Spent 2 weeks working remotely from Chengdu. Here's the reality.
Why Chengdu
- Chill vibes (pandas, tea houses)
- Amazing food (UNESCO City of Gastronomy)
- Cheap cost of living
- Growing tech scene
- 5G everywhere
Cost of Living (Monthly)
- Apartment (1BR): $285-500
- Coworking: $115-215
- Food: $215-360
- Transport: $29-57
- Total: $650-1100/month
Internet
- 5G: 500Mbps+ everywhere
- Coworking WiFi: 100-200 Mbps
- Catch: Google/social media blocked. VPN mandatory.
Payment
China is cashless. Setup Alipay before arrival:
- Download + register + link card + verify (24 hours)
If issues: aihubai.cn has payment troubleshooting.
Daily Routine
- Morning: Coffee + coworking
- Lunch: Street food (¥10-15 for dan dan noodles)
- Afternoon: Cafe work
- Evening: Hotpot with locals (¥80-150)
Bottom Line
Chengdu is 1/3 the cost of Bali with better food, faster internet, zero safety concerns. Payment setup is the main hurdle, but once sorted, it's amazing.
Resources: aihubai.cn for everything.
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