A young woman has left her life in the UK – where she worked three jobs – for an idyllic island lifestyle where a luxury apartment sets her back just £550 a month.
Sophia Moulson was juggling a huge workload as a salon barber, as a care assistant, freelancing as a self-employed barber and growing her own online fitness coaching business – often working between 11-15 hours a day.
But after trading her life in West Sussex, where living costs were on the rise, for Thailand, the 23-year-old has been able to reduce her working hours to just a few a day – and is reaping the benefits of a far cheaper lifestyle.
READ MORE: ‘I live in a HOTEL full-time with my dogs – free breakfast, housekeeping and a pool’
- Advertisement -
“My quality of life has changed dramatically,” she told What’s The Jam.
“Before moving, I was working three jobs and had very little free time.
“My schedule was extremely busy and I’d often work anywhere between 11–15 hours a day.
“A typical day could involve waking up and spending an hour working on my coaching business and social media, going to work at the barber shop, then coming home and doing private haircuts in the evening.
“On my days off from the barber shop, I would often pick up care shifts instead.
- Advertisement -
“I had very little downtime and usually only had one day off, on a Sunday.
“There were even weeks where I would work all seven days if I had private haircuts booked. “Looking back, I definitely didn’t have the best work/life balance, but at the time I was so focused on building a different life for myself that I was willing to put in the hours.”
It wasn’t until moving abroad in April 2025 that she began to prioritise her time differently, focusing on her online business and being able to work “just a few” hours per day – with the rest of her time dedicated to working out, her social life, and exploring her new home.
- Advertisement -
It doesn’t hurt that living costs in Chiang Mai, where she lives, are significantly lower.
While Sophia enjoyed her life in the UK, and had relatively low living costs while living with family, running her BMW car with £45 of fuel per week, paying her phone bill and general living costs stacked up.
Meanwhile in Thailand, she pays £500 a month in rent for a stunning apartment with a pool and 24.7 security, plus “amazing” views.
Her electricity and water bills total £50 a month, meaning she is able to live comfortably and enjoy the luxury spot without breaking the bank.
Other amenities are similarly budget-friendly for the traveller.
She added: “I currently pay around £57 a month to rent a motorbike, and a full tank of fuel costs me roughly £4.77 and lasts me more than a week.
“Eating out is another huge difference – in Chiang Mai, I can generally get lunch or dinner for around £5-£10 depending on where I go, and I actually find eating locally can be cheaper than cooking for myself, which really surprised me initially because it’s the complete opposite in the UK.
“A coffee is around £1 on average where I live, and things such as massages, beauty treatments, hair washes, nails and facials can be a fraction of the price I was used to paying in the UK.
“A massage can be around 350 baht, which is roughly £7-£8.”
Sophia estimates her current monthly outgoings at £1,500 – including rent, food, shopping, activities and general living expenses.
But the move was mostly inspired by her wanting to make the most out of her youth, having visited Thailand and
Sophia said: “I didn’t have a mortgage, children or any major commitments tying me to one place.
“I love travelling and experiencing different cultures, so I started thinking, why not live somewhere I genuinely love while I have the opportunity to?
“Thailand had always felt different to other places I’d visited.
“I had travelled around Asia, including Vietnam and Bali, but Thailand always felt like somewhere I could actually call home rather than simply visit.
“Moving here has given me the opportunity to slow down while still working towards my career goals.
“I can work, go for a run, go to the gym, have lunch somewhere, read, write, paint or play piano – all while still building my businesses.
“I’ve really embraced a slower pace of life.
“I don’t feel like every minute of my day has to be productive anymore.
“I also love that I can spend more time doing things that genuinely make me happy.
“I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by the healthcare.
“I know healthcare is a concern for many people considering moving abroad, but my experiences have been very positive.
“When I’ve needed medical attention, I’ve generally been seen very quickly and at a reasonable cost.”
Sophia, who has been learning to speak Thai, has no intention of moving back to the UK for some time – and says moving abroad has taught her that she “doesn’t need her entire life mapped out”.
She said: “Thailand could be a long-term home, or it could simply be an incredibly important chapter of my life.
“Either way, I know that when I’m older, I’ll be grateful that I had the courage to do this while I was young.
“I wouldn’t go back right now.
“I genuinely love the life I’ve created here and feel incredibly fortunate that this is my reality.”
READ MORE: ‘I invited my best friend into our marriage – now we’re raising eight children together’
