September 17, 09:15Aaj Tak

UK resident opens bar in Pattaya and discusses low cost of living in Thailand

When people think of Thailand, images of fun and relaxation often come to mind. However, the experience of those who move to the country is different: they note the high cost of living, food, rent, and mobile phone bills. Recently, the story of one person who opened a bar in Pattaya and shared his view on life and prices in Thailand has gone viral.

This concerns a Briton named Maccolley Hekoke, who moved to Pattaya to open his own bar. He shared many impressions about life in the country. According to him, the cost of living, food, and transport in Thailand is significantly lower than in the UK.

According to information from London24News, Hekoke, who is now 31 years old, left the UK about three years ago. Initially, his goal was to travel and create video content for YouTube, but now he resides there permanently.

He currently manages the Deluzian bar in Pattaya and also runs a YouTube channel called MacTV, which has over 90 thousand subscribers. According to Birmingham Daily, Hekoke previously worked in a bar in the UK before deciding to open his own establishment in Pattaya. He opened the bar in December 2025, investing about 53,000 pounds sterling, which is equivalent to approximately 60 lakh rupees. The bar was specially designed to meet the requirements of nightlife.

The biggest impression on Hekoke was the ability to live in Thailand with relatively small expenses. According to reports, he previously lived in a 29th-floor apartment with a gym and a pool, and his monthly expenses were around 360 pounds sterling, which was approximately 42 thousand rupees. Now he lives in a three-room apartment, the rent for which is about 580 pounds sterling, or approximately 68 thousand rupees per month. Total expenses, including electricity, water, and Wi-Fi, are estimated at 600 pounds sterling, or about 70 thousand rupees monthly.

Furthermore, he reported that groceries for a month cost 15 thousand rupees, which includes vegetables, cheese, and chicken. He also noted that transportation here is quite inexpensive, and a trip lasting about 30 minutes costs only a few pounds. Additionally, beer is cheap in the country.

Despite all the advantages, he advises those planning to move to first decide on a job. He emphasizes that relying solely on YouTube is not enough, and one should spend some time in the country before making a final decision about permanent residence.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 9, 14:19

Indian woman shares cost of living in Thailand: it turned out to be cheaper than in some Indian cities

Many Indians dream of living abroad from childhood, and the first question that arises for them is the cost of living in another country. It is usually assumed that life in another country will be significantly more expensive than in India, but one Indian woman surprised people by sharing a detailed calculation of her monthly expenses in Thailand.

She stated that life in Thailand seemed more affordable to her than in her hometown of Mumbai. After her video appeared on social media, users actively discussed this topic. Below is a detailed overview of her monthly spending in Thailand.

Cost of living in Thailand per month

Roop Verma, an Indian lawyer and company secretary, travels constantly. She published a video on Instagram detailing her total expenses for a month spent in Thailand. Roop previously lived in Mumbai, but after starting to travel, she began living in different places, gaining experience in work and leisure.

Roop rented an apartment in a luxurious high-rise complex located directly opposite the beach. She rented this apartment for one month. The cost of renting the apartment for a month was about 45,000 Indian rupees. It is important to note that this amount included many amenities such as a seaside clubhouse, a swimming pool, and a gym, which were provided without extra charges.

Additionally, a grocery market and a 24-hour 7-Eleven store were located near her apartment, accessible by walking.

Spending on food and transportation

According to her, expenses for groceries and dining out amounted to approximately 19,000 Indian rupees. For transportation, she used ride-hailing services and spent about 700 rupees for the entire month.

In addition, a significant amount was spent on what she called non-essential expenses, including dinners with friends, spa treatments in the building, evening outings, and other lifestyle activities, which cost about 38,000 rupees.

Why life in Thailand turned out to be cheaper than in Mumbai

Summing up all these expenses, Roop's total costs in Thailand for one month amounted to approximately 109,000 Indian rupees. The most surprising thing was that despite these expenditures, she felt that life there was significantly cheaper than in Mumbai. She added that if she shared these expenses with her partner, many of them could be halved. Her statement attracted the attention of social media users.

Social media user reactions

Following the viral spread of Roop's video, many users began comparing the cost of living in Thailand with Mumbai. Some noted that with such amenities, these expenses are indeed lower than in Mumbai. Another user jokingly said that he now also wanted to pack his bags.

However, it should be noted that the actual cost of living in another city or country heavily depends on a person's lifestyle, place of residence, and duration of stay. Roop's expenses are based on her personal experience, so they cannot be considered a fixed cost of living in Thailand for everyone.