OP, you're finding it difficult to get EU residency? I think it depends on which country. Generally it takes 5 years or so. Much easier in the EU ex-UK.

Best bet: get a job on the strength of your passport, have some savings and rental housing sorted, get him residency, then he'll be employable. Build your careers locally. Stay ~5 years in country and he's got an EU passport.

@OP Chengdu has a decent expat scene, if relatively small compared to the 'big three'. It's growing. Lifestyle there is typically rated amongst the highest in China, though pollution is a factor. Would not recommend Chongqing: one of China's 'four furnaces', it gets incredibly hot and the pollution is more intense than in Chengdu. Fabulous spicy food in both places.

PsyGuy is right on the China Experience(TM) as a temporary step to other locations. I'm in China because I want to be, and working at an IS is the vehicle (visas, good salary, benefits) to keep me here and creating work for my main career, one which has little to do with international school system. Most ITs move on and out after a few years.

Landed into it by accident. I don't teach but have an admin arts position. It is a dream job in a challenging city which I enjoy.

BFA in Painting.
Started teaching in Korea: Art & ESL in institutes (hogwan), then a private boys' high school, and English tutoring/Art.
Gave workshops with a photo festival in Cambodia for a year - working with former street kids as part of a rehab program.
In Hong Kong I taught extracurricular arts courses at an institute.
Over the years, gave arts workshops which eventually landed me a p/t teaching position in Beijing at an international school, via a teacher I'd met when giving a workshop. Started as a local hire, as I was already here working on a book project and learning Chinese. After a year, my current position opened up. Surprisingly they gave me an overseas hire package though I hadn't asked for it.

What brought me to Beijing:
* The art made and shown here is among the best in the world today
* The goal to learn Mandarin with a coherent accent
* The desire to experience life in a Dickensian city at a fascinating point in history

What's kept me here:
* My job. Love it!
* The art made here, people I can collaborate with
* My art projects

Beijing - like most Chinese cities - isn't for most people who have a choice of where to live. But it was my choice to move here, and 99% of the time, I'm very happy I did, and am reaching personal and professional goals in this city which I can't elsewhere. However I will transfer out or leave eventually - the pollution is harder on my husband than it is on me.

Hey, another MMM fan - welcome!
DH doesn't teach at an int'l school, but at a university in Beijing. I'm an overseas hire - not exactly an admin, but not a teacher either. As you can guess from my username, my field is considered the opposite of STEM! Though engineers and artists have a lot more in common than most people think. DH and I keep our finances separate. I am on track to save US$40K/year on average during my time here, including bonuses. This includes plenty of frugal working holidays as well.

We have looked at Singapore previously, and it's possible to save quite a bit there. Depends on how you live, how you work and travel. HDB flat rather than fancy expat condo. Cooking at home, combined with finding a handful of your favorite hawker stalls. Electric bike rather than insanely overpriced car. If you're the Mustachian type, you'll homebrew rather than pay Singapore's insane alcohol prices ;) Lots of good fruits there for DIY winemaking! Loads of cheap destinations in nearby Indonesia for your holidays.

Edited for typo.