Moving to Hong Kong from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Hong Kong? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 12.9% more expensive than Australia overall. A A$107,867 salary in Australia would need to be roughly HK$791,448 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Australia and Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
A$107,867 → HK$791,448
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 45.6% less
Groceries
pay 28.9% more
Transportation
pay 41.2% more
Housing
pay 36.6% more
Childcare
pay 15.6% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 9.1% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Australia to Hong Kong.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Australia across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Australia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Australia generally does better on infrastructure, though Hong Kong leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Australia leads in education spending.
Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Canberra | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Canberra | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Bureau of Meteorology
Hong Kong ObservatoryVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Hong Kong. To live, work, or study long-term in Hong Kong, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Hong Kong's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Hong Kong than Australia?
On average Hong Kong is around 35% pricier than Australia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Budget about HK$197,862 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a A$107,867 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Connectivity is usually fine (Hong Kong: 39.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Hong Kong offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Hong Kong safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Australia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Australia.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Australia, the official language is English.
