A British Council survey reveals that 72% of young people aged 18 to 30 are seriously considering living and working in another country.
The hazy weather, the high cost of living, the unbearable cost of childcare, the lack of work-life balance, and even the poor prospects for their personal lives, are the main reasons for fleeing.
The couple from Liverpool who chose Cyprus
Through the "Expat Files" column of the online newspaper "The i Paper", the stories of Britons who dared to take the big step are recorded. Among them is 28-year-old Liam Querk, who in May 2025 moved to Cyprus with his 26-year-old partner, Melanie, choosing Paphos as their new home.
"Every morning, under a cloudy sky, I'd walk to my office in central Liverpool and think, 'I could be anywhere in the world right now, and yet I'm walking here in the rain,'" Liam recalls. Today, his daily life has changed radically. He wakes up to sunshine - since the island enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year - he trains at a local boxing gym and then starts his professional calls.
Teleworking during the pandemic
Liam founded his own digital marketing (SEO) company, Quirky Digital, in 2020, taking advantage of the rise of telecommuting during the pandemic. After Brexit, the business climate in Britain deteriorated, prompting him to work remotely from different parts of the world. The catalytic moment came in 2023, when he was at a technology conference in Cyprus. There he discovered a dynamic community of international entrepreneurs and growing industries, such as information technology and technology, that were turning the island into a "small version of Dubai, but without the show".
Due to Brexit, moving was not a simple matter for Liam, unlike his partner who has a Spanish passport. To obtain a temporary visa, he had to prove a monthly income of 2,000 euros from a foreign company, present a 12-month rental contract, 10,000 euros in a bank account, a clean criminal record and private health insurance.
His future plans include the acquisition of a permanent residence through an investment of 300,000 euros in a property. After all, interest in the island is peaking, with Google searches for "luxury homes in Cyprus" having recorded a sharp increase of 200%.
The villa with the pool and the apartment in Paphos
Initially, the couple rented a luxurious five-bedroom villa with a pool in Tala, which cost less than the apartment Liam rented in Liverpool (around €2,100 per month). They then moved to the centre of Kato Paphos, in a modern two-bedroom apartment, just five minutes from the port and the beach.
The time difference (Cyprus is two hours ahead of the UK) allows Liam to work at his own pace. At the same time, he praises the local business culture, emphasizing that people in Cyprus, including locals, are extremely open to sharing their contacts and helping, unlike in Britain.
They are not deprived of British habits
Everyday life also offers a sense of intimacy, as due to the colonial past, driving is on the left and there are many British habits and products. The cost of living is more affordable, cars are 30% cheaper, and Cyprus' geographical location offers cheap opportunities to travel to Europe.
"In Britain I felt like you were spending money just to breathe. It's easier to live a simple life here," Liam concludes. Additionally, Cyprus' non-dom tax regime offers him 0% tax on dividends, which grants him financial freedom. When asked if he would ever return to the UK, his answer is categorical: "Absolutely not. Only if my family needed me. Right now, Cyprus is my place."
iefimerida.gr
