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American who arrived in Shenzhen in 2016 to work as an English teacher reports how the decision to live in China changed her family life, reduced monthly expenses, opened new professional opportunities, and brought a routine marked by technology, security, and trilingual upbringing of her children
Living in China became a central decision in the life of an American woman who arrived in the country in 2016, at 27 years old, to work as an English teacher in Shenzhen. After selling her car, buying a plane ticket from North Carolina, and leaving the United States for the first time, she built a family, a career, and a routine in the country that she considers more affordable, technological, and safe.
The journey began far from the idea of putting down roots in Chinese territory. Born in California, she spent her childhood moving from state to state and lived in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Montana, and Oklahoma, without staying long in any single place she could call home.
Her arrival in Shenzhen opened a completely new phase. The city, described as a rapidly growing technology hub on the border with Hong Kong, was the starting point for a change that also allowed for travels across Asia, including destinations like Cambodia and Thailand.
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In the following four years, living in the region broadened her worldview and brought experiences she associates with courage, resilience, and the search for meaning. Today, the choice to live in China appears linked not only to work but also to the family life built in the country.
Living in China changed family life in Shenzhen
Her personal life took a new turn after she met her wife in Shenzhen. Her partner was born in Tahiti, has Chinese parents, and was working in the city as a French teacher when the two met.
When the pandemic began, the couple had already been living in China for three years and were on vacation in the United States. With borders closed, the two decided to move to Tahiti to be closer to the wife’s parents.
Five years later, with two children under five, the family felt something was missing from life outside China. Despite the positive aspects of their routine in Tahiti, Shenzhen continued to be seen as their true home.
The return happened in June 2025. The move back to the Chinese city marked a new stage for the family, now consisting of four people and once again settled in the place where the couple’s story had begun.
Her first opportunity as an English teacher is still seen as decisive. The job obtained almost by chance ended up becoming the starting point for her marriage, children, and the life she currently maintains.
Cost of living weighs on the decision to live in China
The choice to live in China is also strongly linked to the cost of living. After returning to Shenzhen in 2025, she continued working as an English teacher and began earning about US$4,000 per month.
The family rents a three-bedroom apartment for approximately US$1,000 monthly. Fixed expenses include internet for about US$29 and electricity averaging US$100 per month.
Food expenses are also described as low compared to her previous life in the United States. For a family of four, grocery shopping costs around US$100 per month.
When the family eats out, they rarely spend more than US$10 in total. Health insurance costs approximately US$90 per month, making up a monthly budget considered much lighter.
Overall, current expenses are equivalent to about a quarter of what she paid when she lived in the United States. The comparison gains even more weight because, at the time, she lived alone.
This financial difference helped reinforce the perception that Shenzhen offers a more viable routine for the family. The cost of housing, services, food, and healthcare appears as one of the most objective factors in the decision to remain in the country.
Technology and transportation reinforce a sense of the future
Life in Shenzhen also draws attention due to the presence of technology in everyday life. For her, the city seems like a mix between Silicon Valley and New York within China, with a vibrant environment and constant surprises.
Drones deliver food in 15 minutes or less. Autonomous taxis circulate on streets lit by neon lights, creating an atmosphere described as close to a cyberpunk energy.
Public transportation is another valued aspect. The subway reaches different areas of the city, with lines built quickly and efficiently, allowing one to cross Shenzhen for about US$ 0.30.
The daily routine also dispenses with items that once seemed indispensable. She states that she generally doesn’t carry a wallet or keys, as payments can be made by cell phone, QR code scanning, or biometrics, such as fingerprints.
Technology, in this context, appears not only as something advanced but also accessible. The practicality of payments, transportation, and urban services contributes to the feeling of living in a modern and functional place.
Flexible work opened new opportunities
Professional life also changed after returning to China. In Tahiti, she already taught English and even produced some videos on the topic, but her wife suggested in 2025 that she publish more frequently on TikTok to show what life was like in the country.
The account grew rapidly, the videos went viral, and the exposure opened new doors. Her presence on social media ultimately contributed to a full-time opportunity as a marketing manager, which started in February.
The new job is more traditional than her previous career as a teacher and pays a little less. Still, her current monthly income is close to US$ 3,500, plus about US$ 1,200 from extra work.
Flexibility weighs heavily in the positive assessment. She isn’t tied to a desk all day, has more flexible hours, can dedicate herself to parallel projects and personal interests, and can also take work home.
This combination of income, freedom, and new professional possibilities strengthens her connection to Shenzhen. Even with a lower salary in her main job, the sum of fixed work, extra activities, and flexibility keeps her routine considered advantageous.
Safety and trilingual childhood strengthen the stay
Raising children is another important reason to live in China. Shenzhen is described as a family-friendly city, with many leisure options geared towards children.
The city has over 1,000 parks, thousands of indoor recreation spaces, and a wide variety of family community activities. These spaces are part of the children’s routine and help sustain the feeling of quality of life.
Safety also influences the decision. She states that she feels no need or desire to become an overprotective mother and says she doesn’t worry about gun violence in daily life.
The main concern cited involves electric scooters that pass at high speed on sidewalks. Still, this risk appears as a specific point within a general perception of safety for raising children.
The children also grow up in a trilingual environment. Her wife speaks French with them, she uses English at home, and the children learn Mandarin at school.
Education takes place in a public Chinese kindergarten. The cost is about US$ 300 per semester for both children, including food.
The sum of lower cost of living, safety, technology, efficient transportation, flexible work, and family environment helps explain why the family decided to return to Shenzhen in June 2025. For her, living in China ceased to be a temporary experience and has solidified as the foundation of the life built alongside her wife and children.
With information from CNBC.
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