Moving to United Kingdom from China
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from China to United Kingdom — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from China to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 3.2 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,312 salary in China would need to be roughly £126,147 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
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What to expect for your wallet after moving from China to United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
CN¥508,312 → £126,147
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 5.0 times more
Groceries
pay 81.7% more
Transportation
pay 3.5 times more
Housing
pay 4.8 times more
Childcare
pay 2.6 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.4 times more
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 United Kingdom cost about 105% more than cities in China.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from China to United Kingdom, based on official data.
people moved from China to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from China to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China 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
United Kingdom performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.
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 generally does better on infrastructure, though United Kingdom leads in water stress level.
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 United Kingdom leads in unemployment 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
United Kingdom 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 | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Beijing | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
China Meteorological Administration
Met OfficeVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
China passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom passport holder visiting China
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than China?
No — United Kingdom is on average about 125% more expensive than China. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly £31,537 in United Kingdom on a CN¥508,312 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United Kingdom has 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though United Kingdom leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to China?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 25.2 in China. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to China?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In China, the official language is Chinese.
