Rebasing to JB as a Single Singaporean Woman by means of MM2H

At 35, I've built a life for myself in my country of birth, Singapore, owning a fully paid-off condo and working a stable job. Yet, I've been feeling the weight of the ever-hectic, high-stress environment that Singapore has become. Not to mention the prices of aeverything going sky-high relentlessly.

The past few months or so, I've been hearing a lot about Singaporeans “rebasing” to JB and so now I'm seriously considering this for myself too. The idea of moving to JB with a long-stay visa appeals to me for many reasons—financial, lifestyle and personal. Let me explain; hopefully, my frame of reference can be helpful to others who have been thinking along the same lines...

Rental Income
Now, my main source of income will come from my condo in Singapore, once I've rented it out. I In today's rental market, I estimate that it'll provide a steady income stream of at least S$4k per month. Coupled with my fixed-income investments (divs and FD), my cashflow will more than cover my living expenses in JB, in part because of the much lower cost of living there, as well as the powerful SGD versus the MYR ratio. These two together increase my spending power by a factor of 4-5.

Actually, even though most of us Singaporeans are quite used to it, such a currency arbitrage opportunity is actually very rare in the world, especially in neighbouring countries. Sure, there are a few other similar situations that come to mind, but for most of these, the lower-cost country in question will be considerably behind the developed country in infrastructure, education, healthcare etc. Not as desirable as a economically advanced country like Malaysia.

But it's no secret that Malaysia offers very good infrastructur and healthcare, which is making me think that this rebasing really might be the opportunity of a lifetime. Well, either way, it allows me to upgrade my lifestyle, because I can basically live like an expat in Malaysia and at the same time still grow my savings. Best of all, I can go back and forth to Singapore whenever I like, since it's so close. I don't know lah, to me rebasing is almost a no-brainer already.

Landed Dreams
Living in JB also provides a welcome change of pace of course. The cost of living is much lower and I'll have access to a larger living space at a fraction of the price I'd pay in Singapore. But I plan to rent a JB home first to get a feel for the area, though I fully intend to purchase a property once I've settled in. Owning and living in a landed home has always been a dream of mine and in JB, it's an achievable goal.

To be sure, safety used to be a concern when considering JB, but I've learned that the expat communities in the city are well-secured. Many are gated, offering a level of safety comparable to that in Singapore. Additionally, I have family in JB, which means I'll have a support system in place as I make this transition.

Knowing that I have family nearby gives me the confidence to move forward with this plan. Plus, let's not forget that I may be in another country, but straight line, I'll be a mere 15 kilometers away from my parent's home in Singapore :)

High Quality Health Care
The healthcare system in JB is another major advantage. Malaysia's private hospitals offer high-quality medical care at much lower costs than in Singapore. Hospitals there are internationally renowned and cater to the expat community, ensuring that I'll have access to excellent healthcare when needed. Besides, I heard that some of the hospitals and clincs are actually owned and run by Singapore medical groups. Good to know.

Rebasing to JB with the MM2H visa offers a practical solution to achieving a less stressful, more balanced lifestyle. I've narrowed it down to either the MM2H Silver or SEZ/SFZ visa options, which both offer significant benefits and flexibility for someone in my situation. I'll decide which I'll choose within the next few weeks.

I belive that the move to JB is a win-win situation: I'll have a more relaxed lifestyle without severing my ties to Singapore. To be honest, I can't wait to start this next chapter of my life.

Anway, if anybody else is interested, I got most of my MM2H information from www.mm2h.com.sg.

Emily Goh,
Singapore