Former College Professors Left the US to Retire in Penang, Malaysia

In the 1970s, Paul and Ellen Eggers taught in Malaysia as volunteers with the US Peace Corps.

The experience left a lasting impression, and decades later, as they prepared to retire from their jobs as college professors in California, they decided to return.

“I had read an article in Forbes Magazine about people retiring overseas,” Ellen, now 70, told Business Insider. “We hadn’t really thought a lot about it before, but then one of the places that was listed as very popular and very affordable was Penang in Malaysia.”

They were familiar with the Southeast Asian country, having returned for vacations over the years, and never forgot how much they enjoyed it.

In 2015, with the goal of retiring in the next year or two, the couple spent five weeks in Malaysia to see if it felt right for the next chapter of their lives.

“We knew that our income could go a lot farther in Malaysia, and we thought, ‘We could actually do this. Why not?'” Ellen said.

When it was finally time for them to retire, they didn’t hesitate to say goodbye to their lives in the US. The couple got rid of almost everything they owned, including two cars, furniture, and hundreds of books, which they donated to their university.

“It was a very easy decision for us,” Paul, now 71, told BI.

Moving across the world

It’s been seven years since the couple moved to Penang, a state in the northwestern part of Malaysia.

They had spent just one weekend there back in the ’70s, Paul said. “We didn’t really know Penang well at all when we came on our reconnaissance trip, but we liked what we saw, so that made our decision for us.”

Unlike the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, they were drawn to Penang for its mix of natural and urban landscapes. Moreover, they didn’t want to own a car, and Penang’s reliable public transport system made getting around easy.

However, the couple’s decision to move across the world surprised some of their family and friends back home. They weren’t familiar with Malaysia, and weren’t sure what to make of it. Paul said.

“Some of them thought we were nuts. I think some of them still do, seven years later,” Ellen said.

Not having children of their own made the move simpler.

“I think it would be more difficult if you had children and grandchildren — although many of our friends do, and they make it work just fine with visits,” Ellen said.

The couple is on the Malaysia My Second Home, or MM2H, visa program, which was first introduced in 2002 to attract foreigners to retire and live in Malaysia.

The most recent rule changes, announced in 2024, included stricter financial requirements, including the need to buy property in Malaysia.

Since the couple obtained their visas under an earlier version of the program, they were grandfathered in under the old rules and weren’t required to purchase property, Paul said.

Back in the US, they owned a 2,000-square-foot home in the Sierra Nevada foothills, which they sold for $290,000 before relocating to Malaysia.

Now, they’re settled in a three-bedroom beachfront condo — their third home in Penang — which they moved into eight months ago. Rent is 8,000 Malaysian ringgit, or about $1,800, each month.

“Honestly, we really like the idea of not owning anything. Not owning a house, not owning a car; it’s very freeing,” Ellen said.

Their complex has a pool, gym, and tennis courts, and they’re within walking distance of grocery stores and clinics. Georgetown, the capital of Penang, is a 15-minute car ride away.

While they don’t track every expense month to month, they always keep a close eye on what’s coming in and going out.

They estimate that their living expenses — inclusive of rent — usually come up to around 12,000 ringgit to 13,000 ringgit, or about $2,800 to $3,060, each month.

Retired life in Penang

The couple says they’re enjoying their retirement in Penang.

“Of course, when we were in the US, we were working, so that took up a very big part of the day,” Ellen said. “We have much more time for personal hobbies and pastimes. We both read a lot. We try to exercise quite a lot.”

Paul says their lifestyle in Malaysia isn’t that different from the US. “We pretty much do what we did in the States,” he added.

With one exception — they’ve learned how to play Mahjong, a tile-based strategy game that’s extremely popular all over Asia.

“I’ve met many people through that,” Ellen said. “It’s a lovely thing that you meet people from all over the world here and think nothing of sitting down at a table with two people from Europe and two people from Australia. It’s just so natural.”

The other friends they’ve made came through mutual connections, she added.

Penang also has an international airport, which makes it easy for them to travel around the region and beyond, including New Zealand and Australia. They recently returned from a cruise in Norway, Paul said.

“Malaysia is so accessible to everywhere, not just Southeast Asia. It’s easy to get a flight to Europe, and because we are saving so much money here, we can afford to travel,” Ellen said.

They both speak Malay from living in Malaysia years ago, but Paul says you can easily get by in Penang with just English.

Those who want to make a similar move should pay attention to one thing: The heat.

“It seems like a minor thing, but a lot of people are quite shocked at the tropical heat and don’t realize how careful you have to be with the sun and hydration and things like that,” Ellen said.

Penang has come to feel like home in the years they’ve lived here.

“We’re just very familiar with Malaysian lifestyle, the language, the customs, and so on,” Paul said.

“In fact, the things that are different are the things that we love. We like the food, the nature, the climate, and the friendliness of Malaysians,” Ellen added. “And no snow.”

Do you have a story to share about retiring and moving to a new city? Contact this reporter at [email protected].