A British woman has revealed how she traded a life of financial strain and unhappiness in the UK for one of 'pure joy' on a Greek island, dramatically cutting her monthly living expenses in the process.
From UK Suburbia to Mediterranean Bliss
Renae Smith took to the social media platform TikTok to share her dramatic relocation story. She explained that in the UK, she was spending almost £3,000 per month to feel depressed, a sum that covered her rent, council tax, and utilities. Her new life in Greece, by contrast, costs her a mere £706 (€800) per month.
In a video that captivated thousands, Renae broke down her former UK expenses. "I paid £2,200 per month for my rent in the UK plus council tax, which was around £240 per month and electricity and gas, which was around £140," she stated. After detailing these costs, she panned her camera to showcase the breathtaking justification for her move: a stunning open-plan Mediterranean stone villa with a mountainous backdrop, situated just yards from the sea.
Online Backlash and a Key Clarification
While many viewers were inspired by Renae's new lifestyle, her revelation was met with significant scepticism. Commenters were quick to point out the economic context, noting that an €800 to €1,000 monthly rent is close to the average Greek salary, making such accommodation unaffordable for many locals.
One user commented, "€800 to €1,000 euros is the average Greek salary. Greeks definitely cannot afford this rent." Another concurred, stating that paying €800 in rent in Greece is the equivalent of paying £2,500 in the UK. A third highlighted the common pitfall of moving to a country with a lower cost of living but also lower local wages, questioning the viability unless one has an external income.
Renae was quick to clarify this crucial point, confirming that her income is sourced from the UK, not Greece, as she works remotely for a British business.
A Divided Response and a Firm Rebuttal
The online discussion also featured voices of support, including from a Greek man living in the UK who sided with Renae's assessment of British life. "As a Greek living in the north west [of England], I'm just putting up with the UK for another four years then off to Santorini," he wrote, calling life in the UK a "miserable existence."
Following the viral response to her initial post, Renae made a follow-up video to address her detractors directly. She clarified that she was not claiming €800 was cheap for a Greek person on a seasonal island, but rather emphasising the value and happiness she gained compared to her life in UK suburbia.
"I'm saying that in the UK I was paying £3,000 to live in suburbia and I was miserable, but here I rent an off-season Airbnb, which for me is much cheaper and I'm happy," she explained, adding that she could run around in a t-shirt in November.
She also defended her achievement, stating that the move was the result of years of strategic planning since 2017 to build her business for location independence. "That's been a goal of mine since then that I have worked towards," Renae said. "So am I stoked that I can do it? Yes."
