Moving to China from Macau
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Macau to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Macau to China. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 77°F in Macao, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Macau to China, based on official data.
Who's moving to China?
Top countries of origin for China's foreign-born residents.
- 303,095
- 209,555
- 144,831
- 57,602
- 56,657
- 30,811
- · · ·
-
8.18,918
Macau
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Macau to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
China performs significantly better than Macau across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
China performs significantly better than Macau across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Macau performs better than China across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Macau generally does better on family life, though China leads in infant mortality.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), Secretariat for Economy and Finance (2016), State Administration of Taxation (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Macao | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Macao | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macau 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.
Macau passport holder visiting China
Visa Required
China passport holder visiting Macau
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from China?
Internet is rarely the blocker — China has 47.2 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.
Is China safe for expats?
China performs significantly better than Macau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Macau.
What's the weather like in China compared to Macau?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 77°F in Macao. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Macao gets 83.6 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Macau, the official languages are Chinese and Portuguese.
