🌏 Used by thousands of retirees planning their SEA move · 18 cities compared · Data updated 2025–2026

Southeast Asia Retirement Planner

Your retirement budget goes 2–4× further in Southeast Asia.
Find out exactly where.

Whether you have $1,500 or $4,000 a month — there's a city in SEA that fits your budget, your lifestyle, and your need for good healthcare. This calculator shows you exactly which ones, and why.

✓ Based on real expat data, not travel blogs ✓ Covers visa requirements for every city ✓ Takes 2 minutes — no sign-up needed

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Real Monthly Costs

Housing, food, transport, healthcare — broken down city by city.

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Healthcare Quality

Scored and explained. Know which cities have modern hospitals before you commit.

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Visa Requirements

Which visa fits your situation — with links to official government sites.

Currency

Moving with a partner / spouse

How it works: Set your monthly budget, tell us your lifestyle below, then click Find My Cities — we'll rank every SEA city that fits.

Monthly Budget (USD)

$500 $10k+

💰 Frugal (~$1,000) 🏠 Comfortable (~$2,000) ⭐ Premium (~$3,500+)

Lifestyle Level

Your Priorities (optional)

Step 1 — Budget & Lifestyle Step 2 — Your Profile Step 3 — See Results

📋 Complete your profile below to get costs tailored to how you live

Tell us how you like to live — we'll match cities to your style Step 2

Housing Type

Utilities auto-adjust to housing size

Eating Out Frequency

Transport Style

Activity Level

"The cost of living is cheap. It's a major incentive. Because my expenses in Chiang Mai are so low, I'm able to save about 40% of my income."

— John Walker, 73 · Australian retiree in Chiang Mai, Thailand · Business Insider

"People say, 'Oh, so Malaysia is your second home?' I say, 'No, it's my only home.' Life in Penang feels very comfortable for me. Being able to speak English almost everywhere made things easier too."

— Ward Chartier, 70 · American retiree in Penang, Malaysia · Business Insider

"Our monthly expenses in Thailand are less than $3,000. That covers rent, electricity, phone, a cleaner, WiFi, water, groceries, and entertainment. Thailand is giving my family a better quality of life and the opportunity to explore the rest of Asia."

— Kimanzi Constable, 44 · Relocated family from Florida to Thailand · Business Insider

"Vietnam didn't just lower my expenses — it lowered my anxiety. It lowered my actual blood pressure. The volume on all the noise in my life felt like it got turned down and I had space. Canada could never provide me with that."

— Canadian expat, early retiree in Da Nang, Vietnam · YouTube interview

"I'm 66 years old and have lived in Malaysia for three decades. The cost of living is low, property is affordable, and English is widely spoken. The locals are friendly, violent crime rates are low. Malaysia is truly a wonderful place to live."

— Reddit user Present_Student4891 · 30-year resident of Penang, Malaysia · r/ExpatFIRE

"I relocated to Thailand in 2017 and finally settled in Chiang Mai. Learning the local language has greatly enhanced my experience. I've taken up hobbies that would have been far too costly back home — like kart racing — but here they're very affordable."

— Reddit user Ohshitwadddup · Canadian retiree in Chiang Mai, Thailand · r/ExpatFIRE

"I made the move to the Philippines in 2018 at the age of 40, and it has been a wonderful experience. It completely transformed my life. The returns you get are directly related to the effort you invest."

— Reddit user comp21 · American living in the Philippines since 2018 · r/ExpatFIRE

"My 81-year-old mom lives in Bali on Social Security — her total monthly spend is about $1,400, including US expenses. She lives next door to me and we have a worry-free, healthy retired life. We are not at the mercy of inflation."

— Debbie · American, living in Bali with her retired mother · YouTube interview

"$4,000 a month in the US barely covers rent or groceries. Here in Thailand, the reduced stress levels and the increased purchasing power more than compensate for any downsides. The lifestyle I can afford here is something I wouldn't be able to replicate back home."

— Reddit user (raising a child in Thailand) · American parent and early retiree in Thailand · r/digitalnomad

From the RetireSEA Blog

Cost of Living

Cost of Living in Chiang Mai 2025 — What Retirees Are Actually Spending

7 min read →

Cost of Living

Retiring in the Philippines on $1,500/Month — What the Research Shows

6 min read →

Visa Guide

Thailand Retirement Visa 2025 — What Changed and What You Actually Need

7 min read →

Important — please read: All cost figures shown are estimates and indicative ranges only, based on aggregated expat community data, Numbeo benchmarks, and published cost-of-living surveys as of 2025–2026. Actual costs will vary significantly based on your personal spending habits, chosen neighbourhood, accommodation type, lifestyle choices, and local market fluctuations at the time of your move.

Visa requirements, income thresholds, and residency rules are subject to change without notice — always verify current requirements directly with the official government immigration authority of your destination country or consult a qualified immigration lawyer before making any decisions.

RetireSEA does not provide financial, legal, tax, or immigration advice. This tool is for general research and planning purposes only. We strongly recommend conducting your own due diligence, visiting your intended destination in person, and consulting qualified professionals before making any relocation decisions.

Your retirement budget goes 2–4× further in Southeast Asia.Find out exactly where.

Your retirement budget goes 2–4× further in Southeast Asia.
Find out exactly where.