A family has traded the financial pressures of Britain for a more affordable life on the Greek island of Lefkada, where their weekly rent is just £99 and they receive free olive oil from neighbours. Renae Wasik, 43, along with her husband Pawel and their two-year-old daughter Rocca, relocated from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, in November, leaving behind a £3,000 monthly rent and a constant need to monitor their budget.
Drastic Reduction in Living Costs
In Lefkada, the couple now rents a two-bedroom flat that includes utilities for £430 per month, which breaks down to approximately £99 per week. This represents a substantial saving compared to their previous UK rent. Renae, who heads the PR firm The Atticism, notes that dining out is also far cheaper: a dinner with a glass of wine at a local restaurant costs around £11.30 per person, and a pint at the marina is just £1.74. Even a flat white coffee, at £2.18, is considered a tourist price, with locals paying even less.
Free Olive Oil and Community Support
One of the most striking benefits is the availability of free olive oil. A friend provides Renae with 2-litre plastic bottles of freshly pressed olive oil whenever needed. If they had to purchase it, a nearby factory charges only 87p per litre. Similarly, honey is often gifted by neighbours, and Renae reciprocates by baking olive and honey cakes using oranges from her garden. “It’s not about earning more – it’s about needing less, and choosing a different way to live,” she explains.
A Spontaneous Decision That Changed Everything
The family’s move was inspired during a holiday to Lefkada, when they saw a plot of land for sale and spontaneously made an offer, which was accepted immediately. While their permanent home is under construction, they are enjoying their current rental. Renae says the decision transformed their lives from a “one day” dream into a concrete reality.
Seasonal Savings and Local Markets
In Lefkada, prices actually decrease during the off-season, unlike in the UK where energy and food costs rise. At local markets, Renae can buy enough fruit and vegetables for three meals a day for a full week for just €25-30 (£21-25). Fuel costs around €2.009 per litre, but the family lives just 10 minutes from the beach in the small coastal town of Vasiliki, which has about 400 residents. The entire island is home to roughly 23,000 people.
A New Daily Routine
Renae now works outside under an orange tree while her daughter plays in the dirt, a stark contrast to her previous life working indoors at a desk with the heater on most of the year. Weekends are spent on boats with friends, at waterfalls, or at village barbecues. “In the UK, I worked from home, inside, at a desk, with the heater on most of the year. Now I’m sitting outside under an orange tree while my daughter plays in the dirt,” she says.
What They Miss
The family admits to missing the convenience of food delivery services like Deliveroo and UberEats, as well as supermarkets like Waitrose and M&S. However, Renae believes the trade-off is worth it: “What I’ve swapped it for – the peace, the space, the beauty – is worth it.”
Future Plans and Family Ties
Rocca will start preschool at age three with no childcare costs. Renae’s two adult daughters, Kyah and Paris, remain in the UK but plan to visit. While they do not wish to move permanently, Renae remains open to the future. Her brother from Australia is keen to visit as well.
