Robyn Mansir, 27, moved from Manchester to South Korea four years ago and says her quality of life is significantly better, with housing, energy and travel costs far more affordable. She decided to relocate after finding it impossible to build up savings despite having a steady job as a scientific research paper editor.
Why she made the move
Ms Mansir, originally from Bristol, moved to Manchester for university and stayed in the city. She said: "I had a good job as a scientific research paper editor and lived in a neighbourhood I loved in Manchester, but I was always having to watch what I spent and couldn't save any money, like most 23-year-olds out of university. It was hard to see how my financial outlook would improve."
But it wasn't just the money that convinced her to make the bold move overseas. She said: "I was 23, without kids or pets, and I wanted to do something exciting with my life rather than just settle into a routine. It felt like a now-or-never moment."
She decided to do a TEFL course to become an English teacher and settled on South Korea as her destination. She said: "South Korea kept coming out on top - it's consistently rated one of the most liveable countries for being safe, clean and offering a high quality of life. I'd never been before, but that almost added to the appeal."
Huge living cost savings
She secured a role in Suwon, about 45 minutes south of Seoul, where her accommodation was provided as part of her teaching package, saving her around £350 a month from the start. For the first time, she was able to save money and pay for trips across Asia on her teacher's salary.
Four years on, she lives in the Dobong-gu neighbourhood of Seoul and works part time at a private English academy. She married a Korean UX designer. They use the jeonse housing system, paying just £300 a month in monthly loan interest for their three-bedroom apartment. The jeonse system involves paying a large lump-sum deposit and essentially living rent-free for the duration of the lease.
Costs compared to the UK
Transport costs are "negligible" by comparison, as taxis, the subway and bus networks are "cheap and extensive". Eating out is much cheaper - a meal with an alcoholic drink typically costs around £10-15. Going out for drinks is much cheaper, and so are the taxis home afterwards.
For their three-bedroom apartment in August - the most expensive month due to air conditioning - they paid around £6 for gas (hot water), £35 for electricity and £8 for water, a total of just £49. There is also no council tax equivalent. Healthcare is covered via a tax of around 3 per cent of your salary if you are employed. Ms Mansir said: "While you do pay at the point of service, the costs are significantly reduced. The wait times are much faster and the quality of care is really high."
Gym costs are broadly the same as the UK, but nightlife is cheaper. Salaries are generally lower in South Korea compared to the UK, but life is more affordable. Fresh fruit and vegetables are more expensive than at UK supermarkets.
What impressed her most
Ms Mansir said the public transport takes the top spot. She said: "It is so much cheaper, cleaner and more modern than anything I was used to in the UK. Everything is digital and incredibly easy to navigate, even as a foreigner still finding your feet - that genuinely surprised me."
She said the entertainment offering is also "really good value", with cinema, sports games and karaoke well within reach. She said: "It changes your social life in a really positive way when you're not having to think twice about the cost of doing things."
Another pleasant surprise was how safe it is to walk the streets, especially as a woman. She explained: "The crime rate is remarkably low and for the first time I could walk around the streets at night without feeling nervous - something I'd never really experienced living in a UK city. It's a freedom that sounds small but actually changes your daily life in ways you don't anticipate until you have it."
She praised her local area: "My neighbourhood in Dobong-gu has a really local, community feel - bustling markets, alleyways, mountains and streams. There's also a subway station five minutes from my door with bars, restaurants, shops and gyms. The balance of city convenience and rural character is something I haven't found in the same way back home."
