Couple retire to Egypt and now live in luxury for fraction of the price
A couple have found a way to beat the high cost of living in the UK by moving to Egypt for their retirement.
In September last year, Tony Smith, 57, and his wife Doris, 50, left their home in the Isle of Wight to spend their later years in Hurghada, a beach resort town. Since their move, the pair say they are now "living the dream" and are enjoying a life of luxury and filling their days with travel, sunbathing, and swimming.
Tony says that the couple now spend much less money and are living on just a fraction of what they used to spend whilst living in Britain. The 57 year old old believes that he and Doris, who have been married for 25 years, would still be working if it wasn't for retiring in Egypt.
The couple now pay £200 for rent and £13 for bills each month because they don't have to pay local taxes as temporary foreign residents. This is compared to monthly outgoings of around £1,240 per month in Britain - four times as much as they're spending now.
Tony and Doris say they won't return to the UK (No credit)Tony, who used to own a cleaning business, shared: "Most people we know in the UK think you have to be well-off or rich to be able to live here. But the reality is if we lived in the UK we would still have to work.", reports the Manchester Evening News.
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Finding life in Britain too 'everyday stressful', Tony made the life-changing decision to move to Egypt. In the UK, he found himself working long hours, sometimes starting as early as 4am. In his words: "We had to be available whenever and go to the offices being cleaned to make sure the work was being done properly."
The relentless 'grey skies' and uncertain summer weather were other contributing factors behind his departure from Britain. He expressed: "You cannot guarantee the weather in England. One August it rained all the way through."
The couple are living life to the full in Egypt (No credit)Before making the final move in September 2023, Tony and his wife regularly used to jet off to Egypt. Now, they enjoy a comfortable life in Hurghada, living off their pensions. Commenting on local friendliness, Tony said: "We have been coming back regularly for 20 years because the Egyptians are the most welcoming people you could ever meet. We fell in love with Egypt and all the Egyptian people."
Their lifestyle is simply idyllic, filled with sunbathing and affordable dining out. A steak dinner can cost just £10 according to Tony. Although petrol is cheap, Tony chooses taxis over driving which gives him Uber rides for about £2.50 only, even for half an hour trips.
Tony in the swimming pool at their luxury apartment (Tony Smith / SWNS)Even though his family remains in Britain, they stay connected via FaceTime and frequent visits. Tony, a father of five, shared: "They did not want us to leave at first - but now they get to holiday here whenever they like."
Tony, who plans to stay in Egypt for the rest of his life, isn't buying a place there because rent is so cheap. He says: "It is not worth buying because rent is cheap enough." In the UK, living costs including rent and bills come to around £1,240, but in Egypt, Tony only pays around £213 for similar expenses.
Tony's luxury apartment in Hurghada, Egypt (No credit)UK costs
- Rent: £800
- Council tax: £140
- Gas/electric: £250
- Water: £50
Total: £1,240
Egypt costs
- Rent: £200
- Council tax: N/A
- Water: £6
- Electric: £7
Total: £213
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