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Countries / China
China
Enormous, safe and cheap to live in day to day, with world-class cities; the language, internet controls and work-visa rules are the barriers.
RegionEast Asia
CapitalBeijing
CurrencyRenminbi (yuan)
LanguageMandarin Chinese
Expat saturationLow (0.1% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,750/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
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🇨🇳 China from aboveChina in 60 secondsAerials of Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
✎Cedar International Schools
Find the right school in Shanghai.
IB, British and American curricula compared. Free placement help for families moving to China.
Compare schools →Free for parents
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LLumen eSIM
Land in China connected.
Install before you fly. 10 GB from $12, no contract, works in 190 countries.
Get 15% off →Code EXPATHUB
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BBluewater Insurance
Health, home and travel in one policy.
Built for expats in China. Cancel any time. Claims paid in 5 days on average.
Get covered →From $62/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for China checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$8,900estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$17,750estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$50,900estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$25,850estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
China by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ ¥6.711 renminbi (yuan) ≈ $0.149 · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$60/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$15/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score88/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 260 Mbps
Internet reliability74/100Usually fine; keep a mobile-data backup
English day-to-dayBasicHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneHard for US & EU; VPN needed for many appsHard for US & EU; VPN needed for many apps
Phone & eSIM$15/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $20/10 GB
Walkability of cities72/100Walkable centres, car useful beyond
Air quality40/100Much improved since 2013 but Beijing and northern cities still see unhealthy winter days; Shenzhen and Kunming better
Healthy food & food safety58/100Rapidly tightened standards after past scandals; additive list broadly Codex-based; enforcement uneven
Severe weather & hazards60/100 riskTyphoons on the south coast, earthquakes in the west, Yangtze flooding, dust storms in the north
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneCST (UTC+8) nationwideCST (UTC+8) nationwide, no DST; 13 hours ahead of New York in winter
Literacy97%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth$500–1,500Public $500–1,500 / international hospitals $8,000–15,000
Rural landAll land state-ownedper acre · All land state-owned; residential leases 70 years
Beauty of cities84/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$1.05/L≈ $3.97 per US gallon
Doctor visit$15Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$100Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$25 / $40Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy78 yrsAt birth
Unemployment5%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsRestrictedNo nomad visa; remote work on a visitor visa is not permitted, Z work visa needed
🌤️ Climate
Vast range; Beijing has cold dry winters and hot summers, Shanghai humid subtropical, Shenzhen tropical, Chengdu mild and cloudy, Kunming spring-like.
Winter · Jan-3°C27°F
Spring · Apr14°C57°F
Summer · Jul27°C81°F
Autumn · Oct13°C55°F
Mean temperatures for Shanghai.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 650 mm (26 in) a year.
Snow Heavy in the northeast; rare in the south.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationNational Database of Laws and Regulations (NPC) ↗
OverviewLaw of China on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax No recurring property tax on homes (pilots only); transaction taxes 1–3%.
Local & regional income tax None regional; national 3–45%.
🎓 University
Not free; public $3–5k/yr for international students, many scholarships.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom (VPN needed for many foreign apps).
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $15/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $20 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Talent (R) visa for high-level professionals
- 30-day visa-free entry for many nationalities
- Tax-free allowances for foreign employees (housing, schooling) extended
- Hainan free-trade-port 15% income tax cap
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for China embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in China↗All embassies and consulates in China↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗National Database of Laws and Regulations (NPC)↗Law of China (Wikipedia)↗China on Wikipedia↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in China faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
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Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and China.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · China
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in China: remote work you can do from Shanghai, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · Shanghai · in person
¥15,000–¥21,000/moCNY