As a child, I traveled a lot. I was born in California, but have lived in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Montana, and Oklahoma. I never had a chance to call anywhere “home” for a very long time. So if you had told me at the time that I would end up in China, I would have laughed.
I visited China for the first time in 2016. I was 27 and got a job as an English teacher in Shenzhen, a rapidly growing tech hub just across the border from Hong Kong. I sold my car and used the money to buy a plane ticket to North Carolina. I had never been out of America before.
Over the next four years, living in Asia gave me the opportunity to travel to places like Cambodia and Thailand. I loved traveling because it was a profound opportunity to test my courage and resilience, find meaning, and expand my worldview.
Today, I live in Shenzhen with my wife and our two children. That’s why this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
1. I met my wife and started a family
My wife was born in Tahiti and both of her parents are from China. When we met, she was working as a French teacher here.
When the pandemic hit, we had been living in China for three years and vacationing in the U.S. With the borders closed, my wife and I decided to relocate to Tahiti to be closer to her parents.
Five years later, we had two children under the age of five. There were parts of our life in Tahiti that we loved, but something was missing. China still feels like our true home and we returned to Shenzhen in June 2025.
My children are playing in Shenzhen Talent Park.
Photo: Bradley Cray
I still feel very grateful for that first teaching job. Landing it was somewhat of an accident, but without it, I wouldn’t have my family and the life I have now.
2. I spend less money than in America
After returning to Shenzhen in 2025, I continued my career as an English teacher, earning about $4,000 per month.
We rent a three-bedroom apartment for about $1,000 a month. Internet costs about $29, and the average cost of electricity is $100.
We spend about $100 a month on groceries for our family of four. When we eat out, it’s rare to spend more than $10 total. We also pay about $90 per month for health care.
My wife and I are enjoying the evening outside.
Photo: Bradley Cray
All told, I’m paying about a quarter of what I paid for my monthly expenses when I lived in the US – and that’s if I was living alone.
3. I feel like I’m living in the future
To me, Shenzhen is like Silicon Valley and New York City having a baby in China. It is a bustling tech capital with surprises around every corner.
One of the many surprises you may encounter while wandering around Shenzhen.
Photo: Bradley Cray
Flying drones deliver food in 15 minutes or less and autonomous taxis ply on streets lit with flashing neon lights. There’s a real cyberpunk energy here.
Shenzhen is one of the most vibrant places I have ever called home.
Photo: CNBC Make It
Public transportation is also good. Subways go everywhere and they build lines very quickly and efficiently. You can take the subway across the city for about $0.30.
I don’t usually carry around a wallet or keys. If I have to pay for something, I use my phone, scan a QR code or use biometrics, like a hand print. This is extremely convenient.
The technology here seems both advanced and accessible.
Photo: CNBC Make It
4. My job is flexible and pays well
When we lived in Tahiti, I also taught English and I made some videos about it. But in 2025, my wife suggested I start posting consistently on TikTok to show people what life is like in China.
I started an account, videos started playing, and before I knew it, I was an influencer. This led to more opportunities, which led to me getting a full-time job as a marketing manager in February.
We always missed China when we lived somewhere else. It’s great to be back.
Photo: Bradley Cray
It’s a more traditional job than I’m used to, and it pays a little less than my teaching job. Now I’m making about $3,500 per month, plus about $1,200 per month from my programs.
But I don’t sit at a desk all day. My company is flexible with hours, giving me time to pursue other side activities and interests, and I can take work home with me.
5. I feel like I can safely raise my children here
Shenzhen is very family-friendly, with lots to do for kids. The city has over 1,000 parks, thousands of indoor sports spaces and a wide range of community activities for families.
There are lots of fun activities for children here.
Photo: Bradley Cray
I have no need or desire to be a helicopter parent here. I’m not worried about things like gun violence. My main safety concern is electric scooters flying on sidewalks.
My children are also growing up trilingual. My wife speaks French with them, they speak English with me, and they learn Mandarin at their school, a public Chinese kindergarten. It costs about $300 per semester for both kids, including meals.
Shenzhen is very walkable, and has some great public transportation.
Photo: CNBC Make It
Overall, I’ve also found that our children’s school food – and what’s available at our local grocery stores – is much healthier than the food we find in America.
No one is more surprised than me that I found my own version of the American Dream here in China.
bradley cray Is a writer, content creator and marketing manager. He lives in Shenzhen, China with his wife and two children.
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