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 57.9% cheaper than Mississippi. A $75,000 salary in Mississippi would need to be roughly CN¥211,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is China cheaper than Mississippi?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 74.0% less

Groceries

pay 46.4% less

Transportation

pay 41.0% less

Housing

pay 72.6% less

Childcare

pay 19.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 42.3% 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¥211,000

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 46% less than cities in Mississippi.

Mississippi

Oxford 59%
Gulfport 57%
Biloxi 52%

China

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

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to China

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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), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MS
41.9%
CN
9.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MS
82.0%
CN
91.6%

China performs significantly better than Mississippi 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
4.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MS
$41,778
CN
$13,862

Mississippi 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

MS
71.9 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs

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

Weather in China vs Mississippi

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jackson Shanghai
Jan–Mar 62°/41°F (17°/5°C) 49°/36°F (10°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/62°F (28°/17°C) 73°/60°F (23°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/70°F (32°/21°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/46°F (20°/8°C) 62°/47°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Jackson Shanghai
Jan 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.7°C) 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C)
Feb 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C)
Mar 68°/47°F (20.2°/8.2°C) 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C)
Apr 76°/54°F (24.4°/12.1°C) 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C)
May 83°/63°F (28.3°/17.1°C) 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C)
Jun 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.4°C) 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.2°C) 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C)
Sep 87°/66°F (30.3°/18.9°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)
Oct 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.8°C) 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C)
Dec 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi?

On average China is about 58% less expensive than Mississippi, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Budget about CN¥52,750 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 Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 76°F in Jackson. Shanghai receives around 43.8 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 2,954,160 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