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I Left The U.S. For Shenzhen, China – Here's How Much It Costs

CNBC Make It

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Bradley Krae, 36, left the U.S. for China and now lives in Shenzhen with his wife and two kids. He earns about $4,600/month as a marketing manager, pays around $1,000/month for a three-bedroom apartment. From cheap public transit and affordable healthcare to lower school costs and food prices, here’s what it’s like raising a family in one of China’s most futuristic cities.

Check out Brad on TikTok: TikTok: bradinchina

Produced & Edited by: Mickey Todiwala
Managing Producer: Beatriz Bajuelos
Camera: Federico Rodriguez
Animator: Alisa Stern
Senior Production Manager: Kathy Mavrikakis
Contributors Editor: Nina Zipkin
Additional Footage: Bradley Krae

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I Left The U.S. For Shenzhen, China – Here's How Much It Costs

20 Comments

@Bradinchina1 5 months ago (edited) Pinned

Thank you CNBC for featuring me in this episode. This video turned out great and I’m really excited to see it on here. I hope people can see the new side of China from this 😊

@menow7903 5 months ago

'I don't have to worry about school shootings'. The insanity of that statement.

@fdjw88 5 months ago

LMFAO!! 4500USD a month, and his wife is a stay home mom, and he has two kids. Guys, the American dream is in China. :face-blue-smiling::face-blue-smiling::face-blue-smiling:

@EZ-rs5zv 5 months ago

I am amazed that American media would allow a non-negative portrayal of China to be shown

@michaelmast_nomadicthrive 3 months ago

Ive lived in China for nearly 11 years and can vouch for everything Brad shares in this video, it’s a great place to live.

@HariOmRadhaKrishna 5 months ago

My daughter moved from New York to China. She took 3 months of language classes, then got a job on an organic farm.

@v85216192 5 months ago

"Go back to china!" is actually a blessing.

@fanyao1393 3 months ago

I lived in shenzhen for my entire childhood. Every time I go back, I can’t recognize the city I grew up. Love the city

@hassanj1861 5 months ago

This happens when you serve the people and not billionaires and lobby groups

@soulfiz808 5 months ago

Just went to Shenzhen last week. Stay for a week. It is eyes opening.

@SicMundus24 5 months ago

Good for him! Salty China-haters always say "go live in China, if China is better than the US!!!!". So he did as they say and he is living a much better life 😂❤

@destinationworld 4 months ago

Lived in Shanghai for 3 years and they were best 3 years of my life. People living in Harmony with one another, respect for elders, no litter or graffiti, and things just get done. The efficiency and speed of progress is unbelievable. Taking a train In China is decades ahead of taking a train in the UK. The western media always has a one way narrative on China and life there is totally misrepresented. I never had to worry about being robbed, stabbed, train drivers on strike, never-ending roadworks, and social disorder, or needing metal coins to pay with things or metal keys for doors. It's another world! If you haven't been to China. Go visit!

@jamesjackson9591 5 months ago

Every time I watch these types of videos, it makes me want to film my days living in Hangzhou. I'm 40, work in e-commerce making around 2600USD a month, wife speaks English/Chinese, 2 kids that are homeschooled and I just speak English. Since living in China, I've become debt free, stress free, and overall happy. I buy whatever I want and save a ton of money every month. Everything in this video is so accurate. Only thing with me is my Chinese is terrible, but I'm working on it. If anyone is thinking of visiting or living in China and worried about the language barrier, its not a problem. Does it help to know Chinese, absolutely, but you can still get around easily without it just by knowing the basics. Definitely considering making my video because I guarantee my situation is even rarer than landing a non teaching job as a foreigner in China.

@MURDERCEDESBENZ 5 months ago

China is what America could've been if it didn't spend all its money on foreign wars and funding for Israel

@taurahelms3068 5 months ago

I'm America and love this country, but I have to admit, he and his family are living the sweet life. China is not as bad as we are led to believe.

@frednorman1 3 months ago

i've watched a number of YouTube videos from young Chinese and now this American. It is so futuristic makes me realize how far behind we are and we will probably never catch up.

@WarsOfate 5 months ago

This guy moved from a rural undeveloped area to a mega-futuristic city that has pretty much complete amenities.
It must be 0 to 60 life altering experience for him