Costs & city choice
Explore the questions below.
Practical answers to help you compare your options.
Planning your budget
What initial and ongoing costs should I consider for each residence route?
Compare the ongoing commitments of each route, as well as the initial application costs.
- Study: tuition, accommodation and everyday living expenses, taking account of any scholarship and the length of your programme.
- Family: household living costs, relationship documents and the relevant application arrangements.
- Employment: personal living costs and any application or document expenses you are responsible for. Confirm what your employer will arrange.
- Your own company: registration and application costs, plus the ongoing expenses of maintaining a genuine operating business.
The total depends on your circumstances and city. Scott can help identify which items apply before you commit to a route.
If I apply through my own company, what costs come after registration?
Budget for the company you will operate after registration, not just the cost of obtaining a business licence.
- Registered address or office arrangements.
- Accounting, tax filings and banking costs.
- Your actual salary arrangements and applicable tax and social insurance.
- Employee salaries and social insurance where genuine staffing is needed.
- Other expenses of delivering your products or services.
Not every item is a fixed charge that applies identically to everyone. The budget should reflect your business, application route and city. A company with no revenue can still have maintenance and filing obligations.
Choosing where to live
How should I compare living costs, office costs and application requirements across cities?
Start with where your business needs to be, then compare the cost of living and operating there.
For sourcing and trading businesses, Guangzhou or Yiwu may be attractive because of access to suppliers. That convenience needs to be weighed against workspace, staffing, applicable social insurance and personal living costs.
If your location is flexible and budget is a priority, it may also be worth assessing cities such as Haikou. A lower-cost option still needs to fit your actual activities and application eligibility.
Staffing and application arrangements should be checked for your specific case; do not assume that every applicant in a city must employ a Chinese staff member.
There is no single best city for everyone. Scott can compare business convenience, your living preferences, ongoing budget and the relevant application requirements together.
What additional arrangements and costs should I consider if my spouse or children join me?
Your spouse and children under 18 can be assessed for the appropriate dependent residence arrangements if your own residence status supports that route.
Prepare marriage and birth records as applicable, with the authentication and translation required for the issuing country and receiving authority. The appropriate permit and its duration depend on the main applicant's circumstances.
For budgeting, allow for each family member's documentation and application expenses, as well as your household's accommodation and everyday needs. Scott can help check the documents and coordinate the applications.
The under-18 condition here concerns children joining a foreign resident through the usual dependent route. Other family routes have different eligibility rules. Explore family residence options →