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 25.6% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly ₩64,137,706 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.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Hong Kong to South Korea.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → ₩64,137,706
To maintain the same standard of living in South Korea
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 12.4% less
Groceries
pay 22.5% more
Transportation
pay 41.8% less
Housing
pay 46.5% less
Childcare
pay 48.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 43.5% 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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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
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
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
Hong Kong generally does better on family life, though South Korea 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 | 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
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 43% 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 ₩16,034,426 in South Korea on a HK$587,771 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).
Can I work remotely from South Korea?
Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 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.
