Living in China
Last updated on Mar 07, 2024
Summary: People describe life in China as vibrant, exciting, and full of opportunity. Expats love the culture, the food, the people, and the convenience of living in a large, modern city. The average cost of living for an expat is around $1,000 to $2,000 per month, depending on the city and lifestyle. The population of China is approximately 1.4 billion people, and the largest cities in China are Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Tianjin. The cons of living in China include air pollution, language barriers, and cultural differences. Additionally, the cost of living can be high in some cities, and the healthcare system is not as advanced as in other countries.
What do I need to know about living in China?
When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to China, they said:
"Lousy weather - cold, windy winters and very polluted. Hot sticky summers. Little to do aside from eating out and shopping malls. However, there is an airport close by and a train station - and Beijing is 2 hours away," remarked one expat living in Tianjin, China.
"Make friends with the locals. Visit Xiangfan Museum. Make sure your cab driver uses the meter. If you are large sized like me make sure you have enough shoes and clothing as it's very hard to find otherwise. I wear a size 48 here (which is size 13 US ) and most shoes here stop at size 44. I needed some new shirts and had to have them specially made which is very expensive in Chinese RMB. Some of the Restuarants have picture menus so if you don't speak/read Chinese you can point to what you want. I recommend learning at least some Chinese before coming here, as it will be extremely helpful," wrote one member in Xiangfan.
"The people are fantastic when they aren't spitting and crowding onto elevators before letting you get off of one. The opportunities for travel and shopping are incredible. And it's about as exotic a place as there is. But it's lonely at times. And other than shopping and getting out of town, there's little else to do," remarked one expat who made the move to Tianjin.
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About the Author
Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.
Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.
Other Questions:
- What should I pack when moving to China?
- Where should I setup a bank account in China?
- Will I be able to find a job in China?
- What is life like as an expat in your area?
- What do expats in China appreciate most about the local culture?
- What do expats find most challenging?
- Is there a lot of crime in China?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in China accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in China like?
- How are healthcare services in China?
- What are medical services in China like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in China?
- What are emergency services like in China?
- Will I need to travel to see a specialist?
- Are common prescription medications available in China?
- How are local medical facilities in China?
- As a foreigner living in China, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?
- What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?