Moving to Portugal from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Portugal? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Portugal, you would find that Portugal is 39.9% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly €40,200 in Portugal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Portugal cheaper than Hong Kong?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 50.7% more
Groceries
pay 43.1% less
Transportation
pay 42.1% less
Housing
pay 51.4% less
Childcare
pay 55.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 53.9% 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.
What salary do you need in Portugal?
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → €40,200
To maintain the same standard of living in Portugal
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Portugal
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Hong Kong to Portugal.
Who's moving to Portugal?
Top countries of origin for Portugal's foreign-born residents.
- 179,524
- 154,017
- 104,164
- 80,570
- 68,299
- 53,384
- · · ·
-
89.149
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Portugal compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Portugal across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Portugal performs significantly better than Hong Kong 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
Hong Kong generally does better on infrastructure, though Portugal leads in broadband per 100 people.
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 Portugal 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 generally does better on family life, though Portugal leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Portugal vs Hong Kong
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 61°/48°F (16°/9°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 71°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 65°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera
Can you move from Hong Kong to Portugal?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Portugal. To live, work, or study long-term in Portugal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Portugal's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Portugal
Visa Free
Portugal 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 Portugal than Hong Kong?
On average Portugal is about 40% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Portugal?
Budget about €10,050 for 3 months in Portugal (based on a HK$590,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Connectivity is usually fine (Portugal: 45.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Portugal offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Portugal safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Portugal across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Portugal compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
The official language in Portugal is Portuguese. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
