Moving to China from Italy
What to Expect
Considering a move from Italy to China? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Italy to China, you would find that China is 41.8% cheaper than Italy overall. A €64,826 salary in Italy would need to be roughly CN¥263,211 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 Italy and China.
What does your salary buy?
€64,826 → CN¥263,211
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 76.2% less
Groceries
pay 42.8% less
Transportation
pay 55.5% less
Housing
pay 66.1% less
Childcare
pay 15.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.8% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Italy.
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 Italy 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Italy 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
China generally does better on infrastructure, though Italy leads in water stress level.
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
China generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy leads in gdp per capita.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Italy performs better than China across all family life metrics.
Data: Italian Revenue Agency, 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 | Rome | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 56°/39°F (13°/4°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Rome | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.1°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 55°/38°F (13.0°/3.5°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 59°/41°F (15.2°/5.2°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.7°/7.5°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.6°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.3°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 87°/64°F (30.3°/18.0°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.2°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 71°/52°F (21.4°/11.3°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 61°/44°F (15.9°/6.9°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 55°/40°F (12.6°/4.2°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Italian Air Force- Department of Meteorology,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Italy 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.
Italy passport holder visiting China
Visa Free
China passport holder visiting Italy
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 Italy?
On average China is about 48% less expensive than Italy, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥65,803 for 3 months in China (based on a €64,826 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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 Italy leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Italy. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in China compared to Italy?
Italy generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 42.5 in Italy. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Italy: 84).
What's the weather like in China compared to Italy?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 69°F in Rome. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Rome gets 31.7 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Italy, the official languages are Catalan and Italian.
