Moving to Israel from China

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from China to Israel, you would find that Israel is 3.2 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,140 salary in China would need to be roughly ₪570,848 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

CN¥508,140 ₪570,848

To maintain the same standard of living in Israel

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 6.3 times more

Groceries

pay 2.0 times more

Transportation

pay 2.7 times more

Housing

pay 4.1 times more

Childcare

pay 70.8% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.5 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CNY = 0.4483 ILS (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.

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 Israel cost about 136% more than cities in China.

China

Shanghai 36%
Ningbo 31%
Xiamen 28%
Jinan 27%

Israel

Ashqelon 68%
Holon 65%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
10 ↑ 233% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to Israel?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Israel compared to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
IL
1.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CN
91%
IL
80%

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

CN
$1,487
IL
$4,033
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
IL
37.1

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China 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

CN
64.0
IL
15.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
IL
5.8t

Israel 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
IL
29.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
IL
132.0%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Israel 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%
IL
3.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
IL
$48,300

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
IL
83.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
IL
3.6

Israel 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

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Jerusalem
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 58°/46°F (15°/8°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 78°/60°F (25°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 68°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Jerusalem
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

China passport

China passport holder visiting Israel

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

Israel passport holder visiting China

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

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 Israel than China?

On average Israel is around 151% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Israel?

Budget about ₪142,712 for 3 months in Israel (based on a CN¥508,140 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Israel?

Connectivity is usually fine (Israel: 29.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Israel offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Israel safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Israel leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Israel is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 80% of people in Israel feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Israel compared to China?

Israel generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 37.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Israel, compared to 25.2 in China. Israel scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Israel?

The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN IL
Population 1,410,539,758 8,914,885
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Israeli New Sheqel (₪)
Languages Chinese Arabic, Hebrew
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +972
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 100