Moving to Hong Kong from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Hong Kong — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 7.1% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly HK$655,336 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → HK$655,336
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 52.7% less
Groceries
pay 1.0% more
Transportation
pay 38.3% more
Housing
pay 20.7% less
Childcare
pay 31.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.9% 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?
How many people actually move from California to Hong Kong, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Hong Kong.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs significantly better than California across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Hong Kong performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
National Weather Service
Hong Kong ObservatoryVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 California?
No — Hong Kong is on average about 11% more expensive than California. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly HK$163,834 in Hong Kong on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Usually fine from major cities in Hong Kong. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to California?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In California, the official language is English.
