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
Visa routes we know about
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
66/100Beijing
64/100Shenzhen
59/100Compare 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
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
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 66/100. 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.