Rajna Uddin says she feels safer and happier after swapping the UK for Asia
A woman ditched her £850-a-month “box room” in London for a roomy flat complete with a swimming pool in Thailand – costing her just £100 monthly. Rajna Uddin, 26, relocated at the end of January after growing tired of living “pay cheque to pay cheque” and constantly being “stressed about money”.
The waitress, originally from Brighton, had been forking out £850 a month including bills for a single “tiny” room in a shared flat in London. Fed up with the “grey” UK, she spent a year putting money aside so she could relocate to Thailand – now residing alone in a generous one-bed flat with a swimming pool for merely £100-a-month, plus £80 in bills.
Rajna, who now teaches English, said she spends just £80 monthly on a moped for transport and can purchase meals for as little as 50p. She said she feels “finally at peace” with the more relaxed pace of life.
Rajna said: “Growing up in the UK, I felt like I was constantly in survival mode – pay cheque to pay cheque, always stressed about money and always rushing around.
“Everyone seemed angry or exhausted all the time and I felt like there was a lack of community. I didn’t connect with the UK anymore, I genuinely felt like my soul was misplaced there.
“I had visited Thailand before and remembered how lovely the people were. People help each other here without expecting anything in return and there’s such a different energy.” Rajna initially travelled to Thailand between December 2023 and March 2024 before making a second trip from May to June 2025. After concluding she wanted to move there permanently, she dedicated much of last year to aggressive saving while residing in the UK.
She said: “I wouldn’t eat out, I wouldn’t even buy a coffee. I cooked every single meal from scratch and hardly spent any money because I knew I was working towards my future. At times, I was miserable because all I was doing was saving and working side jobs, but it kept me motivated because I knew I wanted a completely different life.”
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To accumulate savings, Rajna undertook “extra odd jobs” while based in London. Prior to departing the UK, she had been forking out £850 monthly for a single room in a shared flat with two housemates.
She said: “I was living in a tiny box room in the middle of the city with barely any space or privacy. It felt grey all the time and there wasn’t much nature around unless you travelled far to find it. Now I’m surrounded by greenery, rivers and mango trees and it’s such a huge difference mentally.”
Rajna claims one of the most significant transformations has been feeling safer and more connected to others. She said: “In the UK, every single day I left the house I felt like something negative would happen to me.
“I was constantly getting catcalled, followed or harassed by men and I was always on edge. I’d avoid certain times of day and take extra precautions because I just didn’t feel safe.
“Here I can walk around late at night and feel completely comfortable. The people are kind and compassionate and even the men make me feel safe rather than nervous.”
While Rajna now takes home roughly half her former British salary, she maintains her standard of living is considerably superior. She said: “I could earn triple in the UK and still be miserable. I didn’t move here expecting to become rich or become a millionaire.
“If your goal is making loads of money then teaching in Thailand probably isn’t the right move, but for me it’s about peace and quality of life. My rent is £100 a month, my food is so cheap and I’m actually enjoying my life now.”
Rajna presently teaches nursery and KS3 pupils, helping young children learn basic English through songs, games and activities. She said: “The kids are so loving and energetic. The younger ones don’t really speak English yet so we do lots of singing, dancing and simple phrases.
“It’s actually really wholesome because it’s not just strict teaching all day – I help them with naps, lunch and getting settled too.”
Though relishing her fresh start, Rajna acknowledged that relocating overseas proved both financially and emotionally challenging. She touched down in Thailand without secured employment and dedicated weeks travelling the country seeking schools prepared to recruit international educators. She ultimately landed her position by directly approaching schools to enquire about vacancies.
Rajna said: “I had no idea where I was going to live or whether I’d even find work. I had debts to pay off and I’d fully left my old life behind in the UK.
“It was uncomfortable and stressful at times but I’ve learned not to panic so much and just trust that things work out. Moving abroad definitely isn’t for everyone and people shouldn’t do it just for the aesthetic because there are real challenges, especially financially and emotionally.
“But for me, slowing down and focusing on simple things has completely changed my perspective on life.”
Breakdown of costs per month:
UK
Rent- £850
Other expenditure (phone bill, transport, gym membership etc) – £1,500
Food – £300
Total – £2,650
THAILAND
Rent – £100
Food – £200
Moped – £80
Bills – £80
Total – £460
