Man who bought one-way ticket to Thailand vows never to return to 'unaffordable' UK

A 22-year-old man has ditched the UK for a life in Thailand after soaring rent costs and house prices pushed him out the country. Riyan Ruparelia bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok last year and vows to 'never return' to Britain due to the cost of living crisis.

Before moving to Thailand, Riyan was living with his parents in London and was working 30 hours a week as a receptionist - earning £11-an-hour. He says he knew he wouldn't be able to afford to rent on his own in the UK - so he began looking at other options.

Having visited Thailand three times in the past and falling in love with it, Riyan took the plunge and bought a one-way plane ticket from Heathrow which cost him £500. As well as the cheaper way of life, Riyan also says he feels much safer living in Thailand compared to London.

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Riyan, who is now a content creator, said: "I don't plan to live in the UK ever again. I will come back and see my family but I don't feel like the UK is the sort of place I can see myself living now. As a country, it is not heading in the right direction."

Whilst he was living in the UK, Riyan worked as a receptionist on just over minimum wage. He was working full time and earning £11-an-hour, but says he would never have been able to afford to move out of his parent's home.

Riyan said: "On my wage, I was just not able to move out of my family home. I know for a fact I would not have been able to afford rent.

"With rent prices through the roof and unaffordable housing, how are people affording to live in the UK? Here in Thailand, the cost-of-living is a tenth of the price compared to the UK."

Another reason Riyan left the UK was down to the