Moving to China from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to China, you would find that China is 27.4% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,200,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly CN¥351,000 in China to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is China cheaper than South Africa?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 54.0% less
Groceries
pay 12.2% less
Transportation
pay 42.5% less
Housing
pay 39.8% less
Childcare
pay 3.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.4% 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?
ZAR1,200,000 → CN¥351,000
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 24% less than cities in South Africa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
China performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
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 South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa performs better than China across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
China performs significantly better than South Africa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
China generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
China generally does better on family life, though South Africa leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), South African Revenue Service (2017), State Administration of Taxation (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in China vs South Africa
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Johannesburg | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/57°F (25°/14°C) | 49°/36°F (10°/2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 66°/45°F (19°/7°C) | 73°/60°F (23°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 67°/44°F (20°/7°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 62°/47°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Johannesburg | Shanghai |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/58°F (25.6°/14.7°C) | 46°/33°F (7.7°/0.5°C) |
| Feb | 77°/57°F (25.1°/14.1°C) | 47°/35°F (8.6°/1.5°C) |
| Mar | 75°/56°F (24.0°/13.1°C) | 55°/41°F (12.7°/5.1°C) |
| Apr | 70°/51°F (21.1°/10.3°C) | 65°/51°F (18.6°/10.6°C) |
| May | 66°/45°F (18.9°/7.2°C) | 74°/60°F (23.5°/15.7°C) |
| Jun | 61°/39°F (16.0°/4.1°C) | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.3°C) |
| Jul | 62°/39°F (16.7°/4.1°C) | 89°/77°F (31.6°/24.8°C) |
| Aug | 67°/43°F (19.4°/6.2°C) | 89°/76°F (31.5°/24.7°C) |
| Sep | 73°/49°F (22.8°/9.3°C) | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) |
| Oct | 75°/52°F (23.8°/11.2°C) | 72°/58°F (22.3°/14.7°C) |
| Nov | 76°/55°F (24.2°/12.7°C) | 62°/47°F (16.7°/8.6°C) |
| Dec | 77°/57°F (25.2°/13.9°C) | 51°/36°F (10.6°/2.4°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
China Meteorological Administration
Can you move from South Africa to China?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa 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.
South Africa passport holder visiting China
Visa Required
China passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 South Africa?
On average China is about 27% less expensive than South Africa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥87,750 for 3 months in China (based on a ZAR1,200,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 47.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
China performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 43.7 in South Africa. About 91% of people in China feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in China compared to South Africa?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 7.9 in South Africa. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in China compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Shanghai is 68°F, compared to 71°F in Johannesburg. Shanghai receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Johannesburg gets 28.1 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. China
At a Glance
ZA
|
CN
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,747,319 | 1,406,585,000 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Chinese Yuan (CN¥) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | Chinese |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +86 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 110 |