Aussie expats trade high costs for cheap living overseas

A growing number of Australians are giving up on the cost of living at home and building new lives overseas, with one expat's social media posts about his cut-price lifestyle in Thailand pulling in millions of views.

Jay Houston now works from a high-security condominium complex with two swimming pools, all for around $630 a month in rent, a fraction of what he was paying in Australia. His other bills barely register: about $60 a month for electricity, $4 for water and $2 for internet. Groceries and eating out cost roughly $8 a meal, and getting around town costs about $1.50 a trip. Houston says his total outgoings sit near $1,800 a month, enough to finish work by early afternoon most days and head straight to the beach.

His videos, which have racked up more than three million views in just two days, have struck a nerve at a time when many Australians are struggling with rent, groceries and power bills. While debate over migration intake into Australia continues, official figures show the numbers heading the other way are climbing too, with roughly 263,000 people a year now leaving the country, a rise of about 13 per cent on previous levels.

Migration experts say Southeast Asia has become a magnet for cost-conscious Australians, with Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia among the most popular destinations. The appeal isn't only financial. Many expats say they're chasing a better lifestyle overall, from warmer climates to a slower pace of life.

Others are looking further afield for a mix of affordability and stability. Countries such as Malta, Portugal and Singapore are drawing interest for their safety, infrastructure and healthcare systems, while Poland has emerged as a surprise favourite, with some Australians reporting they can live comfortably there for as little as $1,700 a month.

For Houston, now 50, the move has come with long-term security attached. He holds a multi-entry retirement visa for Thailand, which allows him to travel in and out of the country as often as he likes without jeopardising his residency. He says he's now looking at ways to help other Australians make the same move, describing the shift as the start of a new chapter rather than a retreat from home.

The trend highlights a widening gap between what Australians expect to pay for everyday essentials and what's on offer in parts of Asia and Europe, and suggests the appeal of a cheaper, sunnier life abroad is only growing as domestic living costs stay high.