A family who left an affluent area of Kent to start a new life in Thailand is saving around £15,000 a year, thanks to a significantly lower cost of living. Saskia Dalyanci, 27, and her partner Ben, 26, moved to Chiang Mai with their three children in July, and their monthly outgoings now total roughly £735, compared with nearly £2,000 when they were renting in Tunbridge Wells.
From Kent to Chiang Mai
The couple had been paying £1,000 a month to rent a three-bedroom property in Tunbridge Wells. Ben, a teacher, began applying for jobs at international schools abroad, and after securing a position in Chiang Mai, the family sold most of their belongings to fund the move.
They raised £4,000 by selling items on Facebook Marketplace and at boot sales, and flew out to Thailand on July 7 without any long-term accommodation arranged. After staying in three different Airbnbs during their first fortnight, they settled into a three-bedroom rental property for £543.55 per month.
A similar routine, lower costs
Saskia, a former tutor who had been home-educating their children, said the decision was driven by a desire for more experiences and a different lifestyle. She explained that they were living in an area with excellent schools that their children did not attend, and paying a high cost of living for facilities they did not need.
Ben earns £15,400 a year at an international primary school, taking home £1,179 per month plus a £112 housing allowance. His employer also covered his flights and visa. The family are living on a single wage and stick to a budget, with Saskia noting that while the cost of living in Thailand is often portrayed as very cheap, it depends on lifestyle choices.
Monthly cost comparison
The family's monthly costs in the UK were: rent £1,000, water £80, electricity £140, Wi-Fi £32, council tax £181, and food £520-560, totalling £1,953-£1,993. In Thailand, their costs are: rent £543.55, water £2.67, electricity £89.90, Wi-Fi £8.98, council tax £0, and food £90.04, totalling £735.14.
Saskia said the family have replicated their UK routine and are enjoying the freedom to be more adventurous. She added that while they plan to stay in Thailand for the foreseeable future, she cannot say whether it will become their permanent home, as packing up life and moving back would be a significant undertaking.
