Thai life: British expat swears she’s never going back to Blighty
A British expat who swapped the dreary UK for Thailand swears she’s never looking back, insisting life in paradise is just too good to leave.
Claudia, originally from the UK, packed her bags for the sun-drenched shores of Koh Samui in 2023, and now she’s telling her thousands of TikTok followers why she’ll never return.
The social media strategist, who shares her luxury island lifestyle on her TikTok account @islandlifewithclaudia, says she left behind miserable weather, constant moaning, and a soul-crushing cost-of-living crisis for a place where every day feels like a holiday.
‘I feel like I’m on holiday every single day’
The Brit first fell in love with Thailand during a visit seven years ago and knew she had to make it her permanent home. After working and saving up in the UK, she finally made the leap with her partner, and she has no regrets.
In one of her viral TikTok clips, which has racked up over 68,000 views, she revealed the biggest reason for her move is the lifestyle.
“In the UK, you get maybe two months of good weather a year if you’re lucky. The rest of the time? Grey skies, constant rain, and people rushing around in coats complaining.”
Now, in Koh Samui, the 31 year old British woman wakes up to blue skies and palm trees, trains outdoors, goes paddleboarding, and dines in open-air restaurants.
“Even the simplest things, like running errands, feel more enjoyable in the sunshine.”
‘No more moaning – just success and freedom’
But for Claudia, the weather isn’t the only perk of expat life, it’s also about the people.
“In the UK, conversations revolve around work stress, bills, and how expensive everything is. Here, I’m surrounded by successful, open-minded people, locals and expats from all over the world, who are building businesses, creating freedom, and actually excited about life. It’s empowering, and it makes me want to level up.”
‘Outsourcing is a game-changer’
Claudia also claims the lower cost of living allows her to outsource household chores, making her life much easier. In another viral clip, viewed over 300,000 times, she reveals the “four things we don’t do in Thailand.”
“Number one: We don’t clean the house. It’s common in Thailand to have a cleaner who comes at least once a week. Number two: We don’t change our bedsheets. Our maid does it, takes them to the laundry, and brings them back fresh.
“Number three: We don’t do laundry or ironing. Call me lazy, but laundry services here are so cheap and do such a great job. Our clothes come back folded, ironed, and smelling amazing.
“Number four: We don’t cook, or barely ever. We either order meal prep from a healthy food service or eat out because it’s so affordable.”
‘Lazy or just smart?’
While some viewers envy her stress-free lifestyle, others have been quick to criticise.
One unimpressed user commented: “We call that lazy.” Another added: “Lazy? Entitled? Maybe both.”
Claudia hit back.
“I use the extra time to scale my business.”
Supporters jumped to her defence.
“Anyone calling you lazy is funny.”
“Nobody rich is doing these things themselves, it’s just a mindset thing. As long as you treat your staff well, it’s a win-win.”
“We’d all do it if we could. It’s not lazy, it’s smart. Time is the most precious commodity.”
Claudia revealed she doesn’t clean because it’s cheaper and more cost effective to hire a cleaner.
“Around £10-£20 (440 -880 baht) for a full clean, depending on the size of your house or villa.”
‘Four things we don’t do in Thailand’
In another video, Claudia expands on why outsourcing is so common in Thailand.
“It’s not just about saving time, it’s about supporting the local economy. The cost of living here is lower, which means hiring help is affordable and creates jobs. It’s a win-win for everyone.
“People in the UK often don’t realise how much of their time is taken up with chores. Here, we free up that time for work, socialising, or just enjoying life.”
One TikTok user asked about grocery shopping.
“Do you do that yourself?”
“We do sometimes, but even that can be outsourced. There are so many fresh markets and meal prep services here, it’s just easier to eat out or order in.”
More Brits are ditching the UK for Asia
Claudia isn’t the only one escaping the UK for a better quality of life in Asia.
Celine Diffin, from Northern Ireland, made a similar move to Vietnam with her husband and baby daughter. The couple now pay just £432 (19,000 baht) a month for a two-bedroom apartment in Hanoi, with weekly groceries costing only £40 (1,760 baht) and meals out as cheap as £2 (88 baht).
“There’s so much fresh fruit and veg that’s way cheaper than at home. Very rarely do people cook here—everyone eats out all the time because it’s so affordable.”
Vietnam was recently named the cheapest country for expats for the third year in a row, with many reporting high salaries and low expenses.
The 31 year old Irishwoman added that the lifestyle in Vietnam is more relaxed.
“Businesses even close daily for lunchtime naps. It’s a completely different pace of life.”
Meanwhile, Claudia’s Thai dream continues, with no plans to return to the UK anytime soon.
“Why would I? Everything I need is right here.”
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