A Wolverhampton man who moved to Pattaya three years ago says a month's groceries cost him around £131, while utilities and transport are also far cheaper than he experienced in the UK.
Macauley Haycock, 31, owns a Bar in Pattaya, lives with his girlfriend and runs the Mac TV Travel channel on YouTube and Facebook. He told BirminghamLive that his household spending has been markedly lower since relocating from the Midlands.
Food, rent and bills in Pattaya
Haycock said his latest food shop included steaks, chicken, tuna, cottage cheese, fruit, vegetables and drinks, as well as a full spice rack.
"I've just grabbed a month's supply of food and it came to around £131," he said. "Steaks, chicken, tuna, cottage cheese, fruit, vegetables and drinks, I bought a whole spice rack and there's loads of stuff."
He said he pays £25 a month for Wi-Fi, water and electricity. Before moving house, he was paying about £360 a month for a condominium with a gym and swimming pool on the 29th floor.
Haycock has now moved to a three-bedroom house costing about £580 a month. With bills included, he said his monthly total is just over £600.
The comparison cited by BirminghamLive put a 30-minute Bolt journey at £6.95 in Pattaya, compared with £14.35 in Birmingham. It listed three-bedroom rents in Pattaya at £580 a month, against £1,000 to £1,250 in Birmingham, and bottled beer at his Bar at £2.25, compared with £7.10 at Wetherspoons in the UK.
Lower prices do not remove the need to plan
Haycock said rent, food, accommodation, transport and bills in Thailand were all cheaper than in the West. However, he cautioned people considering a move not to assume they can immediately earn a living after arriving.
"Whatever country you travel to, go there on a holiday before you move there," he said. "Don't just come straight to Thailand, scout it out before you live here."
For foreigners weighing up a move to Thailand, day-to-day costs can vary significantly by location, accommodation and lifestyle. More importantly, a lower budget does not replace the need to arrange an appropriate visa and ensure any work, including online work, is permitted under Thai rules.
Haycock advised prospective movers to secure an online job before leaving the UK, saying they may not find work in Thailand. He said even a call-centre salary from the UK could stretch further in Thailand than local wages.
Warning for aspiring YouTubers and teachers
He also warned against treating YouTube as an easy route to income abroad. "People who want to be aspiring YouTubers should do more research rather than just pressing record and seeing what happens," he said, adding that people need to learn how to make and edit videos if they want to earn serious money.
Haycock said he would not advise moving to Thailand to teach, despite it being an option. "Every single one I speak to says it's a bad idea," he said, citing low salaries and long hours.
Pictures courtesy of Birmingham Mail
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21 September 2026
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