I moved from the UK to the cheapest country in the world – coffee is 50p, I always get freebies & lunch rarely costs £1

A CONTENT creator has revealed that she moved from the UK to live in the cheapest country in the world. Ella, who is originally from Christchurch, Dorset, is now living in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Last year, Vietnam was named the world’s most affordable place to live for the fourth year in a row, according to the Expat Insider 2024 survey by InterNations. As reported by Forbes, Vietnam has consistently delivered on affordability, with 86% of expats rating the cost of living favourably - more than twice the global average of 40%.

Not only this, but half of the expats surveyed also said the cost of living in Vietnam is “very good,” significantly surpassing the global average of 12%. And Ella is just one travel enthusiast who couldn’t agree more, as she eagerly flocked to social media to stress the benefits of living in Vietnam compared to the UK. The influencer, who regularly posts travel content online, explained that the lifestyle in Vietnam is “so cheap”.

She beamed: “My lunch is probably averaging at about £1, if that. Coffees are 50p, you get a free iced tea with it as well.”. Not only does Ella enjoy cheap coffee and freebies wherever she goes, but she even claimed that she can nab huge sandwiches, also for just 50p. Not only is the lifestyle “so much cheaper”, but she also acknowledged: “As well, the people here are so friendly, they are always smiling at you. I feel a lot safer here than I ever would back in Western countries, I can walk around at night, I don’t have the same fear element that I do when I’m back in the UK, just because the people here are so nice.”.

If that wasn’t enough, not only does Ella see Vietnam as a really fun place to be”, especially for young people, but where travel is concerned, she stressed: “Vietnam is a great place, purely because it’s so diverse, it’s got beaches, quaint little towns, big cities - it is a great place to travel, especially at the weekend, maybe if you’re working during the week, going on a little day trip in Vietnam is very accessible and very fun as well.”.

And to top it off, Ella also loves that things in Vietnam are open much later than in the UK, to which she hailed the Asian country as a “very sociable place.”. However, Ella recognised that it isn’t all swings and roundabouts living in Vietnam, as she stressed: “There is no getting away from how polluted, and how bad the traffic is.”. And this is no surprise, as Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, has been branded the world's most polluted city, with people being suffocated by hazardous, cancer-causing air particles sparked by miles of burning rubbish and heavy traffic.

As well as finding the language “so hard to learn”, she also recognised that whilst the salaries are relative, they are less than the UK. She added: “In terms of salary, if you’re not doing online work and you’re working here, either as a teacher or for me, I work as an education adviser, the salary here is a lot less.". 1. Declutter Before You Pack. Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load.

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8. Colour-Code Your Boxes. Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @lavitaella, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 184,100 views. Social media users were eager to agree with Ella and many flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on Vietnam.

It's very cheap. From lunch, to rent, to dental, it’s quite amazing!. One person said: “First on my bucket list is Vietnam. Can’t wait to visit.”. Another claimed: “Definitely. Vietnam really is a beautiful place.”. A third commented: “Totally agree to all of this!! I went back in October & loved how cheap it all was.”. Whilst someone else chimed in: “It's very cheap. From lunch, to rent, to dental, it’s quite amazing!!!”.