Briton Cuts Living Costs With Move to Chiang Mai

59 minutes ago, Spider5511 said:

It is just as cheap to cook at home in most of europe, if not all. Thai rice even costs the same as it costs in Tesco Thailand, in my country. In fact the best thai food i ever had was in thai restaurants in europe due to ingredients, is what the chefs say at least.

Wow, Europe must be much different than America :) Sure rice is cheap in both places but I do like to add some other staples. Meat is at least tripple the cost and spices and vegies even more.

3 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Funny how our memory is distorted when we live in Thailand for many years without going home. My trip last year forced me to adjust to reality. America is outrageously expensive! The supermarket prices were the biggest shocker. I met a friend out for "a" beer and we had chicken wings and the bill $40.

Agreed wholeheartedly. My friends who live here and I are joking about it constantly when we see what virtually everything cost. There are so few things here that are not overpriced. The cost of nearly everything is out of control and people who say otherwise are either wealthy, or have very significant incomes ,or own their homes free and clear, likely along with their cars.

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Funny how our memory is distorted when we live in Thailand for many years without going home. My trip last year forced me to adjust to reality. America is outrageously expensive! The supermarket prices were the biggest shocker. I met a friend out for "a" beer and we had chicken wings and the bill $40.

1 hour ago, Spider5511 said:

So he doesn't need the cheapest real health insurance (5,000 baht), he never needs new clothes, maintain a bike, a new phone or visit home (even if it is once i 4 years). He does't travel anywhere on that budget either. He will never get a serious girlfriend on it either. But he is telling us, HE LIVES THE DREAM!!!

Wouldn't be surprised health insurances even refuse to help on lung isuses if having lived there 5 years lol.

Perhaps he's living his dream of a stress free life. Construction is hard on the body; paper pushers don't know how it feels to do heavy work for years on end, in good weather and bad. It's rare to see men do that work until the state pension kicks in at 67, and if they do their bodies are used up and broken. This guy looks to be in good shape and probably left before he was broken.

" He will never get a serious girlfriend on it either"

Is this a threat, or a promise?

he now lives comfortably in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on just GBP800 a month

What kind of health insurance does he have - "Go fund me international" ?

49 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Every Thai city has hotels with 5 to 10k monthly deals. I can stay beachfront in Ban Krut for 10k with pool and free water, coffee and biscuits. Motorbike is 5,000 a month. Food is cheap there. Gym is 50 baht. Beach is great.

Room 10,000

Gym 600

Bike 5000

Food 6000

Other 5000

26,600 baht a month.

That leaves room for heath care.

That is perfect for a low budget tourist visiting Thailand. You would not need to worry about health coverage as you would buy it in your home country as travel insurance. I am sure a smart budget traveler like you would do that.

But none of this matters to the expats who live here. Our expenses are nothing like yours. You come for a few weeks a year and look to save money so you can go back to Australia work again and then return for your next short vacation.

2 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Perhaps he's living his dream of a stress free life. Construction is hard on the body; paper pushers don't know how it feels to do heavy work for years on end, in good weather and bad. It's rare to see men do that work until the state pension kicks in at 67, and if they do their bodies are used up and broken. This guy looks to be in good shape and probably left before he was broken.

" He will never get a serious girlfriend on it either"

Is this a threat, or a promise?

I bet the guy you replied to is in a relationship where the woman requires 15-30k to stay with him. This is common and works for many but ignoring there are other options is silly. Sure it takes much more work to find a lady that you don't buy but it is definitely possible. Maybe you still contribute more financially but there isn't a semi-contract involved :)

It would be hard for me to spend only 35k consistently but some months I spend less so it is possible even with health insurance and a GF ( no allowance ;) . For me ~50k provides me with all I need with loads to spend on stupid things. My state pension will be much higher than that in 5 years and I have saving so no stress.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Again, 3 meals a day is your assumption.

In the 1600s most humans ate dinner around 12pm or 1pm. One big meal a day. The first documented human to live past 100 was born in the 1600s in France. Her diet was lots of pork, bread and some veges. Very low sugar. Fasting reduces insulin levels in humans more than anything else.

But being anti science you will never listen. Keep eating your 3 salads a day and die young.

9 minutes ago, Xonax said:

he now lives comfortably in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on just GBP800 a month

What kind of health insurance does he have - "Go fund me international" ?

Health insurance with a 100k deductible and 5 mil coverage only cost 10k a year for a 45 yo. I think he can afford 800 baht a month.

Good luck to him 🖖

3 hours ago, Packer said:

I don't believe this man is only 45.

He is/was a heavy smoker...His complexion and wrinkles tell the story..............

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I don’t take my dietary advice from mice, let alone worms.

Nor should I add, the latest Internet gimmick diet.

• Humans and mice share about 90% of their genomes. On a basic cellular and organ level, they function very similarly to us.

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2 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

What is he doing for Thailand?

Spending money in Ching Mai...

The guy’s taking a punt on life, I expect he’s having a wild adventure.

It might not last but he’ll not end life wishing he had tried.

18 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

There was a woman born in the late 1700s and died early 1900s. Do you think she ate 3 or 4 meals a day? Humans don't need food more than once a day.

Nothing wrong with one big meal but I would be a wreck mentally if I didn't snack. My glucose levels would be around 70 all day and that would be no fun. Trick is to eat consistently not more than you burn.

Simple and great health will follow if you stay active. Get a glucose monitor for 1000 baht. Within a few weeks a person will know how healthy metabolically they are and that is highly predictive of future health as we age. Why people don't do the obvious is beyond me :)

11 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

He is/was a heavy smoker...His complexion and wrinkles tell the story..............

Perhaps so, but remember that he worked outdoors. The poor guy looks to be squinting because of the bright sunlight.

26 minutes ago, Xonax said:

he now lives comfortably in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on just GBP800 a month

What kind of health insurance does he have - "Go fund me international" ?

I've not had any health insurance for 17 years, age 70 now, government hospital costs less then the UK NHS car park fees.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Lifespan Extensions: Studies on C. elegans (microscopic worms) and mice show that intermittent fasting or periodic fasting-mimicking diets can extend average lifespans by anywhere from 30% to over 40%.

I would argue that we do not really extend our lifespan by following healthy practices. Rather, we avoid shortening it. In other words, the body may have a certain natural lifespan potential, and habits such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress can subtract years from that potential. Healthy practices like intermittent fasting may simply help us preserve more of our lifespan we were biologically capable of achieving in the first place.

2 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

One guy will explode the cost of living?

No, but if he's successful as a content creator a.k.a. "influencer", others will come. Isn't that his business model? That's what I meant, it's insane, the better it works the more he's contributing to destroying the paradise he's found.

In places like Bali and Da Nang, you already have a 2nd wave of content creators who trash those places for being overrun. Oh the irony.

Another guy working without a work permit.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

He's living the absolute dream on £800 a month... right up until Burning Season hits, and he has to spend his entire budget on air purifiers and inhalers.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

He's living the absolute dream on £800 a month... right up until Burning Season hits, and he has to spend his entire budget on air purifiers and inhalers.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

He's living the absolute dream on £800 a month... right up until Burning Season hits, and he has to spend his entire budget on air purifiers and inhalers.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

He's living the absolute dream on £800 a month... right up until Burning Season hits, and he has to spend his entire budget on air purifiers and inhalers.

I have lived in Chiang Mai for 36 years. I stay here year round and I have never owned an air purifier or used an inhaler. I have never had air-conditioning either. However, I do spend more than 800 pounds a month.

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

What type of Visa would he be using then?

Another DTVer?

13 minutes ago, Caldera said:

No, but if he's successful as a content creator a.k.a. "influencer", others will come. Isn't that his business model? That's what I meant, it's insane, the better it works the more he's contributing to destroying the paradise he's found.

In places like Bali and Da Nang, you already have a 2nd wave of content creators who trash those places for being overrun. Oh the irony.

There are thousands of Youtubers promoting Thailand. Why blame him?

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A British man who left the UK due to rising living costs says he now lives comfortably in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on just GBP800 a month, compared with more than GBP3,000 a month previously. Robert Hoadley, 45, from Portsmouth, relocated in 2025 and says the move has given him greater financial freedom, improved work-life balance and a healthier lifestyle.

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Robert spent years working in construction before deciding to leave the UK. He said he had become frustrated by working long hours simply to cover increasing expenses and felt he had little freedom to enjoy life. After deciding he did not want to wait until retirement to pursue a different lifestyle, he sold everything he owned and moved more than 6,000 miles away to Thailand.

Now based in Chiang Mai, Robert works online as a content creator, producing material about the cost of living and relocating abroad. He is developing multiple online income streams that allow him to work remotely. His social media platform, Sea Turkey Adventures, has attracted more than 6,000 followers, with some videos receiving over 200,000 views.

Robert says daily life in Thailand is significantly less stressful. He highlighted lower living costs, affordable leisure activities and a wider range of lifestyle options, including gyms, cafes, swimming pools and outdoor pursuits. He also noted that pints can cost as little as GBP2, although he says he now drinks less than he did in the UK and focuses more on health, fitness and routine.

According to Robert, one of the biggest benefits is the reduced financial pressure. He said many people underestimate how far money can stretch abroad and believes Thailand offers good food, friendly people, a strong expatriate community and a high quality of life at a fraction of UK costs. He added that the warmer climate and more relaxed pace of life have also contributed to his overall happiness.

Despite the positives, Robert acknowledges there are aspects of Britain he still misses. He cited friends and family, traditional pub culture, certain foods and what he described as the UK’s distinctive sense of humour and sarcasm. He said those qualities are difficult to replace, even though he is satisfied with his decision to move overseas.

The Mirror reported that as he continues building his online business and audience, Robert says he remains committed to his new life in Thailand. His experience reflects a growing interest among some Britons in seeking lower living costs and different lifestyles abroad while maintaining remote sources of income.

Pictures courtesy of The Mirror

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 13 June 2026

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His experience reflects a growing interest among some Britons in seeking lower living costs and different lifestyles

Please, don't. Don't let them come. Enough low class, low budget, low IQ, already here.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

You can live well in CM on 35,000 if you are not a drinker.

One man's well is eating dinner in a Big C foodcourt.

3 minutes ago, Packer said:

One man's well is eating dinner in a Big C foodcourt.

Food is poo sooner or later. The food court at the mall near the airport is great!

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Normal people ?????

"Normal" people would not stay during the pollution months in CM

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

prefer to cook British food at home.

But you won't adress it as healthy, will you, if I think of rushers, sauasages, beans, and pudding😄

19 minutes ago, Packer said:

One man's well is eating dinner in a Big C foodcourt.

and you're above that? The weak enjoy looking down on others because well... they are miserable.

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How is that anyone's business but his? Do you disclose your tax situation to anonymous strangers?

I reckon you missed my point.

How can anyone live on a monthly income of 800, less tax.