Phoebe Wilson and her husband relocated from the UK to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with their four children on July 24, saying that £2,700-a-month childcare costs for their two youngest children pushed them "over the edge."
The 40-year-old content creator described the cost of living in the UK as "difficult" and said the family left the "miserable" and expensive UK for Malaysia, where they claim life is cheaper and more "free."
Childcare costs slashed
Phoebe said childcare has dropped to £400 a month, which she described as 148% less than in the UK, and the family's work-life balance is "amazing." The family still pays £800 a month on accommodation, but instead of a mortgage for a three-bedroom terraced house in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, they now rent a larger gated community condo with a pool and gym.
Food bills have also fallen, from £200 to £40 a week, while meals out cost around £1.40 per person, according to Phoebe.
Financial relief and lifestyle gains
Phoebe said: "The price of living in the UK was just very difficult for us. Childcare is what pushed us over the edge, we were crippled by childcare. We were paying £2,700 for two children a month, here you can get it for around £400 a month."
She added: "We relied on British childcare as we lost some grandparents and it was really expensive. We lived in a lovely part of the UK with lots of greenery but the cost was extortionate. After paying for childcare, food, just living your basic life, there was no time to enjoy these other things. We are much more free over here."
Phoebe noted that her husband earns the same money in Malaysia but the cost of living is much cheaper. She said: "You can get amazing food here for £1.40, big meals, it's actually cheaper to eat out. We were paying around £220 a week [on food] in the UK, we did a food shop [here] and it cost £40."
Better quality of life
Phoebe said the family's quality of life has improved, not just their finances. She said: "The UK is quite miserable compared to here, we wanted to visit all these wonderful places but couldn't afford it as a family of six."
She added that the children, aged five, six, 15 and 18, have settled in well: "They've slotted in straight away here, they really enjoy it. I thought the heat might be an issue but they absolutely love it and got on with it straight away."
Phoebe also said there are more holidays in the year, more time to travel, and the weather is good all year round, leaving the family with more disposable income.
Transition challenges and rewards
Despite the challenges of moving abroad, Phoebe said the family is happier and financially better off. She said: "It was a really difficult transition. It was hard to say goodbye and move our whole lives to the other side of the world. It was definitely worth it. It's crazy that more people aren't doing it because it's such a better way of life."
She added: "You've got to think outside the box and think about what is best for you and your family. I want my kids to be world thinkers and spend more time outside. My older kids had a great childhood but spent a lot of time indoors on Xbox or PlayStation. It's a whole other way to do life. It's just amazing, we can't even believe this is our real life."
