Moving to China from Ireland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Ireland to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Ireland to China, you would find that China is 46.1% cheaper than Ireland overall. A €65,850 salary in Ireland would need to be roughly CN¥206,856 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ireland to China. What does your salary buy? €65,850 → CN¥206,856 To maintain the same standard of living in China Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day Restaurants pay 76.7% less Groceries pay 40.0% less Transportation pay 65.8% less Housing pay 80.2% less Childcare pay 28.9% more Entertainment and Sports pay 58.3% 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 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 56% less than cities in Ireland. 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. Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ireland 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 Ireland 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 Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year Ireland performs better than China across all environment metrics. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet Ireland 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 Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in top income tax rate. average years of life at birth deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better government spending on education as % of GDP Ireland generally does better on family life, though China leads in education spending. Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, 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 Ireland 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. Ireland passport holder visiting China China passport holder visiting Ireland Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. Yes — China is on average about 59% cheaper than Ireland. City-level variation can be significant. Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CN¥51,714 in China on a €65,850 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees). Internet is rarely the blocker — China 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. China generally does better on safety, though Ireland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night. China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ireland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 40.6 in Ireland. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83). The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in. The official language in China is Chinese. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish. How Far Will Your Money Go?
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Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Dublin Beijing Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) View all months
Month Dublin Beijing Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 
Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, 
China Meteorological Administration Visitor Visa Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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