Moving to Pakistan from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to Pakistan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 45.7% cheaper than China overall. A CN¥500,000 salary in China would need to be roughly PKR11,200,000 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Urdu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Karachi averages 90°F vs 68°F in Shanghai, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Pakistan cheaper than China?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 18.5% less
Groceries
pay 49.5% less
Transportation
pay 7.6% less
Housing
pay 50.9% less
Childcare
pay 91.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 28.3% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Pakistan?
What does your salary buy?
CN¥500,000 → PKR11,200,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →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 Pakistan cost about 17% less than cities in China.
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 Pakistan.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Pakistan compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though Pakistan leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
China generally does better on environment, though Pakistan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
China performs better than Pakistan 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
share of people below the poverty line
China generally does better on employment & economy, though Pakistan leads in top income tax rate.
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
China performs better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), State Administration of Taxation (2016), Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Pakistan vs China
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Shanghai | Karachi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) | 84°/58°F (29°/15°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) | 96°/79°F (35°/26°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 91°/80°F (33°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) | 90°/63°F (32°/17°C) |
View all months
| Month | Shanghai | Karachi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) | 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) | 83°/57°F (28.4°/14.0°C) |
| Mar | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) | 90°/65°F (32.2°/18.6°C) |
| Apr | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) | 95°/73°F (34.8°/23.0°C) |
| May | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) | 96°/80°F (35.5°/26.6°C) |
| Jun | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) | 96°/83°F (35.4°/28.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) | 92°/82°F (33.3°/27.6°C) |
| Aug | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) | 90°/79°F (32.1°/26.3°C) |
| Sep | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) | 92°/78°F (33.2°/25.7°C) |
| Oct | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) | 96°/71°F (35.5°/21.9°C) |
| Nov | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) | 90°/62°F (32.5°/16.8°C) |
| Dec | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) | 83°/55°F (28.2°/12.7°C) |
China Meteorological AdministrationCan you move from China to Pakistan?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
China passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan passport holder visiting China
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Pakistan than China?
On average Pakistan is about 46% less expensive than China, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Budget about PKR2,800,000 for 3 months in Pakistan (based on a CN¥500,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Pakistan: 1.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Pakistan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Pakistan safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Pakistan leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Pakistan is 4.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
How is healthcare in Pakistan compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Pakistan, compared to 31.1 in China. Pakistan scores 45 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to China?
The average high temperature in Karachi is 90°F, compared to 68°F in Shanghai. Karachi receives around 6.9 in of rainfall per year, while Shanghai gets 43.8 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In China, the official language is Chinese.
