Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo

Ya'anOverall winner

Baiquan is approximately 15% less expensive than Ya'an based on cost of living including rent. This makes Baiquan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Baiquan has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Baiquan is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Side by side

Best in row

China

Ya'an

Increased Caution
FIRE86

China

Baiquan

Increased Caution
Nomad50
Cost
Cost of living index
-
-
One person, excluding rent
$1,550/mo
$1,550/mo
Family of four, excluding rent
$5,600/mo
$5,600/mo
Total monthly, rent included
Best in row. $1,100/mo
$1,535/mo
Monthly savings
Best in row. $1,900/mo
$1,465/mo
Housing
1BR, city centre
$250
Best in row. $217
1BR, outside centre
$180
Best in row. $157
3BR, city centre
$550
-
3BR, outside centre
$400
-
Scores
FIRE score
72/100
72/100
Nomad score
48/100
48/100
Retiree score
Best in row. 59/100
44/100
Overall score
Best in row. 86/100
50/100
Safety & infrastructure
Safety index
70
Best in row. 75
Internet speed
Best in row. 110 Mbps
80 Mbps
Walkability score
-
-

Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.

About these cities

About Ya'an

Ya'an is a cheap, high-scoring sleeper for anyone chasing FIRE on a budget: $250/mo for a city-centre one-bedroom and a $650/mo total single-adult budget make it one of the better value plays in China. The catch is that English proficiency is limited, the expat community is small, and the nearest airport is CTU, 190 km away, so daily life leans heavily on Mandarin and patience. Air quality sits at 68 and the retiree score of 64 trails its 88 FIRE score, meaning it rewards the frugal and self-sufficient far more than the comfort-seeking.

About China

China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.

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Ya'an vs Baiquan -- Frequently Asked Questions

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