I Left The U.S. For China — Here’s How Much It Costs

👁 2M views 📅 Jul 3, 2025 Watch on YouTube ↗

Aleese Lightyear, 35, traded a hectic NYC life for China and now lives large on $30K a year. She pays $278/month for her downtown apartment, she’s thriving in Chengdu, paid off her student loans and is now saving up to $1,000/month. She’s hoping to purchase a beach house in Mexico next. Here’s how she did it.

Produced and Edited by: Mickey Todiwala
Senior Director of Video: Lindsey Jacobson
Camera: Marc Aziz Ressang
Animator: Alisa Stern
Reporter: Celia Fernandez
Additional Footage: Aleese Lightyear

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I Left The U.S. For China — Here's How Much It Costs

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