elephants

Roshni Ward, 30, and Louis Hunt, 33, were fed up with the UK and high living costs

A British couple, fed up with the UK’s “poor work-life balance” and cost of living, have found their own paradise where their water bill is a few pounds and a meal out costs a fraction of what it does at home. They say that, in Thailand, they save a whopping £1,000 a month on rent and pay just £2.76 for water bills.

Roshni Ward, 30, and her fiancé Louis Hunt, 33, were exhausted from working 11-hour days and overtime in their flat in Rye, East Sussex, and yearned for a “slower pace of life”. The pair decided to pack their bags and move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, last September.

They were instantly smitten with the laid-back lifestyle, friendly locals, balmy 30C weather, and breathtaking architecture. Their monthly rent is now a mere £300, which includes access to a gym and pool, while water bills are only £2.76, taxis cost £1.50, and takeaways are just £2. This has resulted in savings of over £1,000 compared to their previous UK rent of £1,350.

Roshni, who now works as a content creator, said: “We always wanted to move abroad and had toyed with the idea of it. The UK didn’t feel safe and a poor work-life balance meant we were too burnt out to enjoy life.

“Since moving, we love the slower pace of life, as well as the weather, the rich culture and the welcoming locals. And the cost of everything is so much lower, which was a shock to the system – in a good way! If we can help it, we won’t come back to the UK.”

Roshni and Louis began earnestly considering an overseas relocation following their return from a Thai getaway in December 2024. Roshni was employed full-time as a corporate team leader in broadband sales and revealed she’d frequently find herself putting in extra hours at weekends, preventing her from unwinding and savouring her leisure time.

Louis was employed full-time as a carpenter, enduring 11-hour shifts including his commute, and would become physically drained as well.

Roshni said: “There was a poor work-life balance. When we got to the weekend, we were so burnt out that we didn’t want to do anything.”

They also felt insecure in the UK, especially Roshni as a woman, owing to crime rates, and recalled from their December break that they felt considerably safer in Thailand. So the moment their lease on their rented property in Rye expired, they started searching for rental properties in Thailand and relocated to Chiang Mai on September 3.

Roshni and Louis both quit their UK positions – with Roshni becoming a full-time content creator and Louis becoming an online fitness coach. She said the residents were all incredibly friendly and everyone was prepared to assist you if you were struggling.

There is a substantial community of international expats, providing plenty of chances to encounter fresh faces and mingle. The pair love exploring stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries, Thai eateries and waterfalls.

Roshni said: “There’s something for everyone in Chiang Mai.”

The couple have discovered that swapping the UK for Thailand has slashed their living costs dramatically. Despite both working remotely for international clients and earning UK wages, they’ve found life in Thailand to be a fraction of the cost.

Their stylish condo, just a ten-minute drive from the city centre and boasting a gym, swimming pool and co-working area, sets them back a mere £300 per month. This is a stark contrast to their previous flat in the UK which cost them a hefty £1,350 each month.

Utility bills are also significantly cheaper, with water costing a mere £2.76 compared to the UK’s steep £76. Even getting around is a bargain – a 20-minute taxi ride in Thailand will only set you back £1.50.

Electricity bills are another area where they’re making huge savings, paying just £44 compared to the UK’s whopping £300. And because taxis are so affordable, they’ve ditched owning a car or bike, saving even more on fuel and maintenance costs.

Eating out is also a steal, with takeaways costing between £1.50 and £2, and a full meal and drinks at a restaurant coming in at just £8 – a far cry from the UK, where it would be around £60. Roshni added that pints of beer are “no more than £2”.

The only item they’ve found to be pricier in Thailand is Bisto gravy granules, setting them back around £5 due to import costs. But despite the financial benefits, what they love most about their new home is the slower pace of life and the rich culture.

Roshni said: “In the mornings we can get lie-ins, go to the gym, have a swim and then start work. In the UK, everyone starts early and is asleep by 11pm, here, you could finish work at 10pm and everything is still open. Louis has some UK clients – he can have a business call at 11pm and we can still go out for a meal after.”

They are smitten with the culture – the opportunity to visit stunning temples, elephant sanctuaries and tours – as well as the tranquil and friendly locals.

She said: “Anyone will stop and help you if you need it. In the UK, if someone foreign came up to you asking for help, most people wouldn’t stop.”

Despite their short stay in Thailand, they are so enamoured that they can’t envision returning to the UK.

Roshni revealed: “We would like to stay permanently. We’d be more open to starting a family here than in the UK because it’s so much safer. We’ve just fallen in love.”

Costs: UK vs Thailand

Monthly rent: £1,350 vs £300

Monthly water bills: £76 vs £2.76

Monthly electric: £300 vs £44

Monthly transport: £95 for car costs vs £30 for taxi

Meal out: £60 vs £8

Pint of lager: £5.50 vs £2

WE could argue all night about who is the GOAT. 

Messi or Ronaldo? Senna or Schumacher? Tiger or Jack? Ant or Dec? 

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But when it comes to vehicles, it’s not even a debate. 

Greatest Of All Transit. 

The humble Ford Transit has been Britain’s best-selling van since day one – August 9, 1965. 

That’s like Liverpool winning the Prem for 60 years on the bounce. Everyone else might as well give up and go home. 

To celebrate Transit’s 60th, we’ve peppered today’s column with quirky facts, as well as hearing from owners with a cherished van from each decade. 

Ford’s famous Backbone Of Britain telly ad from the Eighties was genius marketing. Yet also 100 per cent true. Transit keeps this country ticking. 

Everything we see and touch was transported in a van. 

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One reason Transit is successful is that Ford engineers sit with owners to find ways of making the next model even more useful.

Like the bloke who shoved a lump of wood through the bottom of the steering wheel to make a lunch table.

The latest Transit Custom has a tilt-up steering wheel with a tray for his quinoa tuna salad. Bosh. 

Retired builder Peter Lee, founder of the Transit Van Club, said: “Transit is like a forklift with two doors.

“Built to work. They’re good honest vans that will do the job.” 

The OG and still the best. 3 MILLION UK sales and counting. Always available in white. 

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There are some places that some say should never be visited regardless of the time of year or how safe the country they’re in is. Here’s a list of the ’15 most dangerous places on Earth’

Journeying across the globe is one of life’s greatest pleasures, offering the chance to immerse oneself in diverse cultures and marvel at the world’s natural splendours. However, like any endeavour, travel comes with its own set of risks, and not all destinations are safe for tourists. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as political instability, ongoing conflict, or recent natural disasters.

Yet, there are certain locations that some argue should be avoided altogether, regardless of the season or the overall safety of the country they’re situated in. The YouTube channel Top Fives has curated a list of what they believe to be the 15 most perilous places on Earth.

READ MORE: Mum-of-two loses more than 11 stone doing ‘wall pilates’ at home

In 15th place is Snake Island, Brazil. Also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, Top Fives said the last known inhabitants were last on the island in the early part of the 20th century. Atlas Obscura reported that the island is responsible for 90 percent of fatalities related to snakebites in Brazil.

Sinabung Volcano in Indonesia is a highly dangerous active volcano that sits on the Karo plateau. It’s around 25 miles from super volcano Lake Toba and last erupted in July 2021; it’s 14th on the list.

The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most famous and supernatural places on the planet. Over the years hundreds of boats and aircraft have disappeared without a trace. The three points of the triangle are often considered to be Miami, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

Lake Natron in Tanzania is famous for having the ability to reportedly turn animals into stone because of the toxicity of the lake. Despite the danger, the lake is a popular mating ground for flamingos.

Death Valley California, USA, is famous for being where some of the highest temperatures in human history have been recorded. Often considered the hottest place on earth, last year the temperature in the area skyrocketed to over 55C; it’s 11th on the list, reports the Express.

Cracking into the top ten is Danakil Depression in Eritrea. According to Brilliant Ethiopia is “one of the hottest, lowest, and driest places on the planet”. Within the scorching environment are a series of salt lakes, acidic springs, and lava lakes.

Although it covers a very small area, the Valley of Death, Russia, is infamous for the number of dead animals littered around. Situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula tourists are banned from visiting because a nearby volcano emits a deadly combination of carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, and sulphur dioxide.

Madidi National Park, Bolivia, is another jungle paradise on the surface, but it is also filled with deadly plants and animals that can cause serious harm to the unwary. Originally established in the 1990s, visitors must exercise extreme caution if they visit.

Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands is most famous for the nuclear tests that took place in the region in the middle of the 20th century during the nuclear arms race. It is impossible for people to live there because the groundwater is contaminated from those tests.

Naica Crystal Cave, Mexico, is also known as the Cave of Crystals. Located in Naica, Chihuahua, no tourists are permitted inside the cave at any time because of the high heat and humidity.

The top five is a closely fought contest starting with the Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia on the island of Java. As with other volcanoes, extreme caution is advised before going near or venturing up to the crater.

Mount Washington is a challenging mountain to climb. It is also one filled with dangers. One of the tallest mountains in the USA, the weather, difficulty of the climb, and poor preparation are all factors that can lead to deaths on the mountain.

Lake Nyos, Cameroon, is set in the crater of a volcano. It is best known for what happened on August 21, 1986. On that day, it released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide that swept through the local area, killing over 1,000 people.

K’gari, Australia, is considered dangerous for several reasons including riptides in the sea alongside the presence of large numbers of sharks and jellyfish. Formerly known as Fraser Island it was renamed basic to its traditional name a few years ago.

Despite being named after a land animal, the Elephant Kingdom in Thailand was not full of elephants. Instead, tourists were given the opportunity to feed crocodiles from a raft. In 2016, it was closed because of how dangerous it was.