Moving to China from Colorado

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Colorado to China, you would find that China is 53.6% cheaper than Colorado. A $75,000 salary in Colorado would need to be roughly CN¥220,073 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Colorado and China.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CN¥220,073

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 78.3% less

Groceries

pay 45.5% less

Transportation

pay 38.5% less

Housing

pay 81.8% less

Childcare

pay 46.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 55.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 6.77 CNY (June 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 China cost about 59% less than cities in Colorado.

Colorado

Boulder 74%

China

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

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to China

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Colorado to China.

Living there in 2020
20,762 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in United States live in China · UN DESA

Who's moving to China?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Colorado.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

CO
26.3%
CN
6.2%

China performs significantly better than Colorado across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

CO
92.9%
CN
73.0%

Colorado performs better than China across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CO
3.6%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

CO
$74,650
CN
$22,100

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

CO
78.3 yrs
CN
76.1 yrs

Colorado performs better than China across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Denver Rain: 14.3 in/yr (363 mm)
65° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Denver Beijing
Jan–Mar 48°/21°F (9°/-6°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/43°F (22°/6°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/55°F (29°/13°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/26°F (12°/-3°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Denver Beijing
Jan 44°/17°F (6.7°/-8.1°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 46°/19°F (7.9°/-7.3°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 54°/26°F (12.4°/-3.1°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 62°/33°F (16.4°/0.7°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 71°/43°F (21.9°/5.9°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 82°/52°F (28.0°/11.3°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 89°/59°F (31.9°/14.9°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 87°/58°F (30.7°/14.4°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 78°/48°F (25.8°/9.1°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 65°/37°F (18.5°/2.6°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 52°/24°F (11.2°/-4.2°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 43°/17°F (6.0°/-8.3°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting China

Visa Required
United States passport holders need a visa to enter China.
China passport

China passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
China passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 China than Colorado?

On average China is about 57% less expensive than Colorado, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥55,018 for 3 months in China (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from China?

From major China cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Colorado and China are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in China compared to Colorado?

China performs significantly better than Colorado across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 65°F in Denver. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Denver gets 14.3 in.

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Colorado, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

CN
Population 5,029,196 1,410,539,758
Currency United States Dollar ($) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +86
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 110