Moving to China from Germany
What to Expect
Considering a move from Germany to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Germany to China, you would find that China is 50.3% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,700 salary in Germany would need to be roughly CN¥245,759 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and China.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → CN¥245,759
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 79.0% less
Groceries
pay 40.1% less
Transportation
pay 58.9% less
Housing
pay 74.5% less
Childcare
pay 13.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.7% less
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 50% less than cities in Germany.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Germany.
Is it safe?
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 Germany 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
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Germany performs 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
Germany generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in electricity per capita.
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
Germany generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in top income tax 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
Germany performs better than China across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), 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 | Berlin | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Berlin | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Deutscher Wetterdienst,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.
Germany passport holder visiting China
Visa Free
China passport holder visiting Germany
Visa RequiredData: 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 Germany?
On average China is about 52% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥61,440 for 3 months in China (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Germany leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in China compared to Germany?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Germany leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 45.2 in Germany. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).
What's the weather like in China compared to Germany?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Germany, the official language is German.
