Moving to South Korea from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to South Korea, you would find that South Korea is 43.6% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly ₩56,600,000 in South Korea to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°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 South Korea cheaper than Hong Kong?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 8.5% less
Groceries
pay 10.0% more
Transportation
pay 52.7% less
Housing
pay 68.7% less
Childcare
pay 35.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.7% 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 South Korea?
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → ₩56,600,000
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than South Korea across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Hong Kong performs better than South Korea 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
South Korea performs significantly better than Hong Kong 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
share of people below the poverty line
Hong Kong generally does better on employment & economy, though South Korea 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
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Hong Kong leads in life expectancy.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (2016), National Tax Service, South Korea (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in South Korea vs Hong Kong
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Korea Meteorological Administration
Can you move from Hong Kong to South Korea?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting South Korea
Visa Free
South Korea 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 South Korea than Hong Kong?
Yes — South Korea is on average about 44% cheaper than Hong Kong. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to South Korea?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₩14,150,000 in South Korea on a HK$590,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 47.8 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 South Korea safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than South Korea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
