A British couple who relocated their family to Cyprus in May say they have cut household bills by about £9,339 a year after comparing costs between the two countries and sharing the breakdown on TikTok.
Rose and Craig Richardson told followers the move reduced monthly spending by roughly £778.28, with notable savings on energy, childcare and council tax. They posted a line-by-line comparison of typical household costs in the U.K. and in Cyprus and said the figures reflected their spending since moving.
In their breakdown, fuel for their car was reduced by nearly £10 per fill-up, which they calculated as a £429 annual saving. Gym classes that cost £79 a month in the U.K. cost €66 (£57) a month in Cyprus, a yearly saving of about £264. Childcare was one of the largest differences: the couple said nursery fees of £550 a month for three days in the U.K. compared with €420 (£363) a month for five days full time in Cyprus — a £2,220 annual reduction.
The Richardsons reported that wifi costs fell from £50 a month in the U.K. to €18 (£15.50) in Cyprus, saving about £414 a year, while dog grooming and their phone bill saved them roughly £229.50 and £135.60 respectively. Electricity costs showed the largest single saving in their comparison: they said they paid about £550 a month in the U.K. versus €180 (£156) a month in Cyprus, which they calculated as a £4,728 annual reduction. They also cited a council tax reduction of about £2,020 a year.
Not all expenses were lower. The couple said their weekly food shop rose from £140 in the U.K. to €175 (£151) in Cyprus, an increase they estimated at £572 a year. Rent was slightly higher for the property they compared: a detached four-bedroom house listed at £1,700 a month in the U.K. versus €2,000 (£1,730) in Cyprus, though the overseas property included a pool and additional amenities, they noted.
The Richardsons, who work remotely, said the move was driven by rising living costs and a desire for a better work-life balance. In a separate post they wrote that "inflation was at an all-time high, wages hadn't increased" and that, despite well-paid jobs, they felt they had "less and less to show at the end of the month." They said spending more time together as a family was also a factor.
The figures presented by the couple were shared on their social media account and have not been independently verified. The Richardsons continue to document their relocation and daily life in Cyprus on social platforms, offering followers comparisons of costs and lifestyle changes since the move.