Moving to China from Oklahoma

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Oklahoma to China — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Oklahoma to China, you would find that China is 60.0% cheaper than Oklahoma. A $75,000 salary in Oklahoma would need to be roughly CN¥200,000 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 Oklahoma?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 75.1% less

Groceries

pay 50.2% less

Transportation

pay 37.6% less

Housing

pay 73.3% less

Childcare

pay 49.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 47.8% 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¥200,000

To maintain the same standard of living in China

Calculate with your salary →

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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Oklahoma to China, based on official data.

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Oklahoma to China.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

OK
40.3%
CN
9.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

OK
87.4%
CN
91.6%

China performs significantly better than Oklahoma across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

OK
3.8%
CN
4.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

OK
$51,007
CN
$13,862

Oklahoma 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

OK
74.1 yrs
CN
78.0 yrs

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

Weather in China vs Oklahoma

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Oklahoma City Rain: 32.4 in/yr (823 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Oklahoma City Shanghai
Jan–Mar 55°/33°F (13°/0°C) 49°/36°F (10°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/58°F (26°/14°C) 73°/60°F (23°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/69°F (32°/20°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 60°/39°F (16°/4°C) 62°/47°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Oklahoma City Shanghai
Jan 49°/28°F (9.3°/-2.5°C) 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C)
Feb 53°/31°F (11.9°/-0.6°C) 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C)
Mar 62°/39°F (16.6°/4.0°C) 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C)
Apr 71°/48°F (21.5°/9.1°C) 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C)
May 80°/58°F (26.4°/14.7°C) 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C)
Jun 88°/67°F (30.9°/19.4°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C)
Jul 93°/72°F (34.0°/22.2°C) 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C)
Aug 92°/71°F (33.6°/21.5°C) 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C)
Sep 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.1°C) 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C)
Oct 72°/50°F (22.4°/10.1°C) 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 60°/39°F (15.6°/3.9°C) 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C)
Dec 49°/29°F (9.7°/-1.6°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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?

Yes — China is on average about 60% cheaper than Oklahoma. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to China?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly CN¥50,000 in China on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from China?

Usually fine from major cities in China. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in China compared to Oklahoma?

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

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

The average high temperature in Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 71°F in Oklahoma City. Shanghai receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Oklahoma City gets 32.4 in.

What language do they speak in China?

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

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At a Glance

CN
Population 4,123,288 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