With the cost of living on the rise, more Brits are being tempted to head overseas for a working holiday in order to save money on their bills during the colder months. According to a new study with 2,000 employees from online printing specialists instantprint, around half (47%) are considering if they could pack up their laptop and head to the nearest airport for a ‘winter workcation’.
Laura Mucklow, head of instantprint, commented on the findings: “The UK has certainly seen a big shake up in the corporate world following the pandemic, and we wholeheartedly welcome the more flexible approach to a work-life balance being adopted by many businesses. If you’re one of the lucky few whose company is happy for them to work from somewhere outside of their home location, there is certainly plenty to think about before you jet off, laptop in tow.
“As our study has highlighted, before you get your heart set on working from a certain country outside of the UK, there is a huge amount to consider both in terms of whether the place you’d like to travel to can really provide everything you need to work efficiently, so doing some in depth research beforehand is advisable.”
A quarter (26%) said the potential savings that can be made are a huge draw for wanting to work from abroad. With the average cost of living for a single person in the UK estimated to be around £2,005 per month (approx. USD 2,267.14) now, and with the energy price rise only due to increase this further from October2, it is perhaps no surprise that so many are interested in this.
But just how much money could be saved? Well, instantprint compared the average cost of living and initial visa costs in 25 countries across the globe to find out. They discovered that the south-eastern European country of Romania, which is known for its beautiful medieval towns, offers UK workers the biggest potential saving per month, of £1,600+ per person (approx. USD 1,807.10) – although this doesn’t include any travel costs.
The Indian Ocean Island nation of Mauritius, which is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs came in second place with a potential £1,300+ (approx. USD1,469.75) monthly saving. Here, utility bills come to just £46 (approx. USD52.05) each month too, and Mauritius also offers a free initial visa.
The South America country of Colombia, which is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north took third place with potential a £1,200+ (approx. USD 1,356.70) monthly saving. The average costs of living here comes to just £603 (approx. USD681.74) per month with all utilities costing £56 (approx. USD63.34) on average. Costa Rica also came out well in the research, with the average cost of living here just £584 (approx. USD660.53) each month and utility bills costing less than £56(approx. USD 63.34).
There are some ‘workcation’ destinations that those looking to save on bills many want to avoid though. Despite being an idyllic place to visit thanks to its white sandy beaches and crystal blue seas, the Bahamas’ average cost of living works out at being an estimated £980+ (approx. USD 1,106.92). more than in the UK.
The Netherlands was found to be the most expensive option for Brits to move to though, with a combined cost of living per month and initial visa cost of £3,335 (approx. USD3,766.93). Once the initial visa cost is covered, the cost of living is only slightly more expensive than in the UK). In addition to the potential day to day savings, there are other things that working Brits should keep in mind before jumping on a plane – such as their destination’s internet speed and crime rates.
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