Sophia Moulson, 23, says she has exchanged 15-hour working days in West Sussex for a slower routine in Chiang Mai after moving to Thailand in April 2025.
The former salon barber, care assistant and online fitness coach said she once worked three jobs, sometimes seven days a week, but now focuses on her online business for only a few hours a day.
"My quality of life has changed dramatically," she said. "Before moving, I was working three jobs and had very little free time."
Moulson said a typical UK day began with work on coaching and social media, followed by a barber shop shift and private haircuts in the evening. On days away from the barber shop, she often picked up care shifts instead.
She said she usually had one day off, on Sundays, although private bookings sometimes meant she worked throughout the week.
Lower daily costs in Chiang Mai
Moulson said her Chiang Mai apartment costs GBP500 a month and has a pool, 24/7 security and views. Electricity and water add around GBP50 monthly, she said.
Her reported monthly spending is about GBP1,500, covering rent, food, shopping, activities and general living costs.
She also pays around GBP55 a month to rent a motorbike. A full tank costs roughly GBP5 and lasts more than a week, she said.
Meals out generally cost her between GBP5 and GBP10, depending on the venue, while coffee is about GBP1 on average. She said local food can work out cheaper than cooking at home, which she found surprising after life in the UK.
Massages, beauty treatments, hair washes, nails and facials are also markedly cheaper than she was used to in Britain, she said. A massage can cost about 300 baht.
Before leaving Sussex, Moulson lived with family and said her costs were relatively low. However, fuel for her BMW alone was GBP45 a week, alongside her phone bill and other everyday spending.
A move made without major commitments
Moulson said she chose Thailand because she had no mortgage, children or other major commitments keeping her in one place. She had previously travelled in Asia, including Vietnam and Bali, but said Thailand felt like somewhere she could call home.
She has used the extra time to exercise, meet new friends, explore the country, read, write, paint and play piano while continuing to build her online businesses. She is also learning Thai.
Moulson said her own healthcare experiences in Thailand had been positive, with quick appointments at what she considered reasonable cost. She said she has no plans to return to the UK soon.
Pictures courtesy of The Mirror
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19 September 2026
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