It truly feels like “earn in Europe, spend in China” has come to life. In Shaanxi’s Xi’an, a 61-year-old Norwegian woman on vacation was blown away by the affordability here. Her monthly pension of 2,500 euros barely covers basics back home, but in Xi’an, it suddenly unlocked a sense of wealth she never knew.
“This is way too cheap!” the lady from Norway exclaimed more than once during her Xi’an trip. What was once a tight retirement in Europe now made her feel like a local big spender—the stark contrast left her in disbelief.
She’s long dreamed of visiting China since her youth, drawn by tales of Xi’an as the Silk Road’s starting point, home to the Terracotta Warriors, ancient city walls, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Online stories from fellow foreign travelers sealed it: China’s cost of living seemed a fraction of Europe’s.
Stepping onto Xi’an’s soil, she quickly grasped “affordable living.”
In the city center, she checked into a spotless hotel for just 200-300 yuan a night. Public transit charmed her too—metro rides for 2-3 yuan, cabs to sights for a dozen yuan or so—unthinkable in Europe.
The real jaw-dropper? Food and night markets. European evenings are quiet, with pricey outings rare. In Xi’an, a hundred yuan covered a feast, sights, and souvenirs—pure joy.
Such price gaps between nations craft wildly different lifestyles.
In Europe, even decent pensions strain under high costs, pressuring retirees. In China—especially Xi’an, with its modern ease and gentle prices—Western pensions stretch luxuriously, granting “financial freedom.”
Of course, this spending spree isn’t cost-free. International travel means flights and visas; differing healthcare and language barriers posed hurdles she had to navigate. Still, she insists it was worth every bit.
Beyond prices, she was touched by locals’ warmth and the city’s safety.
Notably, more foreigners flock to China not just for bargains but its cultural pull. Xi’an’s walls, warriors, and pagoda deliver tangible history. For European elders, that immersion trumps mere savings.
Post-trip, she’s raving about Xi’an to friends and musing annual stays. With 2,500 euros, she says, life here isn’t just doable—it’s dignified.
Compared to penny-pinching, this is true golden-years bliss.
References
- Zhongbo Observation: 61-Year-Old Norwegian Auntie Achieves “Financial Freedom” in Xi’an with Monthly 2,500 Euro Pension – Source: Zhongbo (Crowdcast) Observation
