Price of life abroad rises

Living costs for UK expatriates are rising at almost four times the rate of inflation for British residents, research suggests.

The dream of living overseas has gone sour for some, with costs rising by 11 per cent on 
average since last year, increasing to 15 per cent for people 
living amid the economic turmoil of the eurozone, the Post Office Expat Payments Index found.

Almost half of more than 900 expats surveyed said they were paying out more than 10 per cent extra on household expenditure, motoring and meals out than last year. Nearly two in five thought that these prices had risen by more than 20 per cent.