Moving to Macau from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to Macau? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to Macau. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Macao averages 77°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from China to Macau.
Who's moving to Macau?
Top countries of origin for Macau's foreign-born residents.
-
1.300,567
China
- 30,173
- 22,512
- 2,101
- 1,628
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Macau compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
China performs better than Macau across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
China performs better than Macau across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Macau performs significantly better than China across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Macau 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Beijing | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Beijing | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) |
| Feb | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) |
| Mar | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) |
| May | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) |
| Aug | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) |
| Sep | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) |
| Oct | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) |
| Dec | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and Macau. To live, work, or study long-term in Macau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macau's immigration authority.
China passport holder visiting Macau
Visa Required
Macau passport holder visiting China
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Macau?
Connectivity is usually fine (Macau: 30.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Macau safe for expats?
China performs better than Macau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
What's the weather like in Macau compared to China?
The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.
What language do they speak in Macau?
The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In China, the official language is Chinese.
