Moving to Macau from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to Macau — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Macau.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Hong Kong to Macau, based on official data.
Who's moving to Macau?
Top countries of origin for Macau's foreign-born residents.
- 300,567
- 30,173
-
3.22,512
Hong Kong
- 2,101
- 1,628
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to Macau.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Macau across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
Hong Kong performs better than Macau across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Macau performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all employment & economy metrics.
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
Macau 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 | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Macau. To live, work, or study long-term in Macau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macau's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Macau
Visa Free
Macau 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
Can I work remotely from Macau?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Macau has 30.0 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 Macau safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Macau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Macau compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Macau?
The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
