'I quit my three jobs and left the UK - now I pay £190 a month in rent in Malaysia'
Leeds woman swaps her £1.3k a month rent for £2.2k a year rent in Malaysia
A Leeds woman who felt like she was living “paycheque to paycheque” has ditched her £1.3k-a-month flat for Malaysia where rent is just £190 a month.
Alysha Nij, 28, decided to leave the UK behind after her 12-hour days left her constantly burnt out, and because she couldn’t see herself being able to afford a house deposit any time soon.
She waved goodbye to “unsafe” and “expensive” London, where she was paying £1,300 a month for a one-bed flat, and now rents a one-bed pad two minutes’ walk from the beach for just £190 a month, including bills.
Alysha, who is originally from Leeds, has been able to give up two of her jobs, due to the cheap cost of living and plans to use her financial freedom to set up two businesses.
Alysha, who works in creative management, said: “The UK is really difficult for young people, and it’s super expensive.
“I was working three jobs; my days would start at 8am and finish at 10pm.
“I was constantly burnt out, but I still didn’t feel financially free.
“It’s a different world out here; the people are so friendly, relaxed, and happy.
“English people are so anti-social, but here I’ll end up talking to a random person for 20 minutes.
“I’ve given up almost all my work, I no longer have to worry about money, because everything is so cheap.”
After visiting Malaysia and China last September, Alysha fell in love with the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle and decided she wanted to move to Asia.
She had been planning to start a business in London with a friend, but decided the capital was far too expensive to live in, so she cancelled her business plans.
She moved back in with her parents in Leeds in March to save for her travels, and sold all of her belongings in preparation for her move to Malaysia on May 29.
Although she found saying goodbye to friends and family hard, Alysha has Malaysian heritage so didn't have a culture shock.
Her parents are planning to join her in Asia once she is more settled.
Alysha is now living in an apartment in Langkawi, an archipelago consisting of 99 islands.
“I’d just come from living in a big city, so I wanted a completely different way of life," she said.
“There are lots of beaches and mountains, and no distractions.”
Alysha now saves £1,100 on rent and says her new apartment is “much nicer” than her UK pad.
So far, Alysha is loving the island life and says she feels much safer.
Alysha says she would spend £20 for a meal out in the UK - but says it costs 50p in Malaysia and coffees are around 70p.
She never pays more than £1 for a taxi.
“It’s super affordable, and you get more than what you paid for," she said.
Alysha is currently working towards getting Malaysian residency, and within a year plans to buy a house in either Malaysia or China, and settle down there.