Moving from Pakistan
Pakistan vs 
China
Photo: Great Wall of China at Jinshanling · Severin.stalder, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
To live as well as on Rs 100,000 a month in Pakistan, you would need about
CNY 4,980 a month in China (US$748)
Everyday prices in China are about 2.1× Pakistan's.
| In Pakistan | Equivalent in China |
|---|---|
| Rs 50,000 | CNY 2,490 (US$374) |
| Rs 100,000 | CNY 4,980 (US$748) |
| Rs 200,000 | CNY 9,960 (US$1,500) |
| Rs 400,000 | CNY 19,930 (US$2,990) |
Try your own amount in the cost of living calculator → National averages: rents in the biggest cities are usually higher.
Side by side
| Pakistan | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Coldest / warmest month (main city) | 20° / 31°C (Karachi) | 4° / 29°C (Shanghai) |
| Everyday prices (US = 100) | 23 | 48 |
| Income per person a year (PPP $) | 6,600 | 29,300 |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Homicides per 100,000 | 4.3 | 0.5 |
| Political stability (-2.5 to 2.5) | -1.95 | 0.02 |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 years | 78.0 years |
| Fine-particle pollution (µg/m³) | 58 | 32 |
| Languages (editorial) | Urdu, English, regional languages | Chinese (Mandarin) |
Green marks where China does better than Pakistan on that measure. Sources and years are on the country page.
Language and daily life
A vast country with megacities, a huge high-speed rail network and climates from subarctic north to tropical south. Editorial
Daily life is mostly in Chinese (Mandarin); plan to learn it, especially for jobs outside international companies.
Visas for Pakistanis
- Visiting: Pakistani passport holders need a visa arranged in advance. All visa-free countries.
- Living there: you need a residence route (work, study, family or investment). Rules change often; check the official site: en.nia.gov.cn.
- China student visa guide
- China tourist / visit visa guide
- Study in China
- Scholarships in China
Questions
How much money do I need in China compared with Pakistan?
To live as well as on Rs 100,000 a month in Pakistan, you would need about CNY 4,980 a month in China (about US$750), based on World Bank price levels and today's exchange rate. Everyday prices in China are about 2.1 times those in Pakistan.
Is China safer than Pakistan?
China records 0.5 intentional homicides per 100,000 people a year, against 4.3 in Pakistan (UNODC via the World Bank). Political stability scores are 0.02 and -1.95 respectively.
Can Pakistanis move to China?
It depends on the route: work, study, family or investment, each with its own rules. Start with the official immigration website (en.nia.gov.cn). For a short visit, Pakistani passport holders currently need visa required.
Figures from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and NASA POWER, with today's exchange rates. National averages hide differences between cities. Not immigration advice.