Moving to Poland from China

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from China to Poland, you would find that Poland is 95.7% more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,140 salary in China would need to be roughly PLN447,058 in Poland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Polish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Warsaw averages 55°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 Poland.

What does your salary buy?

CN¥508,140 PLN447,058

To maintain the same standard of living in Poland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.8 times more

Groceries

pay 34.1% more

Transportation

pay 77.9% more

Housing

pay 2.9 times more

Childcare

pay 28.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 65.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 CNY = 0.5595 PLN (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 Poland cost about 52% more than cities in China.

China

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

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 Poland.

Moved in 2021
2,086 ↓ 8% vs 2020

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

Who's moving to Poland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Poland compared to China.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CN
0.5
PL
0.7
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CN
91%
PL
11%

China generally does better on safety, though Poland 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
PL
$3,939
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
PL
33.9

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Poland 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
PL
41.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
PL
7.6t

Poland 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
PL
23.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
PL
32.1%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Poland leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
PL
2.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
PL
$44,100

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CN
76.1 yrs
PL
78.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
PL
4.2

Poland 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

Warsaw Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
55° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Warsaw
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 38°/26°F (3°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 66°/46°F (19°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 44°/33°F (7°/1°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Warsaw
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 33°/24°F (0.7°/-4.4°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 36°/25°F (2.1°/-3.9°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 44°/30°F (6.9°/-0.9°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 57°/38°F (13.9°/3.6°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 76°/57°F (24.6°/13.7°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 75°/55°F (23.9°/13.0°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 65°/48°F (18.4°/9.0°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 55°/40°F (12.8°/4.7°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 43°/33°F (5.9°/0.5°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 35°/26°F (1.6°/-3.1°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Institute of Meteorology and Water Management

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

China passport

China passport holder visiting Poland

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

Poland passport holder visiting China

Visa Free
Poland 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 Poland than China?

On average Poland is around 57% pricier than China, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Poland?

Budget about PLN111,764 for 3 months in Poland (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 Poland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Poland: 23.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Poland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Poland safe for expats?

China generally does better on safety, though Poland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Poland is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 11% of people in Poland feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Poland compared to China?

China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Poland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Poland, compared to 25.2 in China. Poland scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Warsaw is 55°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Warsaw receives around 20.9 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Poland?

The official language in Poland is Polish. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN PL
Population 1,410,539,758 38,093,101
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Polish Zloty (PLN)
Languages Chinese Polish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +48
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 112