Moving to China from Argentina

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Argentina to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Argentina to China, you would find that China is 35.7% cheaper than Argentina overall. A ARS110,000,000 salary in Argentina would need to be roughly CN¥312,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 73°F in Buenos Aires, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Argentina to China.

What does your salary buy?

ARS110,000,000 → CN¥312,000

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 73.8% less

Groceries

pay 21.8% less

Transportation

pay 21.3% less

Housing

pay 43.6% less

Childcare

pay 2.4 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 25.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ARS = 0.0044 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 32% less than cities in Argentina.

Argentina

Rosario 40%

China

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Argentina to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

AR
4.5
CN
0.5
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

AR
48%
CN
91%

China generally does better on safety, though Argentina leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AR
$3,089
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

AR
51.1
CN
31.1

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Argentina leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AR
29.0
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AR
4.0t
CN
9.3t

Argentina 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

AR
26.1
CN
47.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AR
10.5%
CN
41.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AR
7.1%
CN
4.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

AR
$14,898
CN
$13,862

Argentina generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

AR
77.5 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AR
8.0
CN
4.1

Argentina generally does better on family life, though China leads in life expectancy.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Buenos Aires Rain: 48.7 in/yr (1237 mm)
73° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Buenos Aires Beijing
Jan–Mar 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/52°F (19°/11°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 64°/48°F (17°/9°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 78°/61°F (26°/16°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Buenos Aires Beijing
Jan 86°/68°F (30.1°/20.1°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 84°/67°F (28.7°/19.2°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 80°/64°F (26.8°/17.7°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 73°/57°F (22.9°/13.8°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 67°/51°F (19.3°/10.7°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.1°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 60°/45°F (15.3°/7.4°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 64°/48°F (17.7°/8.8°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 67°/51°F (19.3°/10.3°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 73°/56°F (22.7°/13.3°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 78°/61°F (25.6°/15.9°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.4°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Argentina 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.

Argentina passport

Argentina passport holder visiting China

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

China passport holder visiting Argentina

Visa Required
China passport holders need a visa to enter Argentina.

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 Argentina?

Yes — China is on average about 36% cheaper than Argentina. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CN¥78,000 in China on a ARS110,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from China?

Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is China safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Argentina leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.5 in Argentina. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in China compared to Argentina?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Argentina leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 51.1 in Argentina. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Argentina: 79).

What's the weather like in China compared to Argentina?

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 73°F in Buenos Aires. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Buenos Aires gets 48.7 in.

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Argentina, the official languages are Guaraní and Spanish.

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At a Glance

AR CN
Population 45,851,378 1,406,585,000
Currency Argentine Peso (ARS) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages Guaraní, Spanish Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +54 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 110