program as something that could help him retire much sooner.
In late 2014, he applied and was approved a few months later. In 2015, Taylor packed his bags and left Washington, D.C. – where he had lived for 40 years – to begin the next chapter of his life.
Create a dream apartment in the city
It has been 10 years since Taylor arrived in Malaysia. He spent seven years in Penang before moving to Kuala Lumpurthe capital, three years ago.
He has been in his current rental – a two-bedroom apartment – for about five months.
Taylor said his previous accommodation was on two floors and he had to climb 20 steps to reach the bedroom. “I’m 70 and stairs annoy me now, so I want everything to be on one floor,” he said.
He said it only took a weekend to find his apartment, located about 2 miles from downtown. The view of the city immediately caught his attention.
“I’m on the 22nd floor and I can see the Twin Towers. I can see all the main towers of KL, and it is simply a magnificent view. I think if I’m going to be in KL, that’s what I wanted,” Taylor said.
The view from her apartment windows immediately caught her attention. Andrew Taylor
Her rent costs 2,800 Malaysian ringgit, or about $620, every month. It’s a two-year lease with an option for a third year. Unlike his previous apartments, this time he opted for unfurnished accommodation.
“I really never liked the furniture in the apartments I rented,” he said, adding that he had always been interested in interior design. Most of its furniture is locally sourced.
“It’s pretty eclectic,” he said, describing his apartment. “I have oriental rugs and things like that, but with modern furniture.”
His building is part of a five-building condominium complex, which offers amenities such as a swimming pool and gym.
Her rent is 2,800 Malaysian ringgit, or about $620 a month. Andrew Taylor
This is Taylor’s fifth apartment in Malaysia, and he says he plans to continue renting and traveling the city with his Vespa in the foreseeable future.
Lessons learned along the way contributed to his decision. The first place he moved to after arriving in Malaysia was on the 35th floor of a building in Penang.
“The owner said, ‘Oh, they’ll never build in front.’ Well, yes, they immediately built right in front of it,” he said. “If you buy a home, it’s just harder to move on.”
Americans are retiring abroad
Taylor is not alone in his decision to retire abroad.
An analysis published in March last year found that a single person is expected to win $96,000 per year to live comfortably in many major American cities. It’s no surprise that more and more Americans are prices outside the United States.
There is also a pension crisis sweeping the entire country, with more and more people over 65 still clocking in because they I can’t afford to retire.
An AARP survey of 8,368 people in January 2024 found that one in five Americans 50 and older said have no retirement savings. More than half also said they don’t think they have enough money to survive retirement.
It’s a sentiment Taylor shares. “I probably wouldn’t be retired if I was still in the United States,” he said.
On the other hand, the MM2H visa has made Malaysia an attractive destination for expatriates.
As of January 2024, there were 56,066 active MM2H pass holders in the country, Malaysian Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing told a parliamentary session, according to the local newspaper . The star. Chinese nationals made up about 44% of pass holders, followed by those from South Korea and Japan. There were 1,340 pass holders from the United States. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment sent by BI.
“Quite similar” lifestyles in the two countries
Although Taylor’s lifestyle in Malaysia is “pretty similar” to the one he had in the United States, he says, the lower cost of living means his money can go further each month.
“I would say I used to try to keep my budget at $2,000. Now it’s a little more than that. I would say I live on $2,500 now,” Taylor said, adding that he didn’t think he could live on the same amount in the United States.
He has basic health insurance which costs 340 Malaysian ringgit per month.
“There are other much better policies, but I went with the cheapest option,” Taylor said. He said that only covered hospitalization and associated costs.
He also expressed satisfaction with Malaysia’s health facilities.
“You don’t need to wait a long time for an appointment or wait a long time for your appointment,” he added.
Aside from the cost of living, Taylor says he also felt safer in Malaysia.
“I’ve never felt safer anywhere. Where I lived, in my last place outside of Washington, I would sometimes hear gunshots coming from outside my window, and it’s so foreigner here. There is nothing like that,” he said. “I have never felt any discomfort when I go out, even alone while walking.”
These days, Taylor spends his time filming YouTube videos on what it’s like live in Malaysia.
He added, however, that such a drastic measure might not suit everyone, especially those with children, grandchildren or even older parents. It only worked for him because he had loose family ties.
Looking back, Taylor said he learned not to be afraid of living outside of his comfort zone.
“My family thought I would last about six months and then come back,” he said. “Ten years later, I’m still here and I have no intention of ever returning to the United States.”
Have you recently moved to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.