What retiring overseas really costs: a month in 10 places, from Penang to the Algarve
Our estimate of a month for a couple, rent included, runs from about A$2,470 in Da Nang to A$5,560 in Christchurch (October 2026).
Checked 20 October 2026
Costs and budgets
What a month really costs, in Australian dollars, against home.
Guides on Costs and budgets
Guides to read with these
Living overseas on the Age Pension: the 2026 numbers for Australians
If you live overseas, the Age Pension is paid at the base rate: about A$3,710 a month for a couple who are both eligible, or about A$2,460 for a single person, from 20 September 2026.
Checked 20 October 2026
International health insurance for over 70s: age limits and what to ask
If you live overseas, Medicare won't pay for your care there, so you need your own cover.
Checked 20 October 2026
Keep, rent or sell the family home when you retire overseas
Your home stays exempt from the Age Pension assets test for the first 12 months of a temporary absence, and rent from it counts as income.
Checked 20 October 2026
Try retiring overseas before you move: the winter away, the long stay and the trial year
Smartraveller suggests a temporary move of 6 to 12 months before you commit to living overseas.
Checked 20 October 2026
Questions about your situation?
Bring them to a free planning session on Zoom, and we will answer them for your situation.
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