Moving to China from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to China? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to China, you would find that China is 56.1% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,936 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly CN¥179,882 in China to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Beijing averages 64°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and China.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,936 → CN¥179,882
To maintain the same standard of living in China
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 56.6% less
Groceries
pay 55.0% less
Transportation
pay 64.2% less
Housing
pay 75.5% less
Childcare
pay 46.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.1% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from Hong Kong to China.
Who's moving to China?
Top countries of origin for China's foreign-born residents.
- 303,095
-
2.209,555
Hong Kong
- 144,831
- 57,602
- 56,657
- 30,811
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in China compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than China across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than China 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
China 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 China 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 performs better than China across all family life metrics.
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 | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
China Meteorological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting China
Visa Required
China passport holder visiting Hong Kong
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 China than Hong Kong?
On average China is about 65% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to China?
Budget about CN¥44,970 for 3 months in China (based on a HK$587,936 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from China?
Connectivity is usually fine (China: 41.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does China offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is China safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than China across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in China compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Beijing is 64°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Beijing receives around 22.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in China?
The official language in China is Chinese. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
