Moving to Palau from Hong Kong

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Hong Kong to Palau — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Hong Kong to Palau. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Hong Kong and Palau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

HK
0.4
PW
11.2

Hong Kong performs better than Palau 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
PW
82.8t

Hong Kong performs better than Palau 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
PW
6.9
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

HK
93.0%
PW
37.2%

Hong Kong performs better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

HK
3.9%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

HK
$64,400
PW
$15,800

Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though Palau leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

HK
83.6 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

HK
2.5
PW
11.3

Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though Palau leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Hong Kong passport

Hong Kong passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Hong Kong passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.
Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Hong Kong

Visa Free
Palau 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

Can I work remotely from Palau?

With 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Palau 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 Palau.

Is Palau safe for expats?

Hong Kong performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.

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At a Glance

HK PW
Population 7,276,588 21,695
Currency Hong Kong Dollar (HK$) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Chinese, English English, Palauan
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +852 +680
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999