Moving to Shanghai
A step-by-step guide for people who actually plan to stay in Shanghai, China. Not a vacation itinerary.
Monthly cost
$1,146
solo, city centre
Livability
70/100
strong
Safety
64/100
Safe enough to stop thinking about it
PR timeline
—
varies
How to move to Shanghai
Visas, residency, and the paperwork you can't avoid
China Z Visa (Work)
Bring a lawyerDuration: 1 year (renewable via work permit)
Employer sponsorship required. Work permit graded A/B/C by points (age, education, salary, Chinese skills). Permanent residence technically exists — fewer than 2,000 people get it per year in a country of 1.4 billion.
What it costs to move to Shanghai
First-month sticker shock, decoded
$907
1-bed, city centre / mo
Cheaper than 73% of 116 cities
$2,271
3-bed, city centre / mo
Monthly burn (solo)
$1,146/moRent + groceries + transport + utilities. No avocado toast budget.
First month in Shanghai
The to-do list nobody gives you at the airport
- ☐
Apply for China Z Visa (Work)
1 year (renewable via work permit). Employer sponsorship required. Work permit graded A/B/C by points (age, education, salary, Chinese skills). Permanent residence technically exists — fewer than 2,000 people get it per year in a country of 1.4 billion.
- ☐
Open a local bank account
Bring a Mandarin-speaking friend or prepare for mime-based banking
- ☐
Get a local SIM card
~$9/mo for 10GB+
- ☐
Find an apartment
Budget $907/mo for a 1-bed in the centre
- ☐
Register with local authorities
Most countries require address registration within 30 days
- ☐
Get health insurance
Sort this before you need it, not after
- ☐
Start learning basic Mandarin
Not optional. Download Duolingo before the plane lands
Language in Shanghai
Can you order coffee without pointing?
Mandarin
primary language
Low
English proficiency
English proficiency is low. Learning at least basic Mandarin isn't optional — it's survival.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, freedom, and regime vibes
1.9/10
democracy index (EIU)
🚩 Authoritarian regime
regime type
Travel advisory: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions
Is Shanghai safe?
Crime stats for people who read footnotes
👍
Safe enough to stop thinking about it
0.5
homicides per 100k
Weather in Shanghai
What the thermometer actually says
31°C
summer highs
3°C
winter lows
281 Mbps
average download speed
If you get sick
Healthcare access for new arrivals
System:
Before residency:
The honest take
What we'd tell a friend
Going for it
- ✓ $907/mo in Shanghai. Money actually lasts all month.
- ✓ Shanghai: 0.5/100k homicide rate. Safe enough to stop thinking about it.
- ✓ 31°C summers plus Shanghai's coast. Not a drill.
Think twice about
- ✗ China: 1.9/10 democracy index. Research Shanghai carefully.
- ✗ Damp coastal winters in Shanghai. 3°C feels colder inside.
- ✗ Mandarin is essential in Shanghai. Factor in language school.
This is the settler summary. For the full data dump:
Full Shanghai profile →