Moving to Australia from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Australia, you would find that Australia is 12.6% more expensive than Hong Kong overall. A HK$588,026 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly A$79,821 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
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 Hong Kong to Australia.
What does your salary buy?
HK$588,026 → A$79,821
To maintain the same standard of living in Australia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 87.3% more
Groceries
pay 8.0% less
Transportation
pay 10.1% less
Housing
pay 7.6% more
Childcare
pay 2.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.8% 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 Hong Kong to Australia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Australia?
Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.
- 1,285,149
- 653,232
- 611,266
- 579,264
- 286,303
- 269,812
- · · ·
-
15.107,067
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to Australia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Australia across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs 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
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in unemployment 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 Australia leads in education spending.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, 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 | Hong Kong | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) |
Hong Kong Observatory
Bureau of MeteorologyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Australia than Hong Kong?
Yes — Australia is on average about 26% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Australia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$19,955 in Australia on a HK$588,026 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Australia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Australia has 35.1 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 Australia safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Australia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Australia compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Australia?
The official language in Australia is English. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
