Moving to United States from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to United States, you would find that United States is 3.3 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥509,865 salary in China would need to be roughly $190,169 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between China and United States. What does your salary buy? CN¥509,865 → $190,169 To maintain the same standard of living in United States How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 5.4 times more Groceries pay 2.8 times more Transportation pay 2.5 times more Housing pay 5.6 times more Childcare pay 2.5 times more Entertainment and Sports pay 2.8 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 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 States cost about 198% more than cities in China. Compare cities head-to-head We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes. What the data shows about people moving from China to United States. people moved from China to United States · OECD (latest data available) Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents. The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to China. per 100,000 people per year of residents who feel safe walking alone at night per 100,000 people per year China generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths. 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 United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year China generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet United States generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in broadband per 100 people. 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 United States generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty rate. average years of life at birth deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better government spending on education as % of GDP United States performs significantly better than China across all family life metrics. Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: Short-stay tourist visa rules between China and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority. China passport holder visiting United States United States passport holder visiting China Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. On average United States is around 154% pricier than China, with notable variation by city. Budget about $47,542 for 3 months in United States (based on a CN¥509,865 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees. Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident? China generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night. China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 25.2 in China. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81). The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in. The official language in United States is English. In China, the official language is Chinese. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Beijing Washington Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) View all months
Month Beijing Washington Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) 
China Meteorological Administration, 
National Weather Service Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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