Ontario man opens up about ridiculously cheap cost of living after moving to Thailand
Irish Mae Silvestre
created: April 21, 2025, 1:12 p.m. | updated: April 22, 2025, 2:21 p.m.
<img class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" src="https://display.blogto.com/articles/20250421-cost-of-living-canada.jpg?w=1200&cmd=resize_then_crop&height=630&quality=70&format=jpeg" width="100%" /><p>If you enjoyed the recent season of <em>The White Lotus</em>, you've likely fallen in love with the beauty of Thailand.</p><p>For one Canadian, a trip to the country unexpectedly led to the decision to stay, ultimately inspiring him to start a new life there.</p><p>At 27, Mick Brown moved from Sheffield, U.K., to join his family in Canada, where he eventually became a citizen. Mick, now 60, lived in Mississauga, Ontario, where he worked as a realtor.</p><p>"I loved being a realtor," he said. "I actually worked mostly with expats relocating to Toronto globally for work reasons."</p><p>Thirty-three years later, he's once again adjusting to life in a new country.</p><h5>Moving to Thailand</h5><p>In 2018, Mick met his future wife, Darlene Garcia-Brown, 53, a grief coach from Laos who works with widows after she became a widow 10 years ago. The pair married six months ago and are now living in Thailand.</p><p>Previously, the couple had spent several months living in Mexico.</p><p>"We both have online businesses, so the nomadic lifestyle suited us," said Mick.</p><p>The couple both have remote jobs: in addition to coaching, Darlene is starting a program on finding love after loss, while Mick gave up his realtor job during the pandemic and now works as a forex trader and content creator.</p><p>He said that when they travelled to Thailand, they neither planned to fall in love with the country, nor were they looking to relocate.</p><p><img alt="cost of living canada" id="content-image-116378" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/21/1745241113-20250421-cost-of-living-canada-0.jpg?w=1400&cmd=resize&quality=70&format=jpeg" style="width: 1400px; height: 933px;" /></p><p class="caption">Supplied</p><p>"Our initial intention was to travel a little and then return to Canada," he said.</p><p>But that soon changed.</p><p>"We initially signed a two-month condo lease and then extended to six months," he said. "Now we've extended for a year. We're in love with the culture, the pace, the quality, and the cost of living. Not to mention Thai food."</p><h5>Adjusting to life in Thailand</h5><p>Despite their nomadic lifestyle, the couple has decided to create a home base in Thailand for at least the next few years. Mick said that they're applying for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a five-year multiple-entry visa that would allow them to work and travel in the country.</p><p>"We have been in touch with an agent who will get the ball rolling," he shared. "We contemplated doing it ourselves, but it's less time-consuming to pay someone who may have connections. We will vacate to Bali for a couple of weeks once we give the go-ahead."</p><p>According to Mick, he's seeing more and more expats visiting and staying.</p><p><img alt="cost of living canada" id="content-image-116379" src="https://display.blogto.com/uploads/2025/04/21/1745241131-20250421-cost-of-living-canada-1.jpg?w=1400&cmd=resize&quality=70&format=jpeg" style="width: 1400px; height: 933px;" /></p><p class="caption">Supplied</p><p>"I foresee that happening more so over the next 12 months as recession fears worsen," he said. "We are afraid Thailand may get stricter with visas, so we are on it."</p><p>Currently, the couple are renting a condo in Bangkok's upscale Thong Lor neighbourhood, known for its trendy bars, cafes, shops, and nightlife.</p><p>When asked what it's been like living in Thailand, he said, "Wonderful, as we are in a luxurious condo with a gym and pool. Our rent is $825 USD ($1,142 CAD), which is a steal, I'm sure you'll agree."</p><p>He said that he has also had a good experience with healthcare in Thailand, which he described as "very good and affordable."</p><p>"Even pharmacies are helpful and gave me an antibiotic cream and dressing for bad mosquito bites," he recalled.</p><p>When he compares his life in Canada to his life now, Mick said, things are "extremely less stressful."</p><p>"Just being with my partner, setting goals, and exploring is perfect," he stated. "We have had many times apart due to obligations on both sides."</p><h5>Breaking down the cost of living</h5><p>For the Browns, the cost of living is hard to beat.</p><p>"Let's just say there is a pad thai place across the street that is about $2 USD ($2.77 CAD), it's like night and day," shared Mick.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1030220/thailand-average-monthly-income-per-household-by-region/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20average%20monthly,to%20other%20regions%20in%20Thailand." rel="noopener" target="_blank">Statista</a>, the average monthly household income in Bangkok in 2023 was 39,100 Thai baht ($1,623 CAD). Meanwhile, in Canada, the federal minimum wage has recently increased to <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/03/canada-federal-minimum-wage/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">$17.75 per hour</a>.</p><p>Wise, a global money transfer company, recently ranked cities worldwide based on their cost of living in 2025 — the higher the number, the more expensive it is to live in that city. Bangkok received a <a href="https://wise.com/gb/cost-of-living/thailand/#coverage" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cost-of-living score of 39.5</a> and a rent index of 14.8. In comparison, Toronto has a <a href="https://wise.com/gb/cost-of-living/canada/toronto" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cost-of-living score of 67.4</a> and a rent index of 44.6.</p><p>Below, Mick shares their monthly expenses in Canadian dollars:</p><p><strong>Rent:</strong> A one-bedroom condo for $1,142</p><p><strong>Groceries:</strong> $650</p><p><strong>Dining out:</strong> $425. "Food is affordable, although it can be expensive, but that's a choice dependent on whether you're budgeting or not," said Mick.</p><p><strong>Electricity, utilities, water:</strong> $94</p><p><strong>Internet:</strong> $0 (included in condo rent)</p><p><strong>Phone for two people:</strong> $20 total</p><p><strong>Healthcare/health insurance:</strong> $200</p><p><strong>Transportation (public transport and taxis):</strong> $60. "We love to walk and work out daily," said Mick.</p><h5>Looking ahead</h5><p>Although their move hadn't been planned, for Mick, the timing couldn't have been more ideal.</p><p>"We figure we got out at the right time, especially with the whole <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/03/canada-and-us-officially-trade-war-tariffs-take-effect/">Trump Tariff circus</a>," he said.</p><p>He also said he's proud to be Canadian, but certainly doesn't miss the winters up north.</p><p>"I love Toronto, although as I age, I'm no longer keen on the cold weather," Mick said, adding that he does plan to return to visit loved ones. However, living in a place like Thailand means that they are more likely to host visitors.</p><p>"I have a 23-year-old daughter in Ottawa," said Mick. "She actually may be visiting soon."</p><p>There are some things that they've had to get used to: the traffic, humidity, and the language barrier.</p><p>But the couple plans to address at least one of those issues.</p><p>"We are going to be taking a language course at some point soon, as it would be even better to converse, even just a little, with the lovely Thai people," explained Mick. "I've pretty much worn out <em>sawadee krup</em> (hello) <em>and kob kun krup</em> (thank you)!"</p><p>In the past, we've covered stories of Canadians who have moved to <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/canadian-living-in-russia-phill-hadikin-khabarovsk" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Russia</a>, the <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/07/canada-cost-living-moving-scotland/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="https://www.blogto.com/travel/2025/01/woman-toronto-move-to-italy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Italy</a>, <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/04/canadian-born-family-moving-malaysia/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Malaysia</a>, <a href="https://www.blogto.com/travel/2025/01/toronto-woman-shares-how-much-spends-moving-mexico/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mexico</a>, <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/02/toronto-resident-cost-living-move-philippines/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">the Philippines</a>, <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/02/toronto-woman-cost-living-maldives-different-home/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">the Maldives</a>, and more.</p>
1 month, 2 weeks ago: blogTO