Moving to Denmark from China

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from China to Denmark, you would find that Denmark is 3.4 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,312 salary in China would need to be roughly DKK1,203,865 in Denmark to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Danish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Copenhagen averages 52°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CN¥508,312 DKK1,203,865

To maintain the same standard of living in Denmark

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 7.3 times more

Groceries

pay 2.5 times more

Transportation

pay 3.8 times more

Housing

pay 3.8 times more

Childcare

pay 0.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CNY = 0.9663 DKK (July 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?

What the data shows about people moving from China to Denmark.

Moved in 2023
2,049 ↑ 32% vs 2022

people moved from China to Denmark · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Denmark?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Denmark compared to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
DK
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
DK
2.3

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CN
$1,487
DK
$7,262
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
DK
43.8

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Denmark 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

CN
64.0
DK
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
DK
4.3t

Denmark performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
41.4
DK
45.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
DK
26.4%

Denmark generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
DK
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
DK
$72,000

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Denmark leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
DK
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
DK
3.0

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

Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Copenhagen Rain: 20.7 in/yr (525 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Copenhagen
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 38°/29°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 58°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 66°/53°F (19°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 46°/37°F (8°/3°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Copenhagen
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 36°/28°F (2.0°/-2.0°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 41°/30°F (5.0°/-1.0°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 50°/36°F (10.0°/2.0°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 59°/45°F (15.0°/7.0°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 66°/52°F (19.0°/11.0°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 68°/55°F (20.0°/13.0°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 54°/45°F (12.0°/7.0°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 45°/37°F (7.0°/3.0°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 39°/30°F (4.0°/-1.0°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Danish Meteorological Institute Danish Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

China passport

China passport holder visiting Denmark

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

Denmark passport holder visiting China

Visa Free
Denmark passport holders can enter China 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 Denmark than China?

On average Denmark is around 145% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Denmark?

Budget about DKK300,966 for 3 months in Denmark (based on a CN¥508,312 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Denmark?

Connectivity is usually fine (Denmark: 45.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Denmark offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Denmark safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Denmark leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Denmark is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.

How is healthcare in Denmark compared to China?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Denmark leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Denmark, compared to 25.2 in China. Denmark scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Copenhagen is 52°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Copenhagen receives around 20.7 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Denmark?

The official language in Denmark is Danish. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN DK
Population 1,410,539,758 5,920,767
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Danish Krone (DKK)
Languages Chinese Danish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +45
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 110 112