Family moves from North Yorkshire to Malaysia to cut childcare costs

Phoebe Wilson and her husband relocated from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 24, 2026. The family of six left the United Kingdom primarily to reduce the high costs associated with raising their children in the country.

Wilson, 40, stated that childcare for her two youngest children, who are five and six years old, cost £2,700 per month in the UK. In Malaysia, the same service costs approximately £400 per month. She described the previous expense as "crippling" and noted that the family had relied on paid care after losing some grandparents who had previously provided assistance.

The couple moved their four children, aged five, six, 15, and 18, to a gated community condominium in Kuala Lumpur. Wilson said the monthly accommodation cost is £800. In Harrogate, that same amount covered a mortgage for a three-bedroom terraced house. The Malaysian residence includes a pool and a gym.

Food expenses also decreased substantially. Wilson reported that weekly food costs in the UK were approximately £220. In Malaysia, the same grocery bill is around £40. She added that a meal out costs about £1.40 per person. Her husband earns the same salary in Malaysia as he did in the UK, which Wilson said provides the family with more disposable income.

The family adjusted to the new environment quickly. Wilson noted that the children, who were settled in their previous schools, integrated into their new schools without difficulty. She said the children enjoy the warm weather, which she had initially feared might be a challenge. The family also benefits from a greater number of public holidays in Malaysia, which allows for more travel time.

Wilson described the transition as difficult, citing the challenge of leaving their previous life behind. She said the family previously lived in an area with plenty of greenery but found the cost of living "extortionate." In Malaysia, she said the family has more freedom and can afford to visit more places than they could in the UK.

The move has changed the daily routine for the older children. Wilson said her two older children previously spent much of their free time indoors playing video games. In Malaysia, they spend more time outside. Wilson said the family is now happier and financially better off, describing their new life as "amazing."