Really? China based expats earn more than USD200,000 annually

Expat Explorer Survey 2017

As one of the world's economic powerhouses, a move to China offers expats numerous career and income advantages. 

Seven in ten expats here (70%) say the country offers strong job prospects compared with only five in ten globally (54%) and in Eastern Asia as a region (48%).  Representing a 16 percentage point increase since 2016 alone, this means China now comes in second in our global rankings for career progression.

Half of all expats in China (50%) say they have more chances to acquire new skills here than at home, and they earn significantly more than the average expat – typically around USD171,000 compared with USD100,000 globally and USD115,000 regionally.

In fact, a quarter (25%) of China based expats earn more than USD200,000 annually compared with just under a fifth (16%) regionally. This helps more than half (55%) save more disposable income than they did at home.

Money which is often set aside for saving or investing for retirement(38%), long-term investments(29%) or property (also 29%).  

But the improvement in income also offers more immediate benefits. More than a third (35%) say they now get more help at home compared with a fifth (18%) globally. And almost half (47% compared with 42% globally and 46% regionally) say they can take more holidays since the move.

This, along with greater confidence in the local economy (61%) and political stability (52%) than the average expat (53% and 45% respectively), suggests those living here feel a strong sense of personal and financial stability in their current lives. This is especially compelling given that they are spread across the country far more than expats in other nations.

The Chinese abroad earn USD78,561 a year on average. Though lower than the global average of just under USD99,903, and the regional average of USD83,282, it equates to a typical increase in gross income of 28% since moving abroad.

This income is often spent on property. More than half (54%) of Chinese expats own a property in their host country compared with a global average of only a third (37%) and a similar regional average (39%). They have often bought homes as an investment(36%) or to avoid renting (34%).

Chinese nationals living abroad are more likely to own property in both their home country and their host country than other expats(13% compared with a global average of 9%). Their homes in China are often used to provide aproperty for them to live in when they return (46%), but many currently house friends and family (42% compared with a global average of 29% and a regional average of 38%).

China, a foreign worker's paradise ? here are some facts

Source: Expat Explorer Survey 2017