Johor Bahru, Malaysia | Overseas Haven Report

When we write about a place, we try to imagine ourselves living there. Some places are beyond our imagination and we won’t consider them as a long term location for retirement. But occasionally, we find a gem that far exceeds our expectations; Johor Bahru is one of those places.

Johor Bahru offers a high quality of life and a developed infrastructure that is only going to get better as the Iskandar Malaysia project matures–a multi-faceted development corridor that will be three times the size of Singapore. Overall, the cost of living is comparable to that in Kuala Lumpur and slightly higher than elsewhere in Malaysia, but it is still quite affordable for retirees with a moderate income. Younger people will find that JB offers a great deal as well, especially those who have children. Good international schools, plenty of playgrounds, and a proliferation of theme parks make family life good here.”

The eco-friendly city planning at the core of the huge Iskandar Malaysia project is changing the landscape of this region. Beautiful new housing developments are sprouting up everywhere, making JB’s suburbs very desirable places to live. Parks, a new hospital, a library, and nearly a dozen new universities and international schools offer more reasons for foreigners to plant their flags here.

There are 17 golf courses in Johor State, making this area a golfer’s paradise. Golfers and non-golfers alike can enjoy visiting one of the many spas, malls, or fine-dining establishments found throughout the area. And then, of course, there’s Singapore, located just 1,056 meters across the Causeway.