Living In China As An American: Cost Of Living, Safety & What To Expect (2026 Guide)

Written by

Lauren Hamilton

Edited by Lauren Johnstone

March 27, 2026

Introduction

What to expect from China
Cost of living in China
American conveniences
Is China safe?
English proficiency in China
Cultural habits
How to make friends
Travel opportunities
Would you recommend China?

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Living in China as an American is enriching and rewarding, with over 70,000-100,000 Americans currently residing there for both work and study. It’s believed that up to 85% of Americans live in Tier 1 cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. But smaller cities offer higher savings potential. Secure a Z-visa through an accredited employer to guarantee legal residency and medical benefits.

I’m Lauren, 33, from the United States. I’ve been teaching English in China to all ages since 2015. I’ve lived in various cities across China, worked in nearly every type of TEFL role, and have learnt a great deal along the way.

I originally moved to China right after graduating from university to spend a gap year, teach English, and travel the world before returning to America to start my adult life. However, that gap year turned into 10 years!

Currently, I live in Beijing, where I teach English at a university. Here’s what I learned:

Sightseeing in Beijing

What should TEFL teachers expect from daily life in China?

Depending on what kind of TEFL job you have, your schedule can vary. There are three main categories of teaching jobs in China:

Kindergartens and K-12 international schools: These are most similar to teaching jobs in America. Teachers work Monday to Friday, 9–5, and have regular school and public holidays.
Training centres: Teachers work when the students are free (when they’re not at school or work), so work hours are typically in the evening and on weekends. Holidays can vary and don’t always fall during the usual summer or winter breaks.
Universities: These jobs tend to have the lightest workload, which is reflected in the salary. I teach at a university and work three days a week — Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — with an extended holiday break.

Many teachers believe that the teaching load is less demanding compared to America. However, work hours and meal times are similar to those in America, except that in China, there’s usually a two-hour lunch break between morning and afternoon classes.

Social habits are similar to those in America as well. Weekends are primary socialising times, but after work, it’s common to get together with co-workers and friends. Many teachers enjoy happy hours, quiz nights, club sports teams, working out, and spending time on personal hobbies in their free time.

Smaller towns and rural areas tend to have a slower pace of life and a much smaller expat community. Daily life can look quite different when it comes to restaurants, activities, and everyday conveniences, as it can be limited. But that makes it great for cultural immersion and getting to know the true, authentic China.

The pace of life is much more relaxed in smaller towns — great for people wanting to develop hobbies, study Mandarin or other subjects, and connect with the locals.

Even with Western influences, larger cities are still dominated by Chinese culture. In bigger cities, you’ll enjoy more of the familiar comforts you’re used to. Having authentic Chinese culture experiences may not be as frequent, depending on how you spend your free time.

Cost of living in China as an American

Here’s the good news: You’ll probably save far more money in China than you ever would in the US. Housing, food, and leisure activities are very cheap, especially since TEFL teachers in China usually earn generous salaries.

What Is The Average Teaching Salary In China?

Housing

In first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, a modest one-bedroom apartment in the city centre might cost around ¥3,000–¥8,000/month. The price for a similar apartment goes down significantly in lower-tier cities.

A hidden expense to be prepared for when renting is the increased price for expats, due to their comfortable salaries.

It’s standard to pay a deposit when signing your lease — typically three to four months’ rent upfront to secure your move-in date. Thankfully, most job contracts include either a housing stipend to cover your rent or free housing on your school’s campus or nearby.

Food

Food prices are affordable, even in large cities, and don’t require constant penny-pinching or extreme budgeting.

Buying local groceries or eating local food (whether at restaurants or through food delivery) is very affordable. Imported items and foreign restaurants will be pricier, but can still be very cheap. How much you spend each month depends on your eating habits and whether you prefer to cook at home, eat out, or order delivery.

On average, the monthly food cost in Chinese cities is approximately ¥2,000 ($285).

Food delivery apps like Meituan (美团) and Ele.me (饿了么) deliver right to your door. You can also get things like flowers, phone charging cables, makeup — anything you could think of, really! They’re very affordable compared to similar apps in America, like DoorDash.

Public transport

Public transport is very affordable: bus fares range from ¥1–¥2 ($0.15–$0.30), and subway fares range from ¥3–¥8 ($0.50–$1). Depending on how you travel and commute, the most significant expense will likely be DiDi taxis (a ride-sharing app). Still, they’re significantly cheaper than in America.

Entertainment and leisure

Like most things in China, leisure activities are very affordable. Gym memberships, going out, and other social activities may cost between a few hundred yuan and thousands, depending on how active your social life is.

expats in china as an american

American conveniences: what's available, and what isn't?

Major cities have American brands like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Shake Shack, Taco Bell, Zara, Sephora, and many others. Western-style bakeries and cafés are also gaining popularity.

Movie theatres often show new blockbuster movies in English, and VPNs make it possible to watch Netflix, Hulu, and other American-based platforms.

Some things are hard to find in China, such as specific American brands, plus-size clothing, makeup for non-white skin tones, or textured hair products.

Thankfully, there’s TaoBao. It’s the top online Chinese shopping app — and it’s NEXT LEVEL! You can order almost anything imaginable at affordable prices, including a wide selection of imported items that many expats look for. TaoBao will quickly become your go-to source for everything you need.

Is China safe for American expats?

The safety I feel in China is one of my favourite things about living here — I noticed it immediately.

China ranks as one of the safest countries in the world, especially for violent crime rates.

As a single woman, I’ve experienced this firsthand — I feel safer walking alone in Beijing than I would in most American cities.

Air quality is something to consider before moving to China, as it can vary significantly depending on your location. Luckily, this can be managed by:

Using air purifiers
Checking AQI (Air Quality Index) levels daily, along with the weather forecast
Wearing N95 masks when needed

Medical care in China is inexpensive, and most full-time teaching positions include health insurance. Public hospitals are more affordable than international hospitals — English-speaking doctors and a Western-style environment cost more, but are still cheaper than the American equivalent.

While China is incredibly safe, the TEFL industry isn’t without risks, so you need to watch out for scams. This may include poorly-run schools, misleading job postings, or contracts that fail to deliver on their promises.

My advice to avoid this is:

Vet potential employers
Ask current teachers there about their experiences
Read contracts carefully before signing and ask for changes — schools should be transparent about working hours, salary, and visa support
Negotiate — bargaining is expected when job hunting in China

What is the English proficiency in China? (and should you learn Mandarin?)

Most Chinese people under 40 have taken English classes in China, but the use of English varies.

Larger cities with more foreigners will have more experience with English and tend to cater to a foreign customer base.

However, many people may be afraid of “losing face” either from not understanding what you said, how you phrased something, or even your accent. Because of this, they may be hesitant to communicate in English when they are not confident in their ability to do so. Fortunately, most Chinese people are used to using translation apps for communication.

In short, yes, you should learn Mandarin. You don’t want to be the foreigner yelling in English because you can’t ask for oat milk in your latte!

Cultural habits (and how to adapt to them)

teach in china without knowing chinese

When I first moved to China, I noticed many differences from America that I had to adapt to. For me, the biggest change was personal space — it seemed to shrink significantly after moving to China.

The Chinese population is huge in both small and major cities, and being around crowds every day took some serious adjustment.

As an introvert who can get overwhelmed in social situations, I learnt to avoid using public transport on days I didn’t want to be around lots of people.

I’d stay home, order takeout, take taxis, and wear noise-cancelling headphones when walking in the city, on the subway, or in busy shopping areas.

Tipping isn’t expected in China, and in most cases, it isn’t accepted. Bargaining is very common, but shopping malls and grocery stores have fixed prices. Coming from American culture, I welcomed these changes.

Workplace culture was an even bigger change for me — hierarchy plays a major role, especially in schools with many expats.

Meetings can feel very formal, decisions that affect you are passed down from the top without warning, and feedback is often communicated indirectly.

Traditions, festivals, and family play a significant role in Chinese life. Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival), and National Day (Golden Week) determine the calendar and school schedules and are meaningful to your colleagues and students.

There are a lot of changes expats have to get used to in China, even more so than when moving to other countries from America. The best way to adapt and grow is to stay curious and be as open as possible.

Here are some practical tips to help you adjust to life in China:

Learn basic Mandarin
Try new foods
Explore local customs and culture
Make Chinese friends
Keep an open mind

Read more: How To Deal With Culture Shock

How can American expats make friends?

Making friends in China is easier than you’d expect. Many people make their first friends at work because they already have something in common in a new country.

Outside of work circles, WeChat (China’s top messaging app) is essential for connecting with new people.

Each city has tons of WeChat groups to connect people on commonalities, such as city location, home countries, hobbies, interests, social gatherings, job postings, etc. You name it, I bet there’s a WeChat group for that!

When socialising with the locals, conversation can differ. They may ask you direct questions about salary, relationship status, or your personal life, but it’s generally out of curiosity, not rudeness.

What travel opportunities are available inside and outside of China?

Travel opportunities are a big incentive for expats choosing to teach English in China. China’s location, high-speed railway and cheap domestic flights make domestic travel convenient and easy.

Some of the most popular places to visit in China are:

Beijing
Shanghai
Dali in Yunnan Province
Chengdu
Xi’an

Teachers in China also have access to quick, direct, and affordable flights to nearby countries, including:

Japan
South Korea
Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia

Would you recommend living and teaching in China?

Yes, I’d recommend living in China. For anyone open-minded and ready for a new chapter, China is the place for you. China will challenge you and change you in the best ways possible.

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