Moving to Canada from Hong Kong
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Hong Kong to Canada — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Canada, you would find that Canada is 3.2% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,936 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly CA$76,882 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Hong Kong to Canada.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,936 → CA$76,882
To maintain the same standard of living in Canada
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 66.1% more
Groceries
pay 4.8% less
Transportation
pay 22.6% less
Housing
pay 14.0% more
Childcare
pay 38.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.2% less
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?
Real numbers on people moving from Hong Kong to Canada, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Canada?
Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.
- 720,083
- 699,190
- 633,547
- 537,504
- 273,226
- 254,831
- · · ·
-
7.225,006
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
How Hong Kong and Canada stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Canada across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs 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
Canada generally does better on family life, though Hong Kong leads in infant mortality.
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 | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Meteorological Service of Canada
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Canada
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Canada 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 Canada than Hong Kong?
Generally yes: Canada runs about 28% cheaper than Hong Kong on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Canada?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a HK$587,936 comparable salary, that's around CA$19,220 in Canada for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Canada?
With 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Canada can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Hong Kong and Canada.
Is Canada safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Canada across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Canada compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Canada?
The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
