Our Story
Why We Built Planet Expat
We created Planet Expat for Canadians who are thinking seriously about the next stage of life.
Some are in their late 40s and feeling burned out.
Some are in their 50s or early 60s and approaching retirement.
Many are looking at rising living costs and realizing their savings may not stretch as far as they hoped.
We understand that moment.
About the authors
In 2006, after long careers in Canadian marketing and advertising, Jim Herrler and Ellen Ma left Canada to build a life in Asia.
They lived in Singapore and Shanghai before returning to Singapore in 2014. Today, they reside on a beachfront island in Southeast Asia with access to high-quality private healthcare, an established expat community, and a long-term visa that allows them to remain legally resident while retaining Canadian citizenship.
Over nearly two decades, they have travelled extensively across Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam — not as tourists, but as prospective long-term residents.
Planet Expat grew from their own practical questions: Where can Canadians live well for less? How reliable are the systems? Is the healthcare dependable? What does day-to-day life actually feel like?
This guide is the result of those answers.
The Questions That Matter
After nearly 20 years living in Asia, we’ve asked — and worked through — the practical questions most Canadians have:
Can it really cost 40–60% less than Canada?
Which visas are realistic, and what do they require?
How strong is the healthcare system — both for everyday care and real emergencies?
What are the tax implications, locally and back home?
Is it safe?
Will I find community?
What will daily life actually feel like?
Planet Expat exists to answer those questions clearly, without hype and without guesswork.