Moving to Russia from Hong Kong
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Hong Kong to Russia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Russia, you would find that Russia is 60.6% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly RUB2,520,000 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Hong Kong to Russia.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → RUB2,520,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 5.0% more
Groceries
pay 58.5% less
Transportation
pay 66.3% less
Housing
pay 75.3% less
Childcare
pay 60.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 61.8% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Russia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Hong Kong to Russia, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
124.58
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
How Hong Kong and Russia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Russia across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than Russia 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 Russia 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
share of people below the poverty line
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in gdp per capita.
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 Russia leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), Federal Tax Service of Russia (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Russia
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Russia 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 Russia than Hong Kong?
Generally yes: Russia runs about 61% cheaper than Hong Kong on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a HK$590,000 comparable salary, that's around RUB630,000 in Russia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Russia?
With 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Russia 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 Russia.
Is Russia safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Russia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
