Considering a career with the UN or another international organization in China? This profile covers cost of living and purchasing power, the ICSC hardship classification and human development — so you know what living there really means. For pay by grade, see the Salary & Benefits tab.
Everyday prices in China are roughly 47% of US levels — so local-currency spending goes about 2.1× as far. This is the World Bank price-level index: a national average of consumer prices measured against the US as a whole (US = 100) — a country-level figure, not tied to a specific city or to New York. (World Bank, 2026.)
Two quick reads that pull the picture together — one for bringing family, one for the practical difficulty of relocating — built on the ICSC hardship classification for Shanghai, China.
Eligible dependants may accompany staff. This read weighs the hardship category, child-health conditions and safety — the things families ask about most.
How demanding the practical move is likely to be — the hardship category alongside everyday infrastructure. The UN's relocation entitlements (shipping, DSA, settling-in grant, rental subsidy) are designed to offset this.
How we calculate these. Both begin with the ICSC hardship category — the UN's own assessment of living and working conditions — refined by child-health and safety indicators (family suitability) and infrastructure access (relocation difficulty). These are national estimates, not verdicts: each duty station has its own security, medical and family arrangements.
The wider economy and job market in China, beyond UN roles — useful for weighing a move, a partner's job prospects, or how well local-currency pay holds its value.
Unemployment and labour-force participation are ILO-modelled estimates. Inflation is the yearly change in consumer prices. (World Bank / ILO, 2025.) World Bank data
The UNDP Human Development Index combines health, education and income; China is in the high band — a signal of living conditions, services and schooling for staff and family. Extreme poverty (share on under $2.15/day) and women's share of parliament seats are UN SDG indicators of equity and inclusion. UNDP and World Bank data
Two of the questions relocating staff and families ask most — how safe is it, and what's the standard of healthcare. These are national figures; conditions vary by city, and UN duty stations have their own security and medical arrangements.
The homicide rate is per 100,000 people (UNODC) — the global average is roughly 5–6, and this country-wide figure says little about any specific area. Under-five and maternal deaths (per 1,000 and per 100,000 live births) are widely-used proxies for the health system's reach and quality. (UNODC & WHO, via the World Bank, 2020–2024.) World Bank data
Everyday practicalities for settling in — connectivity, reliable power, safe water and sanitation, and healthcare access — especially for family duty stations and hardship postings.
Internet, electricity, water and sanitation are population shares (water and sanitation are UN SDG 6 indicators); physicians are per 1,000 people — a rough proxy for healthcare access. (World Bank, 2022–2025.) World Bank data