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Looking for Portuguese Expats in China?

  • Connect with fellow Portuguese in China

  • Get information in our China guide

  • Join exciting events and activities

  • Exchange tips about expat life in China

  • David Thyne

    At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.

InterNations – Uniting Portuguese living in China

Would you like to get in touch with other Portuguese in China? Are you in need of help and advice from your Portuguese compatriots? Or would you like to join other Portuguese expats on an excursion to discover sights and landmarks – e.g. the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Huang He and Yangtze?

Whether you have settled as an expat in China or are still living in Portugal and planning your upcoming foreign assignment, InterNations China offers everything you need: Established in 2007, our trusted community soon became the leading platform for international networking among expatriates and global minds around the world. Our network also counts a considerable number of Portuguese expats in China, coming from all corners of Portugal - from Porto, over Lisbon to Faro.

Portuguese Expats Living in China: Your Questions, Answered

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.

Meet other Portuguese at our events in China

Attend our monthly events and activities for Portuguese expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.

Time is luxurious. If you only have 15 minutes to present your own ideas. What would you do? I will simply reserve a space for someone like you before the activity. +86 28 8526 9999 ext. 5556
Mar 22, 2024, 12:00 PM
25 attendees
Spain is synonymous with fun, high spirits, great weather, delicious food, and above all, fantastic nightlife. I am thrilled to invite you to an enchanting evening at one of the newly opened venues,
Join us on Saturday, 23 March at The Compass Bar's in The Peninsula Shanghai, a beacon of luxury hospitality on the Bund. There will be a chosen menu of creative bar snacks, cocktails, including The P
Mar 24, 2024, 12:00 AM
6 attendees
let's hike when the spring flowers are blossoming. It's a 10-km hiking trip with a climb of 400m. moderately difficult. The site is in western Beijing.

Want to meet other Portuguese at our events?

  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Suzhou
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Tianjin
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Shanghai
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Guangzhou
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Shenzhen
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Guangzhou
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Tianjin
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Chongqing
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Shanghai
  • Community Member
    From Portugal, living in Guangzhou

Meet other Portuguese in China

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Find Tips and Advice on China from Portuguese Expats

Of course, expat living in China is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Portuguese 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 Portuguese in China, residing in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Portuguese in Shanghai or Portuguese in Beijing.

If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for Portuguese food or discuss your favorite sports team's latest match, become a member of the Chinese InterNations Community:

  • Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from Portugal 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 cozido à Portuguesa in Shanghai.
  • Search the InterNations Places database for China to get information on institutions from your home country, including the Portuguese 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 Portuguese expats in China.

Join Our Expat Activities and Mingle with Fellow Portuguese 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 Portugal and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Olá from our Portuguese living in China!

  • David Thyne

    At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.

  • Diana Anhaus-Brey

    It is just so easy to find other international people and global minds with InterNations. I didn´t know there were so many in Shanghai.

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