Looking for American Expats in China?

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in China, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in China. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

Why are expats moving to China?
Of course, the individual reasons why expats decide to move to China can vary a lot. But thanks to our vast member base and our annual Expat Insider survey, we were able to uncover some of the underlying trends that make China an appealing place to move to. Notably, the most valued attributes of China as an expat destination are a booming economy & job security, tremendous career opportunities and that highspeed internet is widely available.

However, out of the 64 expat destinations worldwide in our Expat Insider 2019 survey, China scores well below average in our Quality of Life Index (55th) and our Ease of Settling in Index (58th). It ranks about average in our Working Abroad Index (33rd).

How much do expats earn in China?
On average, expats make on average 290,254 USD according to the ECA Expat Salary Survey for salary levels of expats in middle management positions. This is not the cash salary that expat workers take home after taxes, but the total value of their expat package that usual includes healthcare, cost of education, and housing (among other things). This relatively high salary combined with the not-too-high cost of living explain why China scored so amicably in the Personal Finance Index (12th) and the Cost of Living Index (25th) in 2019.

What are the most common nationalities in China? As an expat in China, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in China currently are:

• Americans
• British
• Germans
• French

Which cities are most popular among expats in China?
Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in China:

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Guangzhou

How much rent do expats pay in China?
Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 675 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.732 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within China.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in China.

Average rent in Beijing

• Single expats: 1.174 USD
• Expat families: 2.863 USD

Average rent in Shanghai

• Single expats: 1.118 USD
• Expat families: 3.234 USD

Average rent in Guangzhou

• Single expats: 539 USD
• Expat families: 1.090 USD

How safe is China?
You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in China as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) **very low **. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as mediocre.

How safe is China for women?
Female expats rated the safety situation in China as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in China (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Thinking about moving to China as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in China wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Getting around is astonishingly easy. High-speed rail and city metros stand out — 97% of expats in China rate the availability of public transportation positively, against a global average of 73%.

• Your money stretches, and careers move fast. Two-thirds (67%) rate the general cost of living positively (vs. 40% globally) and 71% say the move improved their career prospects.

• Food and culture keep life interesting. New experiences are a constant theme, and 91% of expats in China rate culinary variety positively, with 83% rating culture and nightlife positively.

• Most people are genuinely happy there. It's safe (96% rate personal safety positively) and 85% are happy with life abroad in general, well above the global average of 67%.

• The language is the hardest anywhere. Just 5% of expats in China say it's easy to learn the local language — the lowest score in the survey, against 39% globally.

• Air quality is a real worry. Pollution is the most common complaint, and only 45% of expats in China rate air quality positively (vs. 63% globally).

• Bureaucracy and online barriers frustrate. Only 29% find it easy to deal with local authorities, and access to some online services is restricted.

• Long hours leave little time. Americans mention demanding work schedules that cut into travel and rest.

For Americans, China pairs fast careers and a low cost of living with world-class transport and food, and satisfaction runs high. The trade-offs are a near-impossible language, air quality, and online restrictions. For a few high-earning years it can be hard to beat.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in China is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Chinese way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in China, residing in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Shanghai or Americans in Beijing.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in China.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our China Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Shanghai.
• Search the InterNations Places database for China to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Huang He and Yangtze to the snowy mountains of the Tibetan provinces, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in China.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in China. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Chinese Peking duck & hot pot, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Beijing’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the traditional trading centre of the South-East provinces as well as other beautiful landmarks in China.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in China!