American International School of Guangzhou
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Diploma
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Country guide
Overview
China🇨🇳
At a Glance
How China compares across key indices
Cost of Living
49 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
85/100
Healthcare
66/100
Quality of Life
155/200
Cost of Living
How far your money goes in China
Cost of Living
49
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
37
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
49
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
52
100 = NYC dining
Safety & Crime
Low RiskHow safe residents feel in China - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
85/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
Walking Safety
Daytime100
Nighttime100
0 point drop from day to night
Cities in China
China has 300 modeled cities; this view starts with 40 curated or popular options. Monthly costs for a single person range from $1,194 in Changzhou to $1,346 in Beijing. Tangshan leads on safety, scoring 80/100. Tangshan ranks highest for quality of life at 156/200.
đź’¸Most Affordable
Changzhou
$1,194/mo
Safest
Tangshan
80/100
Best Quality of Life
Tangshan
156/200
Best Healthcare
Beijing
82/100
City filter
Featured
Curated and popular cities first.
40 of 300 shown| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | $1,346 | 77/100 | 154/200 | 82/100 | 83 |
| Shanghai | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Shenzhen | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Guangzhou | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Chengdu | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Tianjin | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Wuhan | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Dongguan | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Xi’an | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Nanjing | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Hangzhou | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Foshan | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Chongqing | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Wuzhong | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Qingdao | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Shenyang | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Suzhou | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Pudong | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Harbin | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Hefei | $1,216 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Dalian | $1,214 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 80 |
| Changchun | $1,212 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Xiamen | $1,211 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Bao'an | $1,210 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Wuxi | $1,209 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Jinan | $1,208 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Taiyuan | $1,208 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Zhengzhou | $1,207 | 79/100 | 155/200 | 77/100 | 79 |
| Shijiazhuang | $1,204 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Kunming | $1,203 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Zhongshan | $1,201 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Nanning | $1,201 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Shantou | $1,201 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Fuzhou | $1,200 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Ningbo | $1,200 | 80/100 | 155/200 | 76/100 | 79 |
| Puyang | $1,198 | 80/100 | 156/200 | 76/100 | 78 |
| Shiyan | $1,196 | 80/100 | 156/200 | 76/100 | 78 |
| Tangshan | $1,195 | 80/100 | 156/200 | 76/100 | 78 |
| LĂĽliang | $1,195 | 80/100 | 156/200 | 76/100 | 78 |
| Changzhou | $1,194 | 80/100 | 156/200 | 76/100 | 78 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Families
Schools
1052 verified school profiles across 16 cities in China — language model, grade range, credentials, and published tuition. A sample is shown here; filter the full set in the School Finder.
Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students - Guangzhou
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Middle Years
Ib Primary Years
Access International Academy: Ningbo
Verified
NingboAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Achieve Xiamen International School
Verified
XiamenAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ap Course Ledger
Achieve Xiamen International School (AXIS School)
Verified
Location variesAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Ib Primary Years
Adcote School Shanghai
Verified
ShanghaiAges varyContact school
International Curriculum
Cambridge International School
1028 more verified schools in China are available in the School Finder, with filters for city, age, language, credentials, and tuition.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare
Healthcare system overview for China
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Environment
PollutedAir quality, water, and environmental conditions in China
Pollution Index
70/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
34.8ug/m3
Unhealthy for sensitive
Environmental Quality
Air Quality100/100
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about living in China, answered with data
What is the cost of living in China?
China has a cost of living index of 49 relative to New York City (100). It is moderately affordable compared to the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $1,094 in Xichang and reach $1,346 in Beijing.
What is the cheapest city in China for expats?
Xichang is the most affordable city in China in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $1,094 for a single person including rent. Shanwei is the next most affordable at $1,095/mo.
Is China safe for expats?
China has a safety index of 85/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Xichang scores highest on safety at 84/100.
What is the best city in China for expats and digital nomads?
Mianzhu, Deyang, Sichuan ranks highest for quality of life in China, scoring 158/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $1,097/mo for a single person. For budget-conscious expats, Xichang offers the lowest monthly costs at $1,094/mo.
How good is healthcare in China?
China scores 66/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it good by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Is China cheaper than the United States?
Yes. China's cost of living is roughly 51% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 63% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
What is the air quality and pollution like in China?
China has a pollution index of 70/100 (lower = cleaner). Pollution can be a concern in urban areas. Research specific cities before committing, as rural and coastal areas typically fare better.
Before You Go
Core tools and insurance next steps for planning a move to China
Plan Your Move
Where Can I Move?
Check whether this country fits your passport, budget, work setup, safety floor, and priorities.
Build My Escape Plan
Turn this country into a practical move plan with visa, insurance, housing, banking, and scouting-trip next steps.
Compare Countries
Side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, safety, healthcare, and more.
Cost of Living
Model monthly costs with Freedom Abroad estimates before you narrow the shortlist.
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Real coverage for real life abroad. Not travel insurance. Not hoping for the best.
A portion of affiliate revenue is donated to UNHCR
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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