Moving to China from North Korea
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from North Korea to China — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from North Korea to China, 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 ↓Get free moving quotes to China
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
How North Korea and China stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though North Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
North Korea generally does better on environment, though China leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
North Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though China leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
North Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
percentage of adults who can read and write
China generally does better on family life, though North Korea leads in literacy rate.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | P'yongyang | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 38°/20°F (4°/-7°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/65°F (27°/18°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/31°F (10°/0°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | P'yongyang | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/13°F (-0.8°/-10.7°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 36°/18°F (2.4°/-7.8°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 48°/29°F (8.9°/-1.8°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 63°/41°F (17.1°/4.9°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 73°/52°F (22.6°/10.9°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 80°/62°F (26.7°/16.5°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 83°/69°F (28.6°/20.7°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.5°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 76°/58°F (24.7°/14.3°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 65°/44°F (18.2°/6.7°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 49°/31°F (9.4°/-0.3°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 35°/19°F (1.7°/-7.2°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
China Meteorological AdministrationVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between North Korea 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.
North Korea passport holder visiting China
Visa Required
China passport holder visiting North Korea
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?
Working remotely from China's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Korea and China.
How is healthcare in China compared to North Korea?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though North Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 36.7 in North Korea. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (North Korea: 68).
What's the weather like in China compared to North Korea?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 60°F in P'yongyang. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while P'yongyang gets 37.0 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In North Korea, the official language is Korean.
