At 35 years old, Alesse Lightyear has found what many Americans only dream about: financial freedom, a lower cost of living, and a balanced lifestyle, all by moving halfway across the world.
In 2019, the former New York City reality TV producer packed up her life and left the U.S. behind to teach English in Beijing, China. After four years in the capital, she relocated to Chengdu, where she currently works as a university lecturer. Her monthly rent for a furnished 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment in downtown Chengdu? Just $278.
Escaping the NYC Grind
Lightyear, who chronicles her experience in China on YouTube, once earned nearly $100,000 annually in New York’s entertainment industry. But even with that income, she says the cost of living and the emotional toll left her drained.
“I was living check to check, which sucked,” Lightyear told CNBC Make It. “Being in my 20s, I felt like a 50-year-old woman.”
In search of a fresh start, she researched options and settled on China, where she could teach English and enjoy government-supported benefits like free healthcare, travel stipends, and a rent allowance. The transition wasn’t without challenges, but Lightyear says it was worth it.
Life in Chengdu: Low Costs, High Quality
Shortly after arriving in Chengdu, Lightyear toured six apartments in just 48 hours before choosing a sunny unit just five minutes from the subway. Her $556 rent is cut in half thanks to a university stipend, bringing her out-of-pocket cost to $278.
To secure the lease, she paid a $2,780 up-front cost covering the security deposit, broker’s fee, and first three months’ rent. Utilities in her apartment are pay-as-you-go, and her total monthly expenses include:
Thanks to her modest spending and additional income from YouTube content creation, Lightyear estimates she saves around $1,000 a month.
Looking Ahead: A Casita and New Chapters
Lightyear has big goals for her savings: paying off student loans and potentially buying a small beach house in Mexico. While she hasn’t yet saved enough for a home in the U.S., she says her money goes much further abroad.
She recently renewed her lease for another 18 months and expects to return to Michigan afterward. Though she’s ready to leave China after six years, she admits she’ll miss the constant stimulation.
“China is the hardest country to live and travel in as a non-Chinese person,” she said. “But I fear that anything else might feel boring.”
For now, Lightyear is enjoying a lifestyle that prioritizes balance, personal growth, and adventure over hustle culture.
📌 Thinking of a big life change? Alesse Lightyear’s journey shows that sometimes, a passport and a plan can take you farther than a paycheck ever could.
