The honest numbers
Ninety days in China, line by line
We publish our cost basis because credibility is the funnel. These are mid-2026 estimates — Numbeo, Caixin, and the National Bureau of Statistics — and every figure gets replaced with actuals after the pilot cohort. The honest number is still a strong pitch.
90 days in Kunming — all-in
| Base Camp fee (our service)Tangping | $1,900 |
| Rent, 3 months prepaid (押一付三, ¥1,600/mo)Landlord | ~$675 |
| Living costs (~$540/mo × 3)Local economy | ~$1,620 |
| Round-trip flightsAirline | $900–1,400 |
| 10-year visa + PSB extension feeGovernments | ~$290 |
| Travel medical insuranceInsurer | ~$200 |
| All-in | ~$5,600–6,100 |
Security deposit (~$225) is refundable and excluded from the all-in. You get it back.
90 days in a US metro — staying put
| Rent alone (3 months) | $4,800–7,500 |
| COBRA health coverage (3 months) | $1,800–2,400 |
| Food, transit, utilities (3 months) | $1,500–2,500 |
| All-in | $9,000+ |
You save ~$3,000–3,400 — and you get a quarter in China instead of a gap on the couch.
By city
Five base cities
Shenyang / Harbin
| 1BR center | ~¥1,400 (~$195) |
|---|---|
| 1BR outside | ~¥900 (~$125) |
| Monthly, ex-rent | ~$450 |
Cost basis: Numbeo mid-2026; national rent index falling 11+ consecutive months (Caixin). China's property deflation created the surplus; this is what it costs you.