Macauley Haycock has embraces new life and a month’s supply of top end food cost him £141 – but he has a warning about getting a job before you come out
A fella who took the plunge and moved to Thailand to open a bar has revealed his incredibly cheap cost of living over there.
Macauley Haycock moved from Wolverhampton three years ago and lives in Pattaya with a bar, his girlfriend and a successful YouTube channel.
He told BirminghamLive: “Rent, food, accommodation, transport and bills in Thailand are all way cheaper. I’ve just grabbed a month’s supply of food and it came to around £131. Steaks, chicken, tuna, cottage cheese, fruit, vegetables and drinks, I bought a whole spice rack and there’s loads of stuff.
“I pay £25-a-month for my Wi-Fi, water and electrics, bills are incredibly cheap. It’s a couple of pound for a 30-minute ride in terms of transport too.”
Documenting life abroad for his MacTV YouTube, the 31-year-old said bills were “way cheaper” than in the west.
He added: “I was paying around £360 a month in my old condo, which had its own gym and swimming pool on the 29th floor. I’ve just moved into a three-bedroom house now and I’m paying about £580 a month for it. With all my bills included, that’s just over £600 a month.”
With 90,000 subscribers on YouTube, the content creator issued a message for those dreaming of a life abroad and shared the reality. While it might be a dream for many, he said one career choice could be ‘a bad idea’.
Macauley said: “Not everyone can do this. People who want to be aspiring YouTubers should do more research rather than just pressing record and seeing what happens.
“If people treat it like a hobby, that’s fine, but people need to learn how to make and edit videos if they want to make serious money. Whatever country you travel to, go there on a holiday before you move there. Don’t just come straight to Thailand, scout it out before you live here.
“I tell everyone, get an online job before you move here because you might not find a job in Thailand. Even if it’s in a call centre job in the UK, that UK salary is going to be better than a Thai salary. You might think it’s a **** call centre job, but that’s good money in Thailand.
“And if anyone’s thinking of becoming a teacher in Thailand, every single one I speak to says it’s a bad idea. I wouldn’t advise it, I know it’s an option, but the salaries aren’t great and the hours are long.”
Cost of living – Thailand vs UK
- Utilities (Pattaya, Thailand): £25-a-month for a three-bedroom home on water, electrics and Wi-Fi.
- Utilities (United Kingdom): £138-a-month for a three-bedroom home on electric and gas. £26 a month on Wi-Fi.
- Bolt cost for 30-minute journey (Pattaya, Thailand): £6.94
- Bolt cost for 30-minute journey (Birmingham, United Kingdom): £14.36
- Rent of three-bedroom home (Pattaya, Thailand): £580 per month
- Rent of three-bedroom home (Birmingham, United Kingdom): £1,000-£1,250 per month
- Price of a bottled beer (Deluzion Bar – Pattaya, Thailand): £2.25
- Price of a bottled beer (Wetherspoons, United Kingdom): £7.10