Moving to China from Louisiana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Louisiana to China, you would find that China is 60.5% cheaper than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly CN¥198,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Shanghai averages 68°F vs 77°F in New Orleans, making it significantly cooler.

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Is China cheaper than Louisiana?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 76.4% less

Groceries

pay 52.8% less

Transportation

pay 34.3% less

Housing

pay 75.4% less

Childcare

pay 23.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 6.67 CNY (October 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¥198,000

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 51% less than cities in Louisiana.

Louisiana

Lafayette 63%

China

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

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
CN
9.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
CN
91.6%

China performs significantly better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
CN
4.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
CN
$13,862

Louisiana 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

LA
73.1 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs

China performs significantly better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.

Weather in China vs Louisiana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

New Orleans Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
77° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months New Orleans Shanghai
Jan–Mar 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) 49°/36°F (10°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) 73°/60°F (23°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) 62°/47°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month New Orleans Shanghai
Jan 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C)
Feb 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C)
Mar 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C)
Apr 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C)
May 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C)
Jun 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C)
Jul 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C)
Aug 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C)
Sep 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)
Oct 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C)
Dec 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana?

On average China is about 60% less expensive than Louisiana, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥49,500 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 Louisiana and China are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in China compared to Louisiana?

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

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

The average high temperature in Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 77°F in New Orleans. Shanghai receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while New Orleans gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in China?

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

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At a Glance

CN
Population 4,618,189 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