Kelsey O’Mahoney, 26, and her partner Russell Edwards, 41, swapped £820 monthly rent in Staffordshire for a £300 apartment in a popular holiday destination
A couple have abandoned the “miserable” weather and eye-watering rent costs in Britain for balmy 28C winters abroad and reckon their rent has now plummeted to less than half what they were paying. Kelsey O’Mahoney, 26, and her partner Russell Edwards, 41, a taxi driver, made the leap to the bustling tourist hotspot of Hurghada this January, following several holidays there.
The pair, from Cannock, Staffordshire, traded their £820-a-month rent for a two-bedroom flat for a stylish three-bedroom apartment costing a mere £300, and now spend their days soaking up the sunshine and discovering their new surroundings. Kelsey, who previously worked as a PA back home, is now working towards establishing herself as a full-time content creator by documenting her fresh lifestyle of leisure.
The couple, who’ve been an item for five years, revealed they were gagging to flee the “depressing weather” and “expensive rent” back in Britain and chose to shift 2,600 miles away for a fresh start in the sun.
Kelsey explained: “We’d been on holiday to Egypt a few times and Russ’ parents have lived there for over seven years, so we thought we’d make a go of it ourselves. We fancied a change, a challenge and a new life.
“It was hard saying goodbye to family, as we’re all so close, but I’ve said they can visit anytime, it’s only a flight away. Every day here is so busy.
“We love the heat, the views, the clear blue skies, we don’t miss the depressing UK weather. I think people think in January and February it will be cold, but today has been 28C.
“Renting was so expensive in the UK, we were paying £820 a month; our new apartment is £300. Food is so cheap too, a punnet of fresh strawberries at the market is 40p and a two-course meal costs less than £10.
“The people here are so welcoming, Egyptians are amazing people. Our aim is to become content creators and promote Egypt worldwide.”
Kelsey and Russell’s affection for Egypt blossomed during a holiday visiting Russell’s parents, who’ve called the North African country home for seven years. Drawn by scorching temperatures, hospitable locals and bargain rent prices, the couple upped sticks in January 2025 and relocated to Hurghada, a Red Sea coastal city.
Bidding farewell to loved ones proved difficult for the duo, though they assured family members they’d be welcome visitors at any time. Back in Britain, the pair were shelling out £820 monthly for accommodation, but now find themselves in a luxurious two-bedroom flat for only £300 per month.
Currently not working in Egypt, Kelsey and Russell have been leveraging their social media presence to showcase the country and assist holidaymakers in booking activities, hoping to transform content creation into their primary income source.
“We’re trying to create content with local people to get the word out on how cheap things are, and to encourage people to come on holiday,” she explained. Their monthly outgoings on household bills, encompassing wifi, electricity and water, have also plummeted to a mere £20, a stark contrast to the hefty £380 they were shelling out back in the UK.
The couple’s favourite aspect of their new home? The locals, who they describe as incredibly warm-hearted and friendly.
Despite grappling with occasional language hurdles, the pair haven’t encountered any significant difficulties thus far and are planning to make Egypt their permanent residence. They document their journey on their Instagram accounts @kelsinegypt and @edhertz.
Kelsey and Russell’s living costs in the UK versus Egypt
UK rent: £820
Egypt rent: £300
UK bills: £380
Egypt bills: £20
Weekly grocery bill in the UK: £80
Weekly grocery bill in Egypt: £40
Dining out in the UK: £70
Dining out in Egypt: £10
