Out of America

At a glance

Cost of living: 48; US = 100
Safety: 62; 0–100
Healthcare: 65; 0–100
English: Moderate

Official languages

Mandarin

Climate

China spans multiple climate zones. Beijing has cold, dry winters and hot summers. Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate. Yunnan Province (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang) in the southwest is beloved for year-round mild weather. The American expat community has declined significantly since 2020 due to geopolitical shifts, though it remains one of the largest in Asia.

Path to citizenship

Permanent residency: 10 years; earliest after legal residency
Citizenship: 15 years; earliest after legal residency

Americans abroad here

Estimated US population: ~25,000
Overall expat scene: Large

International schools

Strong

Getting there

From NYC: ~14.0h
From LAX: ~12.5h

Universities we track

Peking University QS #17

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