Moving to New Zealand from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to New Zealand? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand, you would find that New Zealand is 3.4% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly NZ$82,159 in New Zealand to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → NZ$82,159
To maintain the same standard of living in New Zealand
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 64.5% more
Groceries
pay 12.4% less
Transportation
pay 12.9% less
Housing
pay 7.8% less
Childcare
pay 39.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.1% 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 New Zealand.
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
- · · ·
-
19.11,734
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in New Zealand compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than New Zealand across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Hong Kong generally does better on infrastructure, though New Zealand leads in electricity per capita.
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
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand leads in unemployment 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 generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in education spending.
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 | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel Authorisation
New Zealand 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 New Zealand than Hong Kong?
On average New Zealand is about 34% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to New Zealand?
Budget about NZ$20,540 for 3 months in New Zealand (based on a HK$587,771 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from New Zealand?
Connectivity is usually fine (New Zealand: 35.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does New Zealand offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is New Zealand safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
