Moving to California from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to California — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to California, you would find that California is 31.5% more expensive than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,936 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly $67,297 in California to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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 California.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,936 → $67,297
To maintain the same standard of living in California
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 2.2 times more
Groceries
pay 22.5% more
Transportation
pay 10.1% less
Housing
pay 56.5% more
Childcare
pay 46.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.1% 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?
How many people actually move from Hong Kong to California, based on official data.
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
37.230,584
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to California.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs 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 better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) |
Hong Kong Observatory
National Weather ServiceVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 California than Hong Kong?
Yes — California is on average about 10% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to California?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $16,824 in California on a HK$587,936 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from California?
Usually fine from major cities in California. 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 California compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Sacramento is 74°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Sacramento receives around 18.5 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in California?
The official language in California is English. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
