Moving to China from Albania

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Albania to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Albania to China, you would find that China is 30.1% cheaper than Albania overall. A ALL6,100,000 salary in Albania would need to be roughly CN¥349,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Albania and China.

What does your salary buy?

ALL6,100,000 → CN¥349,000

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 60.0% less

Groceries

pay 19.3% less

Transportation

pay 40.3% less

Housing

pay 37.1% less

Childcare

pay 3.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ALL = 0.0819 CNY (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in China cost about 30% less than cities in Albania.

Albania

Sarande 47%
Shkoder 36%

China

Shanghai 36%
Changchun 35%
Shenzhen 34%
Guangzhou 32%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AL
1.4
CN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AL
10.8
CN
17.4

Albania generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AL
$1,465
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AL
18.8
CN
31.1

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Albania leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AL
59.0
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AL
1.8t
CN
9.3t

Albania performs better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AL
24.9
CN
47.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AL
4.8%
CN
41.5%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Albania leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AL
10.9%
CN
4.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

AL
$12,998
CN
$13,862

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Albania leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

AL
79.8 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AL
8.3
CN
4.1

Albania generally does better on family life, though China leads in infant mortality.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Albanian Taxation Office (2016), State Administration of Taxation (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Albania and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.

Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting China

Visa Free
Albania passport holders can enter China without a visa.
China passport

China passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
China passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in China than Albania?

On average China is about 30% less expensive than Albania, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥87,250 for 3 months in China (based on a ALL6,100,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from China?

Connectivity is usually fine (China: 47.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is China safe for expats?

Albania generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.4 in Albania.

How is healthcare in China compared to Albania?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Albania leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 18.8 in Albania. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Albania: 64).

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Albania, the official language is Albanian.

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At a Glance

AL CN
Population 2,349,580 1,406,585,000
Currency Albanian Lek (ALL) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages Albanian Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +355 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 110