These Two Chinese Cities Are Among the Worst for Expat Quality of Life

By Justine Lopez, January 16, 2019

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Sorry to put a damper on your day, but we have bad news for those of you living in Beijing and Shanghai. According to a recent study by Numbeo, both Chinese cities are among the top 10 worst cities when it comes to quality of life among expats. 

Numbeo ranked 226 cities in its 2019 study. Shanghai came in at number 217 (tenth worst) and Beijing placed at 223 (fourth worst). The worst city is Caracas, Venezuela. 

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 worst cities for expat quality of life:


Screenshot via Numbeo

In order to create the Quality of Life Index, Numbeo compiled data in the following categories: purchasing power, pollution, housing costs compared to income, cost of living, safety, health care quality, commute times and climate. 

No Chinese cities placed in the top 10 best cities for expat quality of life. The majority of the cities who made that list are based in the US and Australia. The best city is Canberra, Australia. 

Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 best cities for expat quality of life:


Screenshot via Numbeo

[Cover image via Pixabay]

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