Moving to China from Connecticut

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Connecticut to China, you would find that China is 71.2% cheaper than Connecticut. A $75,000 salary in Connecticut would need to be roughly CN¥144,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is China cheaper than Connecticut?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 80.7% less

Groceries

pay 60.3% less

Transportation

pay 40.4% less

Housing

pay 85.9% less

Childcare

pay 60.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 60.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 6.66 CNY (November 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.

What salary do you need in China?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → CN¥144,000

To maintain the same standard of living in China

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 China cost about 57% less than cities in Connecticut.

Connecticut

Stamford 79%
Danbury 68%
New Haven 61%

China

Shanghai 36%
Changchun 35%
Shenzhen 34%
Guangzhou 32%

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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

CT
31.3%
CN
9.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2025

share of households with internet

CT
91.3%
CN
91.6%

China performs significantly better than Connecticut across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CT
4.1%
CN
4.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CT
$77,582
CN
$13,862

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

CT
78.4 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs

Connecticut performs better than China across all family life metrics.

Weather in China vs Connecticut

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bridgeport Rain: 47.7 in/yr (1212 mm)
61° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Shanghai Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
68° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bridgeport Shanghai
Jan–Mar 42°/23°F (6°/-5°C) 49°/36°F (10°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/49°F (20°/10°C) 73°/60°F (23°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/62°F (26°/16°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/34°F (12°/1°C) 62°/47°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Bridgeport Shanghai
Jan 38°/20°F (3.1°/-6.9°C) 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C)
Feb 41°/21°F (4.9°/-6.0°C) 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C)
Mar 47°/29°F (8.6°/-1.7°C) 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C)
Apr 59°/40°F (15.1°/4.2°C) 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C)
May 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.1°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.1°/18.3°C) 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C)
Aug 82°/64°F (27.6°/17.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C)
Sep 75°/56°F (23.7°/13.1°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)
Oct 63°/44°F (17.4°/6.5°C) 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 54°/34°F (12.1°/1.3°C) 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C)
Dec 43°/24°F (6.1°/-4.2°C) 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C)

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

Can you move from Connecticut to China?

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 Connecticut?

On average China is about 71% less expensive than Connecticut, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥36,000 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 Connecticut and China are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in China compared to Connecticut?

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

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

The average high temperature in Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 61°F in Bridgeport. Shanghai receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bridgeport gets 47.7 in.

What language do they speak in China?

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

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At a Glance

CN
Population 3,688,496 1,406,585,000
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