Moving to China from New York
What to Expect
Considering a move from New York to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New York to China, you would find that China is 70.1% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly CN¥149,000 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 New York?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 78.5% less
Groceries
pay 58.3% less
Transportation
pay 48.4% less
Housing
pay 84.1% less
Childcare
pay 57.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.0% 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.
What salary do you need in China?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → CN¥149,000
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 58% less than cities in New York.
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 New York to China.
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
- · · ·
-
7.20,762
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to New York.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
China performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
China performs significantly better than New York across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
New York generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
China performs significantly better than New York across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in China vs New York
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
China Meteorological Administration
Can you move from New York 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 holder visiting China
Visa Required
China passport holder visiting United States
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 New York?
On average China is about 70% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥37,250 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 New York and China are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in China compared to New York?
China performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in China compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. Shanghai receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In New York, the official language is English.
