Australian retirees moving overseas to Asia, Digi Mart USA News: Lower living costs, beautiful scenery and the promise of adventure are drawing Australian retirees overseas, with destinations across Asia holding particular appeal. About 88,000 Australian pension recipients were living permanently overseas in 2026, according to the Department of Social Services, and most are on the age pension.
Monash University retirement expert Dr Fernanda Gomes Da Mata told The Senior that the main driver of retirees moving overseas was cost of living. “Australia has become a very expensive place to live, particularly when it comes to housing,” she said.
“For some retirees, moving overseas can mean their retirement income goes further, and they can potentially enjoy a higher standard of living with the same amount of money.”
For Queensland couple Rosalind and Alan Cuthbertson, both in their 60s, the decision to move overseas came in 2015 after the loss of five close relatives. “It really just kind of made us realise that life can change in an instant,” Ros said.
“So we decided to give up our jobs, rent our house out, and start travelling.”
While they initially thought they would retire permanently in Thailand, they chose a more flexible route, opting to house-sit across Asia and various parts of Europe. When the pandemic hit, they turned their home in Bargara, in the Bundaberg region of Queensland, into a reliable income stream.
“We bought ourselves a unit, which makes it a lot easier to rent out when we go away,” Alan said. “We have people staying in it and we tell them the dates that we’re going, and then when we come back, we can just slip back into life.”
What have they learnt from their journey? “We don’t need as much stuff,” Ros said.
“We also found that, on the whole, people all around the world are kind. For the most part, they’re kind and helpful.” The couple have documented their travels on their blogs Frequent Traveller and Step into Vietnam.
While they rate Chiang Mai in Thailand and various parts of Malaysia highly, Da Nang in central Vietnam has topped their list. Known for its beautiful beaches, gorgeous food, affordable living and proximity to the heritage-listed town of Hoi An, Da Nang has quickly become a retirement haven.
“It is very exciting,” Ros said. “Asia is very much alive.
Very fast-paced.”
However, the Cuthbertsons note that the only major hurdle with Vietnam is navigating the visas, which restrict tourist stays to three months. “We actually did a border run,” she said.
Of course, it isn’t always simple to fund a lifestyle overseas. While the Cuthbertsons are accessing Ros’s age pension, funding a life overseas comes with complicated rules.
Financial adviser James Wrigley told The Senior that the amount a person receives depends on how long they have lived in Australia. “If you’ve lived in Australia for more than 35 years, your age pension will continue to be paid at 100 per cent,” he said.
“Anything less than 35 years and your pension payments will be reduced in line with the length of time you’ve lived in Australia.”
Wrigley also said that if a person has been living overseas before turning 67 and then returns to Australia to get the pension, they generally need to remain in Australia for two years after being granted the age pension before it becomes portable. Additionally, after 12 weeks overseas, the pension supplement (up to $88.50 a fortnight for a single person) stops.
For NSW couple Clive and Di Boddington, their decision to retire to Thailand three years ago has been entirely rewarding, though they return to Australia for some medical treatment. Clive, a former journalist, told The Senior he had worked in Thailand in the 1980s and fallen in love with it.
“I always wanted to take my wife over there, and I had in the back of my mind that I would retire there because I love the place,” he said.
The Boddingtons, who are both in their 70s, are on a visa available to people over 50 that they renew every year. They pay about $250 a week in rent for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house right on the water at Wong Amat Beach in northern Pattaya.
“We have maintenance, we’ve got a lovely pool, a tennis court, and 24-hour security,” Clive said. Electricity and water come to a mere $40 a month.
While some medical costs are significantly cheaper in Thailand, it isn’t always the case. Clive has a rare form of cancer, and the immunotherapy drug he needs is significantly more expensive in Thailand.
The drug was recently added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia, though the exact cost in Thailand is about $17,000.
The Boddingtons have never regretted their decision. “It wasn’t just economics,” Clive said.
“It was to have a better life in retirement and that is exactly what we have. We are absolutely happy over there.
We have more genuine friends over there. People respect you.”
