Moving to Hong Kong from Canada
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Canada to Hong Kong — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Canada to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 35.5% more expensive than Canada overall. A CA$110,000 salary in Canada would need to be roughly HK$820,000 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.
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 Canada to Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
CA$110,000 → HK$820,000
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 43.8% less
Groceries
pay 23.2% more
Transportation
pay 92.8% more
Housing
pay 57.3% more
Childcare
pay 62.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.3% 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 Canada to Hong Kong, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Canada to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Canada across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Canada 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
Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Hong Kong leads in internet access.
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
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Canada leads in poverty rate.
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 Canada leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2008–2022), Canada Revenue Agency (2016), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ottawa | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada 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.
Canada passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Canada
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 Canada?
No — Hong Kong is on average about 35% more expensive than Canada. 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$205,000 in Hong Kong on a CA$110,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Hong Kong has 40.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Hong Kong safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Canada across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.0 in Canada.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
