Move to China
3 cities, one country, zero sugar-coating. Residency paths, real costs, and whether the government will leave you alone.
China at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
S1/S2 dependent visa allows residence only — no work rights. Spouse must obtain own Z visa with employer sponsorship to work.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in China
3 cities ranked by Livability Score — the one number that rolls up rent, safety, democracy, and internet
Shanghai
68/100Beijing
66/100Shenzhen
62/100Compare cities in China
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,059
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 3 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$27,105
GDP per capita (PPP)
4.6%
Unemployment
0.2%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
1.94/10
🚩 Authoritarian regime
Do they want you here?
How the locals feel about people who moved in — public sentiment, not immigration law
5.1
/9Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index — #86 of 140. Last asked in 2016.
Is China safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Safest tracked city: Shanghai (0.5 per 100k)
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Mandarin
Primary language
Low
English proficiency (#86 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Mandarin isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to China — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in China?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Shanghai ranks #1 in China with a score of 68/100. City-centre rent starts around $907/month.
How much does it cost to live in China?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $743 to $1059/month across our 3 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $1,965.
Is China a democracy?▾
China scores 1.94/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Authoritarian regime."
Is China safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.