Moving to China from Arkansas

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Arkansas to China, you would find that China is 45.8% cheaper than Arkansas. A $75,000 salary in Arkansas would need to be roughly CN¥285,623 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CN¥285,623

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 76.1% less

Groceries

pay 38.2% less

Transportation

pay 23.5% less

Housing

pay 77.8% less

Childcare

pay 42.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 46.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 6.77 CNY (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Arkansas to China, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
20,762 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in United States live in China · UN DESA

Who's moving to China?

Top countries of origin for China's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AR
38.3%
CN
6.2%

China performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AR
84.9%
CN
73.0%

Arkansas performs better than China across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AR
4.2%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AR
$47,319
CN
$22,100

Arkansas generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

AR
73.8 yrs
CN
76.1 yrs

China performs significantly better than Arkansas across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Little Rock Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1271 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Little Rock Beijing
Jan–Mar 56°/38°F (13°/3°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/70°F (32°/21°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Little Rock Beijing
Jan 49°/33°F (9.7°/0.4°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 54°/36°F (12.4°/2.4°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 64°/44°F (17.6°/6.8°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 73°/53°F (22.7°/11.6°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.4°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 88°/69°F (31.2°/20.7°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 92°/73°F (33.4°/22.7°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.3°/22.2°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 84°/65°F (29.1°/18.1°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 73°/54°F (23.0°/12.3°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.6°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 51°/35°F (10.7°/1.7°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
United States passport holders need a visa to enter China.
China passport

China passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
China passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Arkansas?

Yes — China is on average about 44% cheaper than Arkansas. 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¥71,406 in China on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from China?

Usually fine from major cities in China. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in China compared to Arkansas?

China performs significantly better than Arkansas across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 72°F in Little Rock. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Little Rock gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Arkansas, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CN
Population 2,915,918 1,410,539,758
Currency United States Dollar ($) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +86
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110