Moving to China from Mississippi

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mississippi to China, you would find that China is 40.2% cheaper than Mississippi. A $75,000 salary in Mississippi would need to be roughly CN¥293,232 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 76°F in Jackson, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mississippi and China.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 CN¥293,232

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 71.5% less

Groceries

pay 38.5% less

Transportation

pay 27.1% less

Housing

pay 75.6% less

Childcare

pay 17.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 6.77 CNY (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Mississippi 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 Mississippi.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MS
41.9%
CN
6.2%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MS
82.0%
CN
73.0%

Mississippi performs better than China across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MS
3.1%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MS
$41,778
CN
$22,100

Mississippi generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

MS
71.9 yrs
CN
76.1 yrs

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

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jackson Rain: 54.3 in/yr (1380 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jackson Beijing
Jan–Mar 62°/41°F (17°/5°C) 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/62°F (28°/17°C) 78°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/70°F (32°/21°C) 83°/66°F (29°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/46°F (20°/8°C) 51°/32°F (11°/0°C)
View all months
Month Jackson Beijing
Jan 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.7°C) 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C)
Feb 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C)
Mar 68°/47°F (20.2°/8.2°C) 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C)
Apr 76°/54°F (24.4°/12.1°C) 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C)
May 83°/63°F (28.3°/17.1°C) 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C)
Jun 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.4°C) 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.2°C) 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C)
Sep 87°/66°F (30.3°/18.9°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C)
Oct 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.8°C) 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C)
Nov 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C)
Dec 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

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 Mississippi?

On average China is about 42% less expensive than Mississippi, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥73,308 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 Mississippi and China are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in China compared to Mississippi?

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

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

The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 76°F in Jackson. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Jackson gets 54.3 in.

What language do they speak in China?

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

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At a Glance

CN
Population 2,967,297 1,410,539,758
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