Moving to Ireland from Hong Kong

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Hong Kong to Ireland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Hong Kong to Ireland, you would find that Ireland is 13.2% more expensive than Hong Kong overall. A HK$588,026 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly €57,199 in Ireland to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Dublin averages 56°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and Ireland.

What does your salary buy?

HK$588,026 €57,199

To maintain the same standard of living in Ireland

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 92.2% more

Groceries

pay 14.5% less

Transportation

pay 26.4% more

Housing

pay 18.9% more

Childcare

pay 31.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.0% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 HKD = 0.1115 EUR (July 2026)

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 Ireland.

Living there in 2020
2,162 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Hong Kong live in Ireland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ireland?

Top countries of origin for Ireland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Ireland compared to Hong Kong.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

HK
0.4
IE
0.9

Hong Kong performs better than Ireland across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

HK
4.6t
IE
6.0t

Hong Kong performs better than Ireland across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

HK
39.8
IE
32.1
Electricity per capita World Bank, 2023

annual consumption — reflects grid capacity

HK
6,375 kWh
IE
6,145 kWh

Hong Kong generally does better on infrastructure, though Ireland leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

HK
3.9%
IE
4.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

HK
$64,400
IE
$115,600

Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Ireland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

HK
83.6 yrs
IE
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

HK
2.5
IE
3.5

Hong Kong performs better than Ireland 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.

Hong Kong Rain: 95.7 in/yr (2431 mm)
79° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Hong Kong Dublin
Jan–Mar 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) 49°/37°F (10°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) 59°/44°F (15°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) 66°/52°F (19°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) 51°/41°F (11°/5°C)
View all months
Month Hong Kong Dublin
Jan 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C)
Feb 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C)
Mar 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C)
Apr 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C)
May 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C)
Jun 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C)
Jul 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C)
Aug 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C)
Sep 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C)
Oct 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C)
Nov 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C)
Dec 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C)

Data: Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong Observatory, Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Ireland. To live, work, or study long-term in Ireland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ireland's immigration authority.

Hong Kong passport

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Ireland

Visa Free
Hong Kong passport holders can enter Ireland without a visa.
Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Hong Kong

Visa Free
Ireland passport holders can enter Hong Kong without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Ireland than Hong Kong?

On average Ireland is about 13% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Ireland?

Budget about €14,300 for 3 months in Ireland (based on a HK$588,026 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ireland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Ireland: 32.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ireland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Ireland safe for expats?

Hong Kong performs better than Ireland across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ireland is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.

What's the weather like in Ireland compared to Hong Kong?

The average high temperature in Dublin is 56°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Dublin receives around 29.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.

What language do they speak in Ireland?

The official languages in Ireland are English and Irish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.

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At a Glance

HK IE
Population 7,276,588 5,275,004
Currency Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) Euro (€)
Languages Chinese, English English, Irish
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +852 +353
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112