North East family relocates to Costa Rica on one-way trip to escape rat race and have 'simple life'

A British family has swapped the hustle and bustle of UK life for a 'simpler' existence in Costa Rica. Naomi, 31, and Johnathan Jules, 30, took the plunge and moved from the UK when their daughter was just two years old.

They sold their three-bedroom semi in Darlington, County Durham, for £215,000 and set off to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, armed with one-way tickets for an exciting new chapter. Now, they're relishing a more cost-effective way of living in a two-bed flat with a swimming pool, which sets them back £900 a month including bills that's a saving of £330 every month compared to what they used to spend in the UK.

The couple was in search of a lifestyle not centred around material possessions and are now enjoying a sun-soaked life filled with outdoor pursuits. Their daughter is poised to go to a jungle school when she's of age, while beach outings and market trips have become staples of their everyday life.

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Naomi, who has paused her career as a health and safety officer, said: "I have wanted to do this for years but my husband wasn't always on board.", reports the Manchester Evening News.

"We have been raised to go to school, college, university and then onto jobs. I am a free thinking person and I haven't been happy in this system that we have been brought up in. Had a goal to get out of the UK and when I got pregnant that feeling intensified."

The mum-of-one elaborated: "I told my husband that by the time our daughter was three we were leaving the UK. Life is so simple over here which is what we wanted - it is not driven by fancy cars or money. It is not materialistically driven, which is lovely."

"I was living in my overdraft. We never bought anything for ourselves - I never bought new clothes. We were living to work and not getting any enjoyment from our lives. The cost of living out here is only a little bit less than the UK but the quality of life here makes up for that."

Naomi and her husband Jonathan are avid nature enthusiasts, a key reason they felt Costa Rica was the ideal place for raising their young daughter. They had considered Portugal initially; however, due to Brexit-related visa complexities, that plan was shelved.

Naomi said: "We love the outdoors and love everything green. We did so much research before moving here and heard the locals are very friendly. There is a jungle school out here and so much for us to do as a family."

In May 2024, Naomi and Jonathan decided to list their property, valued at £215,000, for sale. Naomi recounted: "We sat down saying we needed to go for it, otherwise we would never do it. Within five days the house was sold and then we realised we needed to take it seriously."

They took a flight from Gatwick Airport to embark upon their new journey in Costa Rica just this month. According to Naomi, their decision hardly came as a shock to their friends and relatives.

She remarked: "They knew we were unhappy here so I don't think they were too surprised. My dad thought it was outrageous. The thing is my dad might not always agree with what I do but he will always support me. We both have the most supportive family - they all just want us to be happy."

While living in the UK, Naomi and Jonathan previously spent £900 a month on their mortgage alone, not including other household expenses. The pair are currently taking career breaks as they mull over their next steps.

Jonathan was initially granted permission to work remotely from Costa Rica by his employers. However, the company subsequently changed its stance, resulting in him resigning from his position as a quality assurance officer, Jonathan disclosed.

Naomi conveyed: "We're currently not receiving income. We took it as a push that we wanted to work for ourselves and make money for ourselves. We are taking July off and then in August we're going the concentrate on working on our income. Obviously we have money, we would never put our daughter in a risky situation."