Why one Aussie couple chose to retire overseas
Have you ever considered escaping the high cost of living in Australia for a more affordable (and comfortable) retirement overseas? One couple did and they haven’t looked back.
For many retirees, the high cost of living in Australia means strict budgeting to make sure their finite amount of retirement income can go the distance. As groceries and utilities continue to rise, and with the government looking to cut back discounts and rebates, it doesn’t leave much in the kitty for leisure or recreation, let alone holidays!
That’s no problem for Over60 community members Virginia and David Downton, 61 and 66, who chose to retire to popular South-East Asian destination, Thailand.
“We live here for a fraction of the cost of living in Australia,” Virginia says. “We live in a great condo with a gym and a pool, we have lots of friends and regularly travel all over Thailand or visit other Asian countries.”
The retired couple were living in sunny Cairns in the far north of Queensland when they decided to make the big move to Thailand. Having visited the country many times before, it didn’t take much soul searching for Virginia and David to settle on this beautiful part of the world. “We are comfortable here and know that we can afford to live here very comfortably, which is something we cannot afford in Australia, sadly,” she explains.
They found their current residence browsing the internet, after searching ‘places for rent in Thailand’ on Google. Before permanently moving over, they rented the place for a year first to get a feel for the area. The condo ticked all the boxes for the couple. Rent was cheap, the place was fully furnished (down to the linen, cutlery and cookware), and it had a pool and gym. Plus, it’s within walking distance of a language school, which the couple attend two days a week.
“We decided that if we were going to live here we should learn to speak the language,” Virginia says. “We’re now able to have brief conversations with the locals. They are very helpful and appreciate the fact that we’re trying to learn their language. Their eyes actually light up when we speak to them in Thai.” She added that the Thai people are “so friendly” and want to know all about Australia.
While they may be far from friends and family, the internet has made it easy for them to stay in touch. They’re also surrounded by many other retired Aussies, who are located in tourist hotspots Chiang Mai and Bangkok, as well as many other parts of the country.
Many Australian retirees have made the move to tropical parts of South East Asia, with Thailand and Indonesia being two popular choices. The cheaper cost of living is usually one of the motivating factors behind the decision, with retirees able to stretch their cash further in places like Thailand.
“Everything here is around two thirds less than in Australia, which makes the lifestyle here very affordable. Medical care is included in this!” Virginia says. “We feel we are permanently settled. We may buy later on or continue to rent. We will come back to Australia for holidays, but not permanently. Of course, things may change but we doubt it.”
If you’re considering retiring overseas, Virginia and David suggest doing your homework first. They say take a look around the entire country you plan on moving to, whether that’s Thailand or somewhere else, and don’t restrict your exploration to the tourist areas. Also, be aware of visas and the local culture and if in doubt, ask someone for help.
Images: Getty